Born in Chicago and Nationalized Peruvian: The Latino Connection of the New Pope Leo XIV

Cardinal Robert Prevost has become the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. However, the 69-year-old Cardinal, who has chosen the papal title of Leo XIV, was appointed by his Argentine predecessor, Pope Francis, and has had a strong connection with the Latino community throughout his career in the church.

Born and raised in Chicago, Prevost was assigned to the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas in northern Peru shortly after being ordained in the 1980s. There, he served as chancellor and immersed himself in community-based ministry, working alongside local clergy to address the spiritual and social needs of the region's underserved populations.

After a brief return to the United States in 1987 to serve as director of vocations and missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago, Prevost returned to Peru in 1988. In Trujillo, he took on multiple roles: community prior, director of formation for Augustinian aspirants, and professor of canon law, patristics, and moral theology at the diocesan seminary. He also served as judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Trujillo and was a member of the College of Consultors. The new pope is fluent in Italian and Spanish, as well as his native English.

In 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, and he was consecrated as its bishop in 2015, as well as obtaining Peruvian citizenship.

In 2023, Francis chose Prevost for one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church, the head of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The commission vets bishop nominations from around the world, bringing him to special prominence within the church and the conclave.

Seemingly, his time in Latin America increased his sympathy for the plight of immigrants from South America, as he had shown special concern for Venezuelan migrants in Peru. His X (formerly) bio reads: "Católico, agustino, Obispo."

You can read Pope Leo XIV's first words here:

"We still have the sound in our ears of the weak voice of Pope Francis who was blessing Rome here. Giving his blessing to the world on that day of Easter Sunday. Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. So without fear, united, hand in hand, with God in ourselves, we go forward. We are disciples of Christ ... the world needs his light. Humanity needs him. May we all build bridges with dialogue ... so that we can all be one people in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis."

Speaking to NBC News last week, Nelson Jesus Perez, the archbishop of Philadelphia, had described Provost as a "wonderful, gentle, profound man of God." He added that he was a "great gift to the church and the world."