Pope Leon XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is born. September 14, 1955 in Chicago Augustian and a doctor of canon law.
He spent his youth, according to Vatican News, in his family environment. He studied at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he graduated from the mathematical field and underwent preliminary philosophical studies.
In the same year, on September 1, the novitiate at the Order at Saint Louis began. He made perpetual vows on August 29, 1981.
He continued theological preparation at Catholic Theological Union. At the age of 27, he was sent to Rome to explore canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). Just then, on June 19, 1982, he was ordained by Archbishop. Jean Jadot, who represented the Holy See in matters of interreligious dialogue.
Doctorate and years spent in Peru
In 1984 he obtained a bachelor's degree from canon law. A year later, as part of work on a doctorate, he was sent to Chulucanas in Piur (Peru). He spent the years 1985–1986, supporting the Augustinian mission. In 1987, he defended his doctoral dissertation on the subject: “The role of the local prior in the order of Saint Augustine” and was appointed director of the vocation and mission of the province of the Mother of the Good Council in Olympia Fields, Illinois (USA).
In 1988 he returned to Peru, where he then performed various functions for 11 years. He was the superior of the community, took care of the formation of candidates and lectured in moral theology, patristics and canon law in the seminar there. At the same time, he was also the court vicar in the archdiocese and looked after parishioners in the poor district of Nuestra Señora Madre de la Iglesia.
Then he was also entrusted with the management of the Nuestra Señora de Monserrat parish.
Return to the USA
In 1999, Leon XIV returned from the mission to his homeland. By the decision of the brothers, as Vatican News indicates, he was elected the provincial of the Augustinian province “Mother of the Good Council” in Chicago.
Only two and a half years later, during the general chapter, he was appointed superior of the Order and maintained this function also after another gathering in 2007.
After the end of the second term, in October 2013, he returned to his home province in Chicago, focusing on the formation of future monks.
On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed him the apostolic administrator of the Chiclayo diocese in Peru, giving him the episcopal sacrament and entrusting him with responsibility for the local church. Officially took over the diocese on November 7, and a month later, On December 12, he was ordained a bishop from the hands of Archbishop James Patrick Green.
On September 26, 2015, Pope Francis officially appointed him Bishop Chiclayo.
Further tasks in the Vatican and cardinal nominations
On July 13, 2019, the Pope appointed him to the then Congregation for the Clergy, and then invited on November 21 the same year to work in the Congregation for Bishops. Later, on April 15, 2020, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Callao.
On January 30, 2023, the Holy Father entrusted him with a prefect of the dicasteries for bishops and the chairman of the Papal Latin American Commission, while raising him to the dignity of the Archbishop.
During the consistory convened on September 30, 2023, he was incorporated into the Kardinal College and received the titular church of St. Monika.
On February 6, 2024, the Pope included him as a group of cardinals-Bishops, while assigning him the diocese of Albano.
