Spanish
Vatican City.– The Catholic Church has a new spiritual leader. American cardinal Roberto Francisco Prevost was elected this Thursday as Pope and assumed the name Leo XIV, becoming the first pontiff born in the United States. His election marks a historic moment for the Church, both for his nationality and for his pastoral career in Latin America.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Leo XIV comes from a Catholic family with working-class roots. He is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers Louis Martín and John Joseph.
Read more: The new pope is the American cardinal Roberto Francisco Prevost and will be called Leo XIV
Initially educated at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers, he graduated in 1973. Subsequently, he studied at Villanova University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy. Later, he completed a master's degree in Divinity with a specialization in Intercultural Mission at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, before moving to Rome to earn a doctorate in Canon Law at the Angelicum University.
Ordained a priest in 1982, Leo XIV began his ministry in the peripheries, serving as a missionary in the Chulucanas region, northern Peru. There he was noted for his pastoral closeness, defense of human rights, and formation of communities, a profile that earned him respect both in Latin America and in the Vatican.
Since 2023, he served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position in the Vatican power structure, where he became one of Pope Francis's main advisors in the appointment of bishops worldwide.
Polyglot speaks Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and reads Latin and German, Leo XIV is described as a sober leader, with a discreet profile but with strong ecclesial influence. His pastoral style, rather than political, has been well-regarded by the cardinal electors.
However, his career is not without controversy. During his mission in Peru, he was questioned by the media for alleged cover-up in cases of abuse within his diocese, although he does not face formal charges. This situation generated debates within the conclave, especially in a context in which "zero tolerance" towards clerical abuse is a central demand.
Despite this, his choice reflects a commitment to a Church connected to the social realities of the American continent, without losing the doctrinal firmness that characterizes the Roman formation.
The election of Leo XIV also represents a bridge between the north and south of the continent, between the Vatican structure and the missionary experience, at a time when the Church seeks to renew itself without breaking with its tradition.
