American cardinal Prevost becomes pope Leo XIV amidst controversy

Robert Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago. He joined the Augustinian order in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982 in Rome. He holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). After a brief stay in Peru from 1985 to 1986, he returned there permanently in 1988. For a decade, he led a religious house, directed a formation center, and served in pastoral roles.

In 2001, he was elected the general superior of the Augustinians, a position he held for two six-year terms until 2013. He then returned to Peru as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and became its diocesan bishop a year later. In January 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, one of the key Vatican institutions. By September 2023, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal, and in February 2025, he was assigned to the suburbicarian diocese of Albano.

Though born in the USA, Prevost spent most of his priestly life outside the country, primarily in Peru, where he became a naturalized citizen. Many Vatican experts see him as representing a "worthy middle," as Father Michele Falcone, a former member of the Augustinian order, described him in an interview with "The New York Times." Prevost avoids publicity, maintains a restrained style and speech, and prefers a calm, consultative management model.

"The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them, and to look for ways that he can better live the gospel message in the midst of his people," he said in an interview for the Vatican's official portal.

Prevost is well-versed in the global Church's realities. As the head of the Augustinians, he visited communities in Europe, Asia, and South America. He is fluent in Spanish and Italian. Raúl E. Zegarra from Harvard Divinity School, quoted in "The New York Times," emphasizes that Prevost understands well that the center of Catholicism is neither in the USA nor Northern Europe.

The new pope was not part of the so-called stars of the episcopate. He did not give many interviews and rarely addressed controversial issues, but his past statements indicate doctrinal conservatism. In 2012, still as a bishop, he stated that Western culture promotes "sympathy for beliefs and practices that contradict the gospel" such as "homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families made up of same-sex partners and their adopted children."

In Peru, he also opposed gender education. "The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist," he said in an interview with local media, as recalled by an American newspaper.

Despite this, Prevost supported the synodal process initiated by Francis. Those who know him well claim he deeply believes in the need to listen to the laity and include them in the Church's life. "He was always friendly and warm and remained a voice of common sense and practical concerns for the Church's outreach to the poor," said Father Mark R. Francis, a former seminarian colleague.

Prevost's biography is not without controversies, mainly concerning abuse. In Chiclayo, he faced accusations of ineffective action against priests suspected of molestation. One woman claims Prevost did not stop a clergyman from leading mass despite earlier indications. The curia explained that an investigation was initiated but later closed by the Vatican; it was reopened by the new bishop.

There were also accusations in the USA. As the regional superior of the Augustinians, Prevost reportedly approved the transfer of a priest suspected of molesting boys to a monastery near a Catholic school without informing its authorities.

The election of Cardinal Prevost as pope is unprecedented. Never before has a U.S. citizen been chosen as the head of the Catholic Church. As noted by "The New York Times," Prevost was not linked with influential conservative circles of the American episcopate or with media like EWTN.

Due to his extensive missionary experience, Peruvian citizenship, and understanding of global Church realities, some commentators describe him as "more Latin American" than many cardinals from the region.

According to Church observers, the new pope may continue some directions initiated by Francis, primarily in terms of pastoral style and collegial decision-making. His pontificate may thus be seen as a time of stabilization and building consensus between different currents in the Church.