Though mooted as one of the papabile – possible popes – heading into conclave, he was not seen as of the favourites for the papacy. Here are five things you need to know about the 267th Pope:
His early life in Chicago
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1955, Robert Prevost was an alter boy in his youth, attending a parish school and a seminary high school. A son of immigrants, his father was French and his mother was Italian.
Before becoming a priest, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. Upon deciding to become a priest, he joined the Order of St Augustine in 1977 and was ordained in 1982.
His years in Latin America
The American has spent a significant amount of time carrying out missionary work in South America. A holder of Peruvian citizenship, he worked in Peru for many years, first joining an Augustinian mission there in 1985. He led the Augustinian seminary in the city of Trujillo for a decade between 1988 and 1998, where he also taught canon law.
In 2014, he was appointed the bishop of Chiclayo, a city in northwestern Peru. Missionary work in the “peripheries” – areas considered overlooked as they were far away from Rome – was an important part of Francis’ pontificate.
His views
Widely viewed as a centrist, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a progressive on a number of social issues, though. Like his predecessor Francis, the new pontiff has publicly expressed his support for poor people and migrants.
On issues within the church, however, he is seen as more conservative. Like Francis before him, he has previously said he is against the ordination of women, meaning the election of Leo XIV may signal a continuation of conservatism on church doctrine.
The first Pope Leo in more than a century
The new Pope has become the first leader of the church in more than a century to take the name Leo, following in the footsteps of Leo XIII, who died in 1903.
According to the Vatican, the new Pope taking up a name signifies a second birth for a new pontiff. The tradition dates all the way back to the first pope, St Peter, who changed his name to Peter from his birth name Simon.
He oversaw the selection of bishops
Entering conclave, the new Pope had served as the head of the Catholic Church’s Dicastery for Bishops. A powerful position within the church, as part of the role he oversaw the selection of new bishops.
He was appointed to the role by Pope Francis in January 2023 and later that same year, he was created cardinal by Francis and has since gone on to be promoted to the position of cardinal bishop.
Serving in this senior role in one of the most powerful departments in the Vatican had Cardinal Prevost well positioned to succeed Francis and introduced him to the key players within the confines of the Vatican.
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