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Pope Leo, First American Pontiff, Celebrated in Peru

Chicago-born Robert Prevost, with deep ties to Peru, begins his papacy as a unifying figure for a divided Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV shakes hand during an audience at the Vatican on May 12.
TOPSHOT - Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost was on Thursday elected the first pope from the United States, the Vatican announced. A moderate who was close to Pope Francis and spent years as a missionary in Peru, he becomes the Catholic Church's 267th pontiff, taking the papal name Leo XIV. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Robert Prevost blesses his mother after being ordained in this undated photo.

Overview

  • Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, is the first American pope, born and raised in Chicago.
  • Prevost's decades-long service in Peru, including during the Shining Path conflict, shaped his pastoral approach and moral advocacy.
  • As Bishop of Chiclayo, he denounced human rights abuses and criticized the 2017 pardon of former President Alberto Fujimori.
  • Prevost's work in the Dicastery of Bishops and elevation to cardinal in 2023 positioned him for his unexpected election to the papacy.
  • Peruvians in Chiclayo held a large celebration honoring their connection to the new pope, reflecting his dual American-Peruvian identity.