Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, is a prominent Catholic prelate and member of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.). He was ordained a priest in 1982 and has an extensive background in theology and canon law, holding degrees from Villanova University, the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome

. Prevost spent many years as a missionary in Peru, serving in various roles such as parish pastor, seminary teacher, judicial vicar, and diocesan official. He was elected provincial prior of the Augustinians in Chicago and later served two terms as prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine

. In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, and he became its bishop in 2015. He also served as vice- president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference and apostolic administrator of Callao

. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops worldwide, and elevated him to the rank of cardinal

. He is known for his alignment with Pope Francis's views, emphasizing synodality, missionary dialogue, and engagement with contemporary social and technological challenges

. Notably, Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV in 2025, becoming the first pope born in North America and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine. His papal name honors Pope Leo XIII and reflects his concern for modern issues such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and human dignity in the context of the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution

. In summary, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is a Chicago-born Augustinian priest, missionary, bishop, cardinal, and as of 2025, the pope known as Leo XIV, recognized for his pastoral experience in Peru and his leadership roles within the Catholic Church