As of January 2026,
Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) is the current head of the Catholic Church. Elected on May 8, 2025, he is the 267th pope and has achieved several historical firsts, including being the first pope born in the United States and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine.
Biography and Background
Early Life: Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Dolton, Illinois, and is of diverse ancestry, including Italian, French, Spanish, and Louisiana Creole roots.
Education: Earned a degree in mathematics from Villanova University (1977) before obtaining a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate in Canon Law.
Career: Served as a missionary in Peru for over a decade. He was later elected Prior General of the Augustinian Order (2001–2013) and served as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru (2015–2023).
Vatican Roles: Before his election, he was appointed by Pope Francis as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023 and created a cardinal.
Election and Papal Name
Conclave: He was elected following the death of Pope Francis, reportedly on the fourth ballot of the 2025 conclave.
Name Significance: He chose the name Leo XIV to honor Pope Leo XIII, who is known for his 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum on labor rights. Leo XIV has explicitly linked this choice to his desire to address modern challenges like artificial intelligence and the “new industrial revolution”.
Notable Actions and Stances (2025–2026)
Pastoral Tone: Emphasizes themes of peace, dialogue, and a “synodal church” that is open to the marginalized.
Social Justice: Has made direct appeals regarding global conflicts, including calls for peace in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine.
Institutional Reform: Continues the reform agenda of Pope Francis, focusing on transparency and inclusion while maintaining core church doctrine.
Recent Events: In early January 2026, he closed the Jubilee of Hope. He is scheduled to convene an extraordinary consistory of cardinals on January 7–8, 2026, to discuss church governance.
Historical Predecessors Named Leo
Pope Leo I (The Great): Known for meeting Attila the Hun and centralizing papal authority.
Pope Leo III: Famous for crowning Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD.
Pope Leo XIII: The “Social Pope” whose teachings on workers’ rights form the basis of modern Catholic social doctrine.
GR8T IDEA CASSIE,
– SALVATION WORLDWIDE
