The new Pope in the portrait: What you need to know about Leo XIV.

Habemus Papam – from the USA! The new Pontifex Maximus, Pope Leo XIV. Robert Francis Prevost (69), born in Chicago, recently conquered the hearts of many believers with a charming smile, international curriculum vitae and clear views of social justice. Who is the man who is the first American sitting in the Holy Stool? A look at the extraordinary way of life by Pope Leo XIV, who may now open a new chapter in the Vatican.

White smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel: Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope 267 in the conclave on May 8, 2025. Under the name Leo XIV, the first American Pontifex combines further premieres in the Vatican. He is the first Pope to have Peruvian citizenship and the first Pope from the Order of Augustin.

Almost an hour after the secret choice, in which 133 cardinals had participated, Prevost was the first American pope to enter the Balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and stepped up for the traditional “Urbi et orbi” blessing. After he had wished the faithful “Peace with you”, he first praised his predecessor Pope Francis as Pontifex, who “blessed Rome and gave the whole world his blessing on that Easter morning”. He now wants to continue this blessing: “God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not win. We are all in God’s hands.”

Prevost took the eternal profession in his order in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1982. From 1985 he worked as a missionary in Peru. There he was head of the Augustinian seminar in Trujillo and lecturer in canon law. Before his time in the Vatican, he spent two decades as a missionary and later as an archbishop in Peru. This many years of experience in Latin America also laid the foundation for a close connection to the late Pope Francis, the first Pontifex of Latin American origin. Prevost has had Peruvian citizenship since 2015.

In 2023 he explained when he was brought to Rome by Pope Francis, what meaning it had for him that the mission bishop in Latin America to the head of the dicasterium that helps the Pope with the selection of the bishops became: “I still consider myself a missionary.” However, it is now “a completely different mission than before, but also a new opportunity to live a dimension of my life, which was always ‘yes’ answered when I was asked to serve.” In January 2024, Francis finally officially appointed him cardinal.

Prevost was born on September 14, 1955 in Chicago. There he grew up with his older siblings Louis and John Prevost. His parents, Louis and Mildred Prevost, worked as headmaster and librarian. Even as a child, today’s Pope preferred to play priests and held trade fairs, his brothers reported shortly after his appointment. Robert Francis Prevost later studied mathematics and philosophy as well as theology. In Rome in 1987 he received his doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquin.

Like his predecessor Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV is considered supporters of synodality and an inclusive church. He is convinced that the participation and responsibility of all believers can counteract the polarization of the Church. He also supports a decisive action against man -made climate change and calls for the church to maintain greater commitment to preserve creation.

Leo XIV is already considered a priest, cardinal and now as a Pope as a person who consciously works for social justice – especially for migrants and social marginal groups. In the past, he has already critically critically commented on the political positions of US President Donald Trump (78). In his first speech as Pope Leo XIV, Prevost emphasized, among other things, the meaning of unity, compassion and the construction of bridges instead of walls.

These words were understood by many as subtle criticism of Trump’s “Build the Wall” rhetoric. He spoke parts of his speech in Spanish in order to achieve the Latin American communities, and also emphasized the need to work for migrants and social justice. In the past, he often reposted contributions to X (formerly Twitter), which, among other things, criticized Trump’s immigration policy.

Pope Leo XIV speaks fluent English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. According to the Augustinian order, he also speaks German fluently. According to reports, he should be very happy to play tennis privately and be a big baseball and football fan. His favorite clubs are the Chicago White Sox and Alianza Lima from Peru.

“He has a dry sense of humor, but was not anyone who was looking for the spotlight,” he described a friend of your friend who visited the seminar with him and later lived with him in Rome. “He was always friendly, warm and remained a voice of common sense and the practical concerns of the church in action for the poor.”

“No matter how many problems he has, he keeps his humor and joy,” Pastor Fidel Purisaca Vigil, head of communication by Prevost’s former diocese in Chiclayo, also describes the new Pope as a humorous and far -sighted person.

Almost 24 hours after his election, Robert Francis Prevost celebrated his first trade fair in the Vatican as Pope Leo XIV. His sermon on Friday (May 9th) in the Sistine chapel was a plea for mission and testify to faith even in difficult environments. The readings were presented in English and Spanish, the intercessions in Italian.