The Vatican has announced the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, marking a historic milestone as he becomes the first Augustinian to hold the papacy. The 69-year-old Chicago-born cleric has taken the name Leo XIV, becoming the second pope from the Americas, following his predecessor Pope Francis.
From the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti delivered the traditional Latin announcement — 'Habemus Papam' — to thunderous applause in St Peter's Square. Pope Leo XIV greeted the crowd with his first words as pontiff: 'Peace be with all of you!'
READ MORE: Quick Facts About Pope Leo XIV: Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost is First American Pope
The Journey Of A Scholar And Missionary
Born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago to a family of French, Italian and Spanish heritage, Robert Prevost studied mathematics and philosophy at Villanova University. He entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, making his solemn vows in 1981. After theological studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, he was ordained in Rome in 1982 by Archbishop Jean Jadot.
Prevost earned a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He then embarked on a long missionary career in Peru, serving as a seminary teacher, judicial vicar, and parish priest in some of the country's poorest areas.
A Rising Figure In Church Leadership
After returning to the United States in 1999 to become Provincial Prior of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, Prevost was later elected Prior General of the Augustinians in 2001 and re-elected in 2007. His leadership was marked by stability and outreach.
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo in Peru, where he was ordained a bishop and later made diocesan bishop in 2015. By 2023, Prevost was called to Rome to head the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful post overseeing global episcopal appointments. He was made a cardinal in 2024 and elevated to the rank of bishop within the College of Cardinals earlier this year.
Who Are The Augustinians?
Founded in 1244, the Augustinians are a Catholic religious order that follow the teachings and example of Saint Augustine of Hippo. According to the Order of Saint Augustine, their spirituality centres on community life, shared possessions, humility, and a collective search for God. Their motto, inspired by Augustine himself, is to be 'of one mind and one heart on the way to God.'
Augustinians take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Their charism emphasises charity, unity, and the mutual sharing of material and spiritual gifts. The Augustinian.org site notes their work spans education, pastoral ministry, missionary service and more.
Ordained Augustinians are called 'Father', while lay members are addressed as 'Brother'. The process of joining the order involves a lengthy period of discernment, formation, and temporary vows, with solemn vows taken after several years.
Legacy Of Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine of Hippo, born in 354 in what is now Algeria, is one of the most influential theologians in Christian history. After a dramatic conversion, he became bishop of Hippo and a prolific writer, producing more than 200 books and nearly 1,000 sermons and letters. His work on grace, the Church and human nature continues to shape Catholic doctrine today.
According to the Augustinian Order's Constitution, Augustinian life reflects Augustine's own journey — combining deep interiority, communal life, and a passion for truth. Their commitment to living in unity reflects Augustine's vision of a Church rooted in shared love and divine grace.
What Next For Pope Leo XIV?
Leo XIV inherits a Church facing serious challenges: a crisis of credibility from decades of abuse scandals, financial shortfalls, and declining attendance in Europe and North America. Yet the Church is growing in the Global South, and the new pope's missionary background could prove pivotal.
His inauguration Mass is expected within the week, with Church leaders, politicians, and pilgrims from around the world in attendance. With the motto 'In Illo uno unum' — 'In the One, we are one' — Pope Leo XIV now sets the course for a new chapter in Catholic history, grounded in Augustinian ideals and global perspective.
According to Vatican News, the conclave was swift and decisive, concluding in under 48 hours. The white smoke that drifted into the Roman sky signals not just a new pontiff — but a new era shaped by centuries-old Augustinian principles, now embodied in the Bishop of Rome.
