Robert Francis Prevost, born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, has been the Pope of the Catholic Church since May 8, 2025, under the name Leo XIV.
An American citizen, Robert Francis Prevost is a member of the Order of Saint Augustine. He served in Peru from 1985 to 1998, then held responsibilities at the general house of his order in Rome from 2001 to 2013. He was then appointed bishop of the diocese of Chiclayo.
On January 30, 2023, he was appointed to succeed Cardinal Ouellet at the head of the Dicastery for Bishops and took office on April 12. He was made a cardinal on September 30, 2023.
In 2000, Prevost allowed James Ray, a priest accused of abusing minors and under pastoral restrictions since 1991, to reside at the Saint John-Stone Priory in Chicago, despite its proximity to a Catholic high school, without informing the school authorities. During his stay, Ray was monitored by a supervisor. He was moved to another residence in 2002 when ecclesiastical rules regarding priests accused of abuse became stricter. In 2001, Prevost was elected General Prior of the Augustinians for a six-year term, renewed in 2007. His election in twenty minutes was one of the fastest in the history of the Order. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as the director of studies at the Saint Augustine Priory in Chicago, as well as the first counselor and provincial vicar.
