The first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, he is a member of the Order of Saint Augustine and spent much of his ministry in Peru, eventually serving as Bishop of Chiclayo. Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023, one of the most influential positions in the Vatican. He was elected pope on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, taking the name Leo XIV in homage to Leo XIII, whose 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum laid the foundations for modern Catholic social teaching. Birth name: Robert Francis Prevost Nationality: United States, Vatican City, Peru Born: September 14, 1955 Pontificate: May 8, 2025 – present