From every street in Rome, crowds of the faithful and tourists are converging. All are heading in one direction—toward St. Peter’s Basilica—to welcome the new pope. The atmosphere is extraordinary: a moment of unity, faith, and history. St. Peter’s Square has filled with great joy, for the world has now been introduced to Pope Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV.
The Vatican at the Center of Global Attention
Following the death of Pope Francis and a historic conclave that lasted only two days, all eyes in Rome turned toward the Vatican. The cardinals elected a new Bishop of Rome—Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. The new pope chose the name Leo XIV.
The news of his election immediately stirred the Catholic world. From every corner of Rome, crowds of the faithful, tourists, and pilgrims began to gather. They were united by a single desire—to witness the new pope’s first blessing and hear his words.
Who Is the New Pope?
Robert Francis Prevost is 69 years old. He was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, into a multicultural family with French-Italian roots on his father’s side and Spanish heritage on his mother’s. From a young age, he displayed deep spirituality, humility, and openness to others. He served as an altar boy, was active in parish life, and his vocation matured within a community shaped by hard work and daily prayer.
Prevost dedicated his life to the Order of St. Augustine, becoming the first pope in Church history to come from this congregation. He is also the first pope from North America, giving his pontificate a symbolic significance: the opening of the Church to the faithful across the Atlantic and the strengthening of Catholicism’s spiritual dimension in the Anglo-American world.
Yet these are more than mere symbols—Prevost is a man of concrete action. In 1985, he began missionary work in Peru, where he served for nearly three decades as a pastor, professor, diocesan chancellor, and seminary rector. He eventually acquired Peruvian citizenship. He earned the trust of both the local populace and the Church hierarchy, combining pastoral zeal with an extraordinary capacity for listening. His service in Latin America reinforced his conviction that the Church must be close to the people—humble, yet resolute in defending faith and morality.
Fluent in Spanish and Italian, he easily connects with people from diverse cultures. He is known as a modest, consistent prelate, full of empathy and personal commitment. In conversation, he avoids grandiose rhetoric, focusing instead on concrete realities and missions—not only spiritual but also social.
Pope Leo XIV: A Shepherd of Principle, Rooted in Tradition and Vision
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of one of the Roman Curia’s most important institutions—the Dicastery for Bishops. This role was critical in shaping global pastoral leadership. From the Vatican, he coordinated episcopal nominations, ensuring that new bishops were not only theologically knowledgeable but also doctrinally faithful, evangelically passionate, and authentic in their witness of life.
Even as a cardinal—and now as pope—Leo XIV remains faithful to his guiding principles: the Church must be a haven of peace but cannot abandon the truth. Unity and dialogue do not imply acceptance of relativism or compromise with the spirit of the age. This very balance—between mercy and fidelity to the Gospel—resounded in his first address as pope. From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he greeted the faithful with a prayer and a pledge of service grounded in Christ, not in public opinion.
His pontificate is already being described as a time of return to the sources, firmly rooted in the Gospel, with a bold vision for the future of the Church.