JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, has been elected the Roman Catholic Church’s newest leader within the papacy.
This past week on Thursday, in the wake of Pope Francis’s passing, Pope Leo XIV was officially chosen and elected into office as white smoke from the Sistine Church gave the signal of a new individual being chosen to serve within the papacy. Pope Leo was born in September of 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, making him the first American to be elected to serve as pope within the church. During his time serving in ministry, he was elected in 2014 as apostolic administrator within the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru by Pope Francis. A year later, serving under the Diocese of Chiclayo, he received official citizenship in Peru.
In addition to serving in Peru, Prevost was also tasked by Pope Francis to serve in the Dicastery for Bishops. That is a separate office in which all bishops from around the world are selected for serving under chosen dioceses. Prevost served as the office’s leader, where he presided as three women were admitted into the voting bloc for different nominations – a move advocated for under one of Pope Francis’s many reforms.
Pope Francis also appointed Prevost into becoming a high-ranking cardinal for the Catholic Church.
Prevost also served as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. A branching department of the Roman Curia where Prevost oversaw and kept in touch with the Catholic Church regarding to church activity in Latin American nations.
Pope Leo XIV is the 267 elected official to serve within the Roman Catholic Church.
Photo by Alberto Pizzoli
