The Cardinal Conclave has elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope of the Catholic Church.
The Next Edition disclosed important information of the new Pope who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.
Position: Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops; president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America under Francis
Experience: Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru; head of the Augustinian religious order
Made a cardinal by: Francis
Brought to Rome by Pope Francis in 2023 to lead the powerful Vatican office that oversees bishop appointments globally, the 69-year-old Chicago native is now the leader of the Catholic Church.
What makes Prevost particularly intriguing is his dual identity: while American by birth, he has lived most of his ecclesiastical life in Peru, where he became a citizen in 2015 and served for years as a bishop and then archbishop of Chiclayo. This Latin American connection helps soften the long-held taboo against electing an American pope, given the global dominance of the U.S. on the political stage.
A humble Augustinian at heart, Prevost has kept a notably low profile since arriving in Rome, even as his influence has quietly grown. Twice elected as the top leader of the Augustinian order, his leadership was recognized early by Francis, who appointed him to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and later to oversee bishop nominations — one of the most critical responsibilities in the Church.
Perhaps most tellingly, Francis trusted Prevost with ushering in one of the Church’s most radical reforms, allowing women to help decide which bishops are recommended to the pope. In 2025, he was elevated to the Church’s highest cardinal rank — a clear sign of papal favor.
Prevost has a diverse heritage with Italian, French, and Spanish roots. He joined the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. He holds a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
The Order of St. Augustine was founded in 1244, bringing together several communities of hermits in the Tuscany region who followed the Rule of Saint Augustine, written in the fifth century. The Augustinians are a mendicant religious order within the Catholic Church, involved in pastoral work, missions, education, and intellectual activity.
Key values of the Augustinian tradition include:
Love and the Order of Love: Emphasizing the primacy of love for God and neighbour.
Interiority: Focusing on the search for God within oneself.
Humility: Recognizing one’s dependence on God.
Devotion to Study and the Pursuit of Truth: Valuing intellectual growth as a path to wisdom.
Community: Highlighting the importance of living harmoniously and supporting one another.
Service: Encouraging humble and generous service to others.
Friendship: Cultivating meaningful relationships based on loyalty, trust, and mutual understanding.
Prayer: Seeing prayer as a vital expression of faith, hope, and love.
As an Augustinian priest, Pope Leo XIV is expected to be influenced by these values in his leadership of the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV is aged 69 years.
