Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was elected pope on Thursday, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The 69-year-old cardinal, who spent much of his clerical life abroad in Peru, emerged as a candidate during a closely watched conclave that followed the death of Pope Francis.
Prevost, who is fluent in Spanish and Italian, was named at a time of growing division within the Catholic hierarchy, with some cardinals split over whether to continue the more inclusive direction charted by Pope Francis or return to stricter doctrinal enforcement.
Prevost represents the “dignified middle of the road,” the Rev. Michele Falcone, a priest in the Order of St. Augustine, told The New York Times on May 2.
Who Is Robert Prevost?
Ordained in 1982, Prevost received a doctorate in canon law in Rome at the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas. He served for two decades in Peru, where he served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, and became a naturalized citizen. Prior to that, he served at the Order of St. Augustine, long before being appointed by Pope Francis in 2023 to head the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful Vatican office that oversees episcopal appointments worldwide, per The Associated Press.
Prevost has often emphasized service. In an interview with the Vatican’s official news site, he said last year: “The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom,” but is “called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them, per The New York Times.
Daniel Rober, associate professor and chair of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, told I that Prevost may be viewed as a more appealing alternative to Cardinal Pietro Parolin due to administrative strengths and perhaps being “less kind of tainted by the Vatican bureaucracy.”
That could also be viewed negatively by a lot of Cardinals, especially from outside of Italy and Europe, he added.
Where Is Robert Prevost From?
Prevost was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, where he was part of St. Mary of the Assumption parish near Dolton, Illinois, per the Chicago Sun-Times. His Midwestern roots, combined with decades spent abroad, have made him a figure who bridges cultural and geographic divides in the global Church.
“It was pretty apparent back then that was going to be his route,” St. Mary’s graduate John Doughney told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Some of us had considered it. It was kind of a fantasy for most young men. For him, I think it was true calling.”
How Is The New Pope Selected?
The papal conclave is the centuries-old process by which the College of Cardinals gathers in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pontiff, and voting rounds continue until that threshold is met.
The length of time it takes to elect a pope can vary. Pope Francis was elected after two days.
As with his predecessors, Prevost will soon announce the papal name he has chosen.
Mary Hallan FioRito, senior fellow at The Catholic Association, told Newsweek that this was a particularly unique conclave in church history due cardinals in areas of the world never before being represented, from places like Burma, Tongo and Cape Verde.
“As they have been meeting here in Rome since the death of Pope Francis, Cardinals from Europe, Africa, Oceania, North and South America and Asia, have been discussing the needs of the people they serve, and are discerning what qualities would be most important in the next pope,” FioRito said. “In one sense, every papacy builds upon its predecessors, but each newly elected pope brings his own distinctive personality to the job.”
What Has Robert Prevost Said About LGBT Issues?
It appears Prevost does not align with Pope Francis when it comes to the LGBT community.
The New York Times reported that back in 2012, he indicated that pop culture created “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.” In the speech to bishops, he referenced the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.”
What has Robert Prevost Said About Immigration?
Prevost’s experience as a bishop in Peru had him work with immigrants. Per the New York Times, he was praised in the country for efforts to support Venezuelan immigrants.
Newsweek could not confirm details of Prevost’s position on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, Prevost is a longstanding ally of the late Pope Francis, who repeatedly called for peace.
Prevost’s papacy begins amid previous criticism. As reported by The Pillar, abuse survivors have raised concerns about his past handling of misconduct allegations. He reportedly approval of housing for a priest accused of abuse in Chicago. Prevost has not commented publicly on those allegations since assuming his Vatican role.
His supporters, however, argue that his experience and international experience mark a return to pastoral leadership.
The world’s Catholics now turn to Robert Prevost for leadership at a pivotal time for the Church and for the faithful around the globe.
