The Holy Father turns 70 this Sunday, September 14, a date on which the Church also celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
This is his first birthday as pontiff, after being elected on May 8 of this year.
Below, we revisit some milestones of his journey so far:
North American Roots
Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
He is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers: Louis Martín and John Joseph.
On the eve of his birthday, September 13, the Vatican released the trailer of a documentary portraying his childhood in Chicago, his family ties, studies, sports, and other aspects of his life.
Augustinian Priest
He first entered the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and later attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he graduated in Mathematics in 1977 and also studied Philosophy.
That same year, on September 1, he began his novitiate with the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in St. Louis, in the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Chicago, professing his first vows on September 2, 1978. On August 29, 1981, he professed his solemn vows.
At the age of 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982. He obtained his Licentiate in 1984 and, shortly after, was sent on mission to Chulucanas, in Piura, Peru (1985–1986).
Mission in Peru
Of North American origin but with a Latin heart, Father Robert deeply marked the life of the Church in Peru.
The recent documentary León de Perú gathers testimonies of those who lived with the Augustinian priest — later bishop of Chiclayo — and bears witness to his virtues.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost
On January 30, 2023, he was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Seven months later, on September 30, 2023, he was created and proclaimed cardinal by Pope Francis.
Elected Pope in the 2025 Conclave
With the Easter of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, the Apostolic See became vacant and the cardinals were called to the Conclave. Among them was Cardinal Robert Prevost.
On the second day of voting, the Church presented to the world the 266th Successor of Peter: Pope Leo XIV.
For his pontificate, he chose a quotation from Saint Augustine as his motto: In Illo uno unum, which in English means: “In One, we are one.”
Happy Birthday, Pope Leo XIV!
On this festive day, the Shalom Community praises God for the birth of Pope Leo XIV and intercedes for his life and pontificate.
