For the first time since 2013, a Papal Conclave was held to determine the reigning Pope of the Christian Catholic Church, and, for the first time in history, this Pope is not only an American but is an American from the Augustinian Order. Following the death of Pope Francis, Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native, was elected 267th Catholic Pope on May 8th of 2025. He selected his papal name as Leo XIV shortly after.
Prior to his election, Robert Prevost had an extremely diverse and quickly growing religious career. One of the most notable points to Americans is his attendance at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he studied mathematics, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977. He joined the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained as a priest in 1982.
He then began work as a missionary in Peru, where he immersed himself in learning Spanish and reportedly focused his time on public works projects like bridges, working with marginalized groups, and teaching at a seminary in Peruvian Trujillo. After returning to the US, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru in 2014, and eventually appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, becoming archbishop and then cardinal only months later.
Following his election as Pope, his selection of his Papal name as ‘Leo XIV’ has made worldwide headlines with many suggesting the name is symbolic of a potential continuation of the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who was extremely dedicated to workers’ rights as well as the re-globalization and modernization of the Catholic Church. Leo XIV said the Church now needs to take the lead in facing newer threats to workers. When asked his opinion on the Pope’s selection, Ben Conover, a Catholic MHS Senior, stated, “From what I’ve seen, he looks to be a decent fit. I heard he can speak many languages, and it’s kind of good for the modern globalization of the Pope.”
Regardless of the potential political swaying of views and future actions of Leo XIV, it is needless to say that the steps he takes as the first American Pope will be examined thoroughly by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Fojtu also explained his thoughts on this: “It would just be interesting to see where he goes in that direction, because Pope Francis did a lot and he was revered, but also hated on both sides for a lot of the stuff he’d done, and it’s honestly kind of to be expected with such a public figure. And it would just be interesting to see what general direction Pope Leo takes, especially as an American Pope.”
Many Catholics around the world, along with our Catholic students here at Mendham, will be watching to witness the early steps, language, and actions of Pope Leo XIV.
