Robert Prevost was elected this Thursday as the new Pope of the Catholic Church, under the name of Leo XIV. Prevost, born in Chicago, he is 69 years old, was prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops and is considered a highly capable and experienced leader.
Biographical information indicates that Prevost is a member of the Augustinian religious order. Of which he rose to become global superior, and worked for many years in Peru.
Prevost was appointed by Francis as prefect of the dicastery for bishops in January 2023. A powerful position responsible for selecting bishops, a position he held until the death of his predecessor.
He was then elevated to cardinal by the Argentine pope on September 30th, 2023. His academic training is extensive: he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Villanova University. A Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. And later earned his doctorate in Canon Law with honors from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Where his thesis focused on the role of the local prior within his religious order.
The Holy Father, took one of the most popular names among popes. Previously, 13 bishops of Rome bore the name of Leo as their patronymic.
He is the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. Leo XIV will be the 267th pope in history, succeeding Francis (2013-2025), who died on April 21st at the age of 88.
With information from Cubadebate and Prensa Latina
Translated by Aliani Rojas Fernández
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