Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago, has made a significant history as the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. Here's a concise timeline of his life and clerical journey leading to this momentous occasion.
Pope Leo XIV: A Journey from Chicago to the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV: A Journey from Chicago to the Vatican
Discover the remarkable ascent of Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, an American cardinal who defied the odds to become the leader of the Catholic Church.
1955: Robert Francis Prevost is born in Chicago.
1977: He obtains a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University and joins the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis.
1981: Prevost makes his solemn vows within the Order.
1982: He earns a Master in Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and is ordained a priest.
1985: Father Prevost embarks on his first mission with the Augustinian order in Chulucanas, Peru.
1987: He completes his doctoral degree at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, later joining a mission in Trujillo, Peru in 1988.
1999: Prevost becomes the provincial prior of the Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Chicago.
2015: He is appointed as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
2023: Prevost is promoted to the role of archbishop by Pope Francis, managing the Vatican office responsible for the selection and oversight of bishops globally.
2025: Cardinal Prevost is elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, adopting the name Leo XIV.
Eve Sampson, a correspondent focused on international affairs, is a member of the current Times Fellowship cohort for emerging journalists.
1977: He obtains a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University and joins the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis.
1981: Prevost makes his solemn vows within the Order.
1982: He earns a Master in Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and is ordained a priest.
1985: Father Prevost embarks on his first mission with the Augustinian order in Chulucanas, Peru.
1987: He completes his doctoral degree at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, later joining a mission in Trujillo, Peru in 1988.
1999: Prevost becomes the provincial prior of the Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Chicago.
2015: He is appointed as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
2023: Prevost is promoted to the role of archbishop by Pope Francis, managing the Vatican office responsible for the selection and oversight of bishops globally.
2025: Cardinal Prevost is elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, adopting the name Leo XIV.
Eve Sampson, a correspondent focused on international affairs, is a member of the current Times Fellowship cohort for emerging journalists.
