Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, became the first American-born pontiff in the Catholic Church’s history upon his election in May 2025. He is the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His Papacy follows Pope Francis’s and is widely seen as a continuation of Francis’s priorities, including focusing on social justice, inclusivity, and global engagement.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, to a Spanish, French, Italian, and Creole heritage family, Prevost grew up in a devout Catholic household in Dolton, a suburb south of Chicago. He studied mathematics and philosophy at Villanova University and later earned a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. In 1982, at 27, he was ordained a priest after studying canon law in Rome at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Shortly thereafter, Prevost was sent as a missionary to Peru, where he would spend two decades serving in some of the country’s most underserved communities. Fluent in Spanish and Italian, he became a beloved figure in Trujillo, working as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and judicial vicar. He later served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 after being appointed by Pope Francis. He became a naturalized citizen of Peru in 2015, reflecting the depth of his connection to the country.

Prevost rose to international prominence within the Church as Prior General of the Augustinian Order from 2001 to 2013. In 2023, he was appointed by Francis as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a decisive Vatican role overseeing bishop appointments worldwide. That same year, he was elevated to cardinal.

On May 8, 2025, following a two-day conclave, he was elected Pope and chose the name Leo XIV. The name is a nod to Pope Leo I, known for defending Rome from Attila the Hun, and Leo XIII, renowned for advancing Catholic social teaching, particularly in defense of labor rights. His first words as Pope, delivered from the Vatican balcony, emphasized continuity with his predecessor and a message of unity: “United and hand-in-hand with God, let us advance together.”

Leo XIV is recognized as a bridge-builder and a centrist who blends progressive advocacy with doctrinal caution. He supports the role of women in Church leadership—backing their inclusion in the Dicastery for Bishops—yet remains opposed to female ordination. He has called for action on climate change and shown openness to blessing same-sex couples, albeit within localized contexts. Known for his humility, missionary spirit, and personal warmth, Leo is widely regarded as a leader who values dialogue and global inclusion.

In his first Sunday address on May 11, 2025, Pope Leo XIV addressed the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. “I am deeply pained by what is happening in the Gaza Strip,” he said, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. Declaring “Never again war!” he framed his plea within a broader appeal for peace across conflict zones worldwide.

Following his election, Pope Leo XIV pledged to deepen Catholic-Jewish relations in a message to Rome’s Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni and AJC’s Rabbi Noam Marans, expressing his commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s Nostra aetate declaration. The Jewish community of Rome and the AJC welcomed the Pope’s message with gratitude. Both Rabbis are expected to attend Leo’s inauguration in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Leo XIV later met with Jewish leaders and other interfaith representatives at the Vatican to reaffirm his commitment to interreligious dialogue in one of his first major acts as pontiff. Leo emphasized the theological importance of Christianity’s Jewish roots, calling the Jewish-Christian relationship “ever important and close to my heart.” The meeting included figures from B’nai B’rith International, the Conference of European Rabbis, and the Jewish Community of Rome. Rabbi Noam Marans and David Michaels praised the pope’s sincerity and noted his acknowledgment of the pain and isolation felt by many Jews amid ongoing global conflict. As the first American pope, Leo’s diverse cultural background has been seen as a source of optimism for reinvigorating Catholic-Jewish relations. Jewish leaders expressed hope in his willingness to engage candidly. Observers like historian Stessa Peers and interfaith experts such as Adam Gregerman and Rabbi Joshua Stanton pointed to Leo’s American upbringing as shaping a more empathetic and pragmatic approach to Jewish-Catholic ties. His early outreach, combined with his stated desire to collaborate across faiths for the good of humanity, has positioned Leo XIV as a potentially transformative figure in the continuation and expansion of Vatican interreligious diplomacy.

Pope Leo XIV used his first weekly general audience to issue a direct appeal to Israel, urging it to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and end the ongoing hostilities. Calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave “yet more worrying and saddening,” the pope emphasized the suffering of children, the elderly, and the sick. His remarks follow earlier calls for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The appeal came days after Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended Leo’s inaugural Mass, signaling the Vatican’s hope for constructive engagement with Israel’s leadership.

Sources: Lauren Kent, Christopher Lamb, “10 things to know about Robert Prevost, who is now Pope Leo XIV,” CNN, (May 8, 2025).
Elisabetta Povoledo, Jason Horowitz, Emma Bubola, Motoko Rich, Elizabeth Dias, “Who Is Pope Leo XIV?” New York Times, (May 8, 2025).
“Biography of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost,” Vatican News, (May 8, 2025).
Paul Kirby, Ione Wells, “Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?” BBC, (May 9, 2025).
Philissa Cramer, “In first Sunday address, Pope Leo XIV calls for ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages,” JTA, (May 10, 2025).
Liam Adams, “How Pope Leo XIV may lead church and navigate an increasingly vocal Catholic right in US,” USA Today, (May 11, 2025).
“Pope committed to ‘stronger Catholic-Jewish dialogue,’” ANSA, (May 13, 2025).
“New Pope Leo XIV Tells International Jewish Community He Wants to ‘Strengthen’ Dialogue,” Haaretz, (May 13, 2025).
David Swindle, “New Pope Calls for Continued ‘Precious Dialogue’ Between Jews and Catholics,” Algemeiner, (May 20, 2025).
Rossella Tercatin, “Meeting Jewish leaders, Pope Leo acknowledges challenges, reaffirms dialogue,” Times of Israel, (May 19, 2025).
Joshua McElwee, “Pope Leo appeals for Israel to allow humanitarian aid in Gaza,” Reuters, (May 21, 2025).

Photo: Ricardo Perna (AIIC), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.