The Catholic Church has elected its first American pontiff after days of ancient ceremonies stretching back to St. Peter’s day, marking a watershed milestone for one of the world’s oldest Christian institutions.
After extensive discussion in the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, May 8, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The 69-year-old prelate, known as Leo XIV, was chosen by 133 cardinals representing the Catholic Church.
The newly elected Pope offers a unique blend of pastoral experience, intellectual rigour, and global vision to the papacy. As the previous prefect of the important Dicastery for Bishops, Leo XIV is well-known for his considerable missionary work in Peru, where he served distant communities for decades.
His election comes at a critical time for the Church, which faces a number of issues, including shrinking Western congregations, rising atheism, and heated internal arguments on theology and modernisation.
The election of an American pope is a watershed moment in Vatican history, coming during a period of ongoing US worldwide dominance under President Donald Trump’s administration, which is recognised for strong trade policies and political reforms.
Despite his emerging popularity as a key architect of Pope Francis’ reforms, many people are still unfamiliar with Leo XIV’s background and vision for the church. Church scholars predict that his pope will combine traditional Catholic ideals with modern approaches to contemporary concerns.
Here are 10 unexpected facts about this powerful but modest priest that you may not be aware of.
- From Chicago to the Amazon: A Missionary Bishop
Prevost spent more than 30 years as a missionary in Peru, serving remote indigenous tribes in the Andes and Amazon. He was fluent in Spanish and Quechua and lived in humble surroundings, far from the splendour of Vatican City.
- The first Augustinian to command the Dicastery of Bishops.
Prevost made history in 2023 by becoming the first member of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) to lead the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees bishop selection around the world. His nomination demonstrated Pope Francis’ confidence in his pastoral and administrative abilities.
- A former pizza delivery boy.
Before becoming a priest, Prevost worked in low-wage jobs such as delivering pizza in Chicago. His humble upbringing stands in stark contrast to the elite education that many high-ranking prelates get.
- A surprise cardinal.
Many Vatican watchers were taken aback when Prevost was made a cardinal in September 2022; he was not on most analysts’ shortlists. His ascension confirmed his authority in Church governance.
- A significant participant in the Synod on Synodality.
Prevost is one of the few Americans who play an important part in the Synod on Synodality, the Church’s continuous global discourse on reform. His missionary experience gives him a unique perspective on the concerns of Catholics in the Global South.
- A quiet yet fierce protector of the underprivileged.
Unlike other U.S. bishops notorious for culture wars, Prevost is concerned with social justice, immigration, and poverty—issues important to Pope Francis’ presidency. He has criticised economic institutions for “abandoning the vulnerable.”
- The Vatican’s go-to man for difficult jobs.
Prevost has been assigned to settle disputes in problematic dioceses, including those in Latin America and Africa. His calm, consultative approach has garnered him respect across ideological lines.
- A baseball fan who almost became professional.
Prevost was a superb baseball player in his youth, and he pondered a professional career before deciding on his path. He is a lifetime Chicago Cubs fan.
- The only US Cardinal in charge of a key Vatican office.
While other American cardinals (such as Cardinal Raymond Burke) are notorious for public conflicts, Prevost has actual institutional influence as head of the Dicastery for Bishops, making him possibly the most powerful American in the Vatican today.
- Marked by dispute.
Advocates for clergy abuse survivors have criticised Prevost for how he handled sexual abuse charges while leading the Augustinian order and in Peru.
The advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) has charged that Prevost may have failed to act on abuse reports regarding Richard McGrath, a former president of Providence Catholic High School, allowing him to continue in his post despite longstanding allegations.
