Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. On Thursday, he ascended to become Pope Leo XIV — the first American pontiff.
Prevost, 69, had to overcome the taboo against a U.S. pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere.
The Chicago native is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
He had prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.
Minnesotans are also expressing joy as the new pope is from the United States.
"It's a wonderful thing, amazing that the United States has brought forth a pope," said Yvonne Veeman who heard the news while attending the noon Mass at St. Olaf Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis Thursday. "We're grateful and we just hope that he can be a holy shepherd to all of us and bring all souls to Jesus."
"I like his name, Leo the lion," said Mary McDevet who also was attending mass at St. Olaf. "I'm amazed. I'm speechless. It's so wonderful."
Archbishop of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Bernard A. Hebda, released the following statement Thursday:
"With Catholics around the world, I give thanks for the election of Pope Leo XIV as successor of Saint Peter. We continue to be blessed by the Lord’s assurances that he will be with his Church always. I am grateful that Pope Leo XIV has said “yes” to this unparalleled call to lead, and I trust that the Holy Spirit will help him to use his unique gifts and experience to serve the Church of Rome and the Universal Church. l promise him my prayers, and the prayers of this local Church as he prepares to begin his Petrine ministry. Please join me at a Mass for the new Pontiff at the Cathedral in Saint Paul this evening at 5:15 p.m."
Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th century religious order founded by St. Augustine. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.
He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics.
Ever since arriving in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he was well known to the men who count.
Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals.
The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising each day and having breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers.
“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,” Purisaca said in an email.