![Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pope](https://cdn.slatesource.com/9/7/1/971618c6-2848-414c-add1-1db27df868a5.webp)

# Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pope

- [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/pope-leo-xiv-the-first-american-pope)
- By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph)
- Created on Aug 5, 2026

> Peace be with you all.

## RobertRobert FrancisFrancis PrevostPrevost, BornBorn ChicagoChicago 19551955

BornBorn on 14 SeptemberSeptember 19551955 in ChicagoChicago, IllinoisIllinois, RobertRobert PrevostPrevost is the sonson of a schoolschool educatoreducator and a librarianlibrarian. He studiedstudied mathematicsmathematics at VillanovaVillanova UniversityUniversity, then theologytheology in ChicagoChicago and canoncanon lawlaw in RomeRome. An AugustinianAugustinian friarfriar sincesince 19771977, he spentspent the majoritymajority of his workingworking lifelife as a missionarymissionary, teacherteacher and bishopbishop in PeruPeru, acquiringacquiring PeruvianPeruvian citizenshipcitizenship in 20152015. In 20232023, PopePope FrancisFrancis appointedappointed him PrefectPrefect of the DicasteryDicastery for BishopsBishops, oneone of the mostmost powerfulpowerful administrativeadministrative rolesroles in the VaticanVatican. On 8 MayMay 20252025 he becamebecame the 267th267th popepope, takingtaking the namename LeoLeo in honourhonour of PopePope LeoLeo XIIIXIII, the authorauthor of the firstfirst greatgreat socialsocial encyclicalencyclical.

Number in papal history

267th pope

Conclave ballot

elected on the 4th vote

Cardinals who voted

133

Catholics worldwide

1.4 billion

Age at election

69

Citizenship

American and Peruvian

**1st** American pope in 2,000 years of Catholic history

Year One: Milestones of the Leo XIV Papacy

88%

Elected 8 May 2025 on the 4th ballot of the conclave

First address delivered in Italian, Spanish and English from St. Peter's balcony

Issued encyclical Magnifica humanitas on the ethics of artificial intelligence

Called for annual meetings with the College of Cardinals as an advisory body

Spoke out against US immigration enforcement and deportation policy

Received the 2026 Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center (3 July 2026)

Delivered a virtual address at America 250 celebrations, urging the US to welcome migrants

Visit to Lampedusa and European migrant routes (July 2026, in progress)

Leo's first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, addresses artificial intelligence directly. He argues that AI must serve human dignity, not replace human labour or judgment, and that algorithms making decisions about people's lives require moral accountability. It is the first papal document in history devoted to a technology.

> We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and to keep our arms open, like this very piazza, welcoming.

[Britannica: Leo XIV biography and papal record](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leo-XIV?utm_source=slatesource)