Pope Leo XIV: A leader shaped by deep pastoral work

International

THE Catholic Church has a new shepherd.

Robert Francis Prevost, a cardinal from the United States and former missionary priest in Peru, was elected as the 268th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Friday, May 9, 2025.

He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first member of the Order of Saint Augustine to ascend to the papacy and the second pontiff from the Americas, after his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Prevost, 69, emerged on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to thunderous applause from tens of thousands gathered in the square below, signaling the end of the conclave.

Smiling and waving with both hands, the new pope greeted the crowd with a message of peace.

“Pax vobiscum. Peace be with you,” he said, bowing his head as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a new chapter for the Church, as he becomes the first pope from the United States, the first Augustinian pontiff, and a leader shaped by deep pastoral work in Latin America and long years in religious governance in Rome.

From Chicago to the chair of Peter

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to a multicultural Catholic family, his father of French and Italian roots, his mother of Spanish descent, Prevost was raised in a devout home and first entered the path of religious life as a seminarian with the Augustinians.

He later studied mathematics and philosophy at Villanova University, then theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. His formation continued in Rome at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, where he earned a doctorate in Canon Law.

He was ordained a priest in 1982 and sent soon after to Peru, a country that would become central to his life and ministry.

Missionary in Peru

For over a decade, Prevost lived and worked in Trujillo, Peru, where he was judicial vicar, a professor of theology, and parish priest in one of the city's poorest suburbs.

He became known for his pastoral dedication and leadership within the Augustinian missions, guiding vocations and forming young priests in the region. He later served as Prior Provincial in the United States and was twice elected Prior General of the Augustinian Order, serving from 2001 to 2013.

Episcopal service and rise in the Vatican

His ties to Peru remained strong. In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo, and later bishop of the same diocese. There, he became known not only for his pastoral zeal but also for his work in Church governance.

He rose swiftly within the Vatican ranks: a member of the Congregation for the Clergy, then of the Congregation for Bishops, and eventually Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023, one of the most influential posts in the Roman Curia.

He was made a cardinal in September 2024 and entered the conclave as a frontrunner, admired for his administrative competence, theological grounding, and global pastoral experience.

A symbol of continuity and renewal

In his choice of the name Leo XIV, Prevost signaled a potential continuity with the reformist but doctrinally firm papacies of Popes Leo XIII and Leo I, figures historically associated with social teaching, intellectual engagement, and strong moral leadership.

His election also reflects the Church’s continued shift toward greater geographic diversity. Like Pope Francis of Argentina, Leo XIV represents a bridge between the global South and North, having served in Latin America while being rooted in the American Church and shaped by international religious life.

Challenges and expectations

As the new Bishop of Rome, Leo XIV inherits both the spiritual mantle of Saint Peter and the vast governance of a Church grappling with internal reform, declining vocations in the West, secularism, clerical abuse scandals, and the growing persecution of Christians in parts of the world.

Observers expect the new pope to continue the synodal reforms initiated by Pope Francis while emphasizing theological clarity and global unity. His background as a teacher, missionary, and religious superior positions him uniquely to lead the Church through dialogue and discernment.

The days ahead will reveal the pastoral direction and governing style of Pope Leo XIV. But already, his election has been hailed as historic: a pope shaped by both North American roots and South American mission, by religious life and curial leadership, by doctrinal knowledge and grassroots compassion.(TGP)

Write to New MyTV I.T.