The election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has brought to the Chair of Peter a shepherd shaped by mission, tested by crisis, and sustained by his Augustinian vocation. Formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, he has spent most of his adult life in Peru, where he is a naturalised citizen and deeply loved.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV was raised in a devout Catholic family. His father, Louis Marius Prevost, was a teacher, and his mother, Mildred Martínez, a librarian. Young Robert grew up immersed in parish life and a multicultural heritage that includes French, Italian, Spanish, and Creole roots.
After graduating from Villanova University, he joined the Augustinian order, professed final vows in 1981, and was ordained a priest in 1982.
His academic journey took him to Rome, where he earned a Doctorate in Canon Law. But his vocation soon led him far from the halls of Rome, into the mission fields of Peru in 1985, a country he would come to call home.
His election marks a historic moment not just for the Church in the Americas, but for the Order of St Augustine, and for communities around the world who have come to know him as a bishop who walked beside them, especially in times of need.
A Man of Action in Times of Crisis
From 2015 to 2023, then-Bishop Prevost led the Diocese of Chiclayo, where he became known for his compassionate, hands-on leadership.
When devastating floods struck in 2017, he was seen in the mud and among the displaced, coordinating relief efforts. “He was the face of Christ,” said Janinna Sesa, who led Caritas Chiclayo. “He went out to help — not from an office, but side by side with his people.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when oxygen shortages were causing widespread deaths, he launched the Oxygen of Hope Campaign, helping fund two oxygen plants that provided lifesaving care to hundreds. He was a bishop equally at ease in boots and a poncho during crisis, and fully vested at the altar — a balance of humility and reverence that deeply resonated with his people.
In a moment that captured his pastoral style, he walked alone through the city during lockdown, carrying the Blessed Sacrament, echoing Pope Francis’ 2020 Urbi et Orbi Blessing in an empty St Peter’s Square.
“He was always there — in the floods, the pandemic, the celebrations, and the sorrows,” said Sesa. “He left an indelible mark on Chiclayo. A true shepherd.”
A Voice for Unity and Communion
Pope Leo XIV’s strength in uniting hearts across differences both within the Church and with civil society, led to his appointment as second vice president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference in 2018. His rising influence within the Church reached a new height in 2023, when Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, one of the Vatican’s most influential roles, overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide. Later that year, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals.
Reflecting on the appointment, he noted that Pope Francis “did not want someone from the Roman Curia. He wanted a missionary—someone from outside who could bring a different perspective and assist him in a very specific ministry.”
As he stood on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on 8 May, he introduced himself to the world as “an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine,” and pledged to “walk together with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice — always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries”
Pope Leo’s motto, In Illo uno unum (In the One, we are one) is drawn from St Augustine’s reflection on Psalm 127. It reflects a deep commitment to unity in Christ. “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” Pope Leo lives out this belief through dialogue, compassion, and deep respect for others.
In a 2023 interview, he said: “I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation and mission are the three keywords of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me, promoting unity and communion is fundamental.”
Symbols of His Faith: A Crest of Meaning
Pope Leo’s episcopal coat of arms offers a rich visual reflection of his identity and mission. Now topped by a miter, his shield is split diagonally:
- The upper section, set on a blue background, features a white lily or fleur-de-lis — a symbol of the Virgin Mary and also a nod to his French ancestry.
- The lower section, on a lighter background, features a closed book and a heart pierced by an arrow — a traditional Augustinian symbol. It recalls St Augustine’s conversion, as described in the phrase Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo (You have pierced my heart with your Word).
These symbols reflect a pope – Pope Leo – deeply grounded in prayer, Scripture, and a personal encounter with Christ, mirroring the spiritual legacy of St Augustine.
Faith, Not Fear: Evangelisation in the Modern World
Even before becoming pope, Leo XIV recognised the challenge of communicating the Gospel in today’s secularised culture. In a 2012 interview, then-Father Prevost rejected the idea of simply avoiding secular media. Instead, he urged education in discernment: “Teach people to become critical thinkers… to understand that underlying the message that’s being communicated is a very different message… with severe consequences for society.”
He stressed that the Church must communicate like the early Fathers, especially St. Augustine, not through flashy content, but by inviting people into an authentic encounter with Christ.
“Faith begins with experience,” he said. “People must rediscover what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ — to recognise that God is indeed part of our lives.”
A Pontiff Formed in the Margins
As Pope Leo XIV begins his ministry, he does so not with detached authority or merely intellectual insight, but with the heart of a pastor—shaped by humility and lived experience. A pastor that has walked with the poor, stood in flooded streets, and led the Church through pandemics and seasons of sorrow.
His message is unmistakable: Peace be with you. Not as lofty ideal, but as a daily calling: lived in the midst of suffering and expressed through every action grounded in Christ.
He steps into this new chapter with the heart of a missionary, the soul of an Augustinian, and the courage of a shepherd who truly knows the path his people walk.
