The current pope is Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on May 8, 2025, during the 2025 papal conclave. He is the first American pope, born as Cardinal Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955. Before becoming pope, Prevost was head of the church's Dicastery for Bishops and worked extensively in Peru as a missionary and seminary leader. He is considered a centrist with progressive views on social issues but holds conservative positions on certain church doctrines

. Pope Leo XIV succeeded Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church from 2013 until his death on April 21, 2025. Pope Francis was notable for being the first Jesuit pope, the first from Latin America, and for his emphasis on humility, mercy, and inclusivity

. The pope is the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, regarded as the successor of Saint Peter with supreme authority in matters of faith, morals, and church governance