Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV is the new pope elected after the death of Pope Francis. He was elected by the Cardinals in May 2025. Robert Francis Prevost was born in America on September 14, 1955. He is the first American to be elected as a pope. His family had marked his inclination towards faith from a young age. He attended the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and went to study mathematics and philosophy at Villanova University, located in Pennsylvania, in 1977.
Robert Francis Prevost, Journey to Pope Leo XIV
After his education, he entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1981. He took his vows in 1981 and went on to study at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He also studied canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Here he was ordained as a priest in 1982 by Archbishop Jean Jadot.
Robert Francis went to various countries for his missionary activities, where he worked in challenging conditions. He focused on providing education, empowering the local communities, etc. His leadership in the church was what made him serve as the head of the Augustinians worldwide for not one, but two terms. He was appointed to Chiclayo, Peru, until 2023. In 2023, he was appointed as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops by Pope Francis, placing him in a very crucial position in the vertical decision-making. He became a cardinal due to his role in balancing cultures and church values.
The cardinals, after the death of Pope Francis, held an enclave process attended by cardinals under the age of 80 around the globe. All the cardinals attended the Sistine Chapel and went on to elect the next Pope. The process keeps on continuing till the time a candidate receives a 2/3 majority. The world gets to know about this decision when the smoke turns white, announcing the new pope. But, until the time a new pope is elected, the cardinals are strictly prohibited from communicating with the outside world. The voting process keeps on continuing till the Pope is selected.
Leo XIV is an American English-speaking cardinal from the Augustinian order that believes in social justice, poverty alleviation, and walking towards empowerment.
How is a pope elected?
- A pope is elected following a centuries-old tradition known as the papal conclave.
- Cardinals under the age of 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel and are forbidden to communicate with the outside world.
- Cardinals keep on voting till the 2/3 majority is received by a candidate.
- With each round of voting, ballots are burned to emit a black smoke that indicates no decision.
- Eventually, when a candidate receives a 2/3 majority, the new pope is elected, and white smoke is emitted announcing the election of the new pope.
- After a new pope is elected, he is asked to accept his roles and responsibilities. Then he chooses his new name and appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he blesses everyone.
Pope Leo XIV is a strong figure when it comes to bridging the gap between various cultures, generations, and the Catholic Church. His experiences from traveling to various countries have shaped him towards being more justice-oriented, empowering, and inclusive. Pope Leo XIV is a strong believer in unity and diversity. He is one of the popes who has personally reached out to LGBTQ+ Catholics to show his inclusiveness. He is still one of the strong believers who is upholding the church’s teaching regarding not coordinating women as deacons and priests, but he voices women’s participation in various leadership roles in churches. He is someone who believes in climate change and urges everyone to take steps towards protecting the environment. He believes in transparency and accountability and is a strong defender of workers’ rights and dignity.
