When Robert Francis Prevost emerged onto the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica as Pope Leo XIV, he established three new precedents.
He is the inaugural pope hailing from North America, the first
Augustinian
to sit upon the papal throne of Peter, becoming the first individual born in England to achieve this position since
Adrian IV
in the 12th century.
Pope Leo XIV welcomed Rome and the globe with a straightforward blessing: "may peace be upon all of you."
By selecting a blessing that emphasized harmony—and by releasing it in both Italian and Spanish—he indicated a blend of straightforward pastoral care and broad cultural inclusiveness.
A upbringing in Chicago and strict scholarly discipline
Prevost came into this world in Chicago back in 1955.
Born and raised in the working-class neighborhood of Dolton, he worked as an altar boy and went to St. Augustine Seminary High School. Later, he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree.
Villanova University
, and obtained a doctorate in ecclesiastical law from the
Angelicum
in Rome.
Prevost joined the Augustinian order in 1977, made her final vows in 1981, and was ordained in 1982.
For Augustine’s followers, virtue isn’t about poverty itself, but rather in the profound sharing of possessions: the good of the group comes before personal success.
The foundation consists of three key elements: inner reflection, active care for one's neighbor, and an unyielding pursuit of truth. This structure was designed to steer Prevost’s mission efforts towards fostering unity and harmony.
Prevost has managed communities across over 50 nations, yet his initial journey was as a missionary in northwestern Peru back in 1985. During the following ten years, he instructed students in canon law, directed a seminary located in Trujillo, presided over matrimonial cases, and guided an emerging parish at the outskirts of Lima.
The experience enhanced his understanding of informal work, exploitative industries, and migration—issues that resonate with
Rerum novarum
An open letter released by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 still influences Prevost’s social priorities evident today.
In 2015, he was named Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and in 2023, became the prefect.
Dicastery for Bishops
, essentially putting him in control of approving Episcopal appointments globally.
What’s in a name?
In September 2023, he was appointed as a cardinal and then advanced to the position of cardinal-bishop of Albano in February 2025.Prevost went into the conclave known for his unassuming capability, impressive command of multiple languages (fluent in five), and an unremarkable degree of sainthood.
On the fourth round of voting, the electors chose him. An hour later, he addressed both the city and the globe as Pope Leo XIV, initially in Italian followed by Spanish—a dual-language move recognizing his Italian-American background from Chicago and his Peruvian nationality.
The selection of his papal name by Leo XIV serves as a programmatic indication. By referencing instances of Rome’s protector, he sets out his stall.
Leo the Great
(the pope from 440–61) and the prominent social educator
Leo XIII
(1878–1903), the new Pope suggests he will follow their example.
His main emphasis will continue to be on the issues of 2025: turning Augustine’s ideas about community spirit into government practices, building upon Pope Leo XIII’s social teachings, and bridging divided groups.
The memories of his Leo forebears serve as a compass more than a map, guiding a papacy focused on the digital, migration, and climate challenges of the 21st century.
We can anticipate that where Leo the Great engaged in dialogue, Leo XIV will present diplomacy. Similarly, where Leo XIII stepped in, we might see a continuation of this approach.
defended
Trade union rights were defended, and exploitative capitalism was criticised; therefore, Pope Leo XIV needs to tackle issues related to labor, climate disruption, and forced displacement.
If Pope Leo XIII provided Catholicism with its initial comprehensive answer to industrial modernity, Pope Leo XIV might shoulder the responsibility of developing an Augustinian perspective for the digital age: one where humans see themselves as a traveling faith community united by mutual affection instead of being sorted through algorithm-driven preferences.
Of one heart
The opening sentence of
the Regulation According to Saint Augustine
is 'of one mind and heart on the journey to God'.
The emphasis on internal prayer within this order rather than outward activism echoes Pope Leo XIV’s inclination towards quiet Eucharistic adoration instead of complex rituals. His penchant for scholarship resonates with the Augustinian tradition of intellectual pursuit.
In line with Francis, Pope Leo XIV has also condemned this.
abortion and euthanasia
He has spoken out against strict immigration rules in the United States. However, he maintains that only men can serve as deacons. During an address in 2012, he highlighted this stance.
media normalisation
Of "non-traditional families consisting of same-sex couples".
This blend characterizes him as a centrist eager to uphold doctrinal limits while aggressively advancing social justice, climate action, and governmental openness—issues Pope Francis initiated but didn’t complete.
Challenges ahead
Leo XIV takes over a divided Church. Conservatives worry about losing doctrine, whereas liberals push for quicker reforms in leadership structure, worship practices, and gender roles.
His dedication to collective judgment rooted in Augustine’s teachings might offer a unifying framework. Simultaneously, global political upheavals call for strengthened diplomatic efforts from the Vatican.
Vatican finances
still run unsustainable deficits.
In essence, Leo XIV represents an ongoing conversation between the past and present.
His success will hinge on his ability to transform the Augustinian Order’s timeless principle of unity—both in spirit and purpose—into frameworks that safeguard the defenseless laborer, the uprooted immigrant, and the injured Earth.
Nevertheless, his education, intelligence, and history of fostering connections indicate that he grasps the Church’s reliability today stands as it did in 1891 under Pope Leo XIII: social compassion and doctrinal lucidity are not adversaries, but allies on the path to God.
Similar to Pope Leo XIII, Pope Leo XIV views the world not as something to be debated but rather as a moral landscape to be nurtured. His papacy will need to address contemporary issues such as ecology, technology, and migration.
His first call for peace suggests a comprehensive perspective where social equity, environmental care, and human brotherhood converge.
It remains to be seen whether he can turn his vision into institutional reforms and global moral guidance.
By invoking the heritage of Leo XIII, Leo XIV has set the compass of his papacy. It points toward a Church intellectually serious, socially committed and pastorally close: one speaking anew to workers in Amazon warehouses, migrants in detention camps, students in schools, refugees in the Sahel and young people navigating the gig economy.
If he succeeds, the name he chose will read as prophetic promise, linking 1891’s clarion call for justice with the uncharted demands of 2025 and beyond.
Darius von Guttner Sporzynski is not employed by, does not provide consulting services for, nor holds any shares in or receives financial support from any entity that could gain from this article. He has declared no additional associations outside of his academic position.
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