Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. His Holiness is the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church and the first American-born successor of Saint Peter. Prior to his election as Supreme Pontiff, he was a member of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA), founded in 1244—over 782 years ago.

Pope Leo XIV’s religious formation has been shaped by Augustinian values of community, humility, and service. These principles have consistently guided his pastoral approach and leadership style throughout his ecclesiastical career. In 1998, Prevost served as Prior Provincial of the Order of Saint Augustine’s Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, based in Chicago. In 2001, he was elected Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, a position he held for two consecutive six-year terms, until 2013.

Before his election to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV served as a missionary in Peru and later as Archbishop of Chiclayo. During the pontificate of Pope Francis, he was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, where he was responsible for overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide. A close collaborator of Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV is widely regarded as continuing a similar vision for the Church—one that emphasizes mercy, inclusivity, and a pastoral presence rooted in dialogue and care.

Pope Leo XIV’s global experience, missionary background, and administrative expertise help him to be a pope who is attentive to the spiritual and social challenges facing the modern Catholic Church and the wider world.