'Our work is to enlarge the tent’: Who is Pope Leo XIV?
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Leadership transitions in global institutions often come with surprises—especially when the successor is relatively unknown.
A recent decision by the world’s Catholic cardinals has left many intrigued and curious about the Church’s future direction.
What emerged was a historic appointment, marking a new chapter for the 1.4-billion-member faith community.
A quiet figure from Chicago took centre stage as the world’s Catholic cardinals made a decision that surprised many.
Robert Prevost, aged 69, emerged as the new head of the 1.4-billion-member Church, stepping into the role with little international recognition.
He chose the name Pope Leo XIV and succeeded Pope Francis, who had led the Church since 2013.
Though born in the United States, Prevost had dual nationality after becoming a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
He spent decades in Peru as a missionary and later served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023.
His career also included a leadership role in the global Augustinian religious order and later two six-year terms in Rome heading the order.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to run the Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops around the world.
That position gave him significant influence, helping to shape the Church’s leadership across continents.
Despite his high-ranking post, Prevost rarely engaged in the social events popular among Vatican officials.
A friend since the 1970s, Reverend Mark Francis, shared: ‘He was always friendly and warm and remained a voice of common sense and practical concerns for the Church's outreach to the poor.’
Francis, who attended seminary with Prevost and later lived in Rome during the same period, also said: ‘He has a wry sense of humour, but was not someone who sought the limelight.’
Prevost’s background included a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University, a master’s from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a doctorate in Church law from the Pontifical College of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He first arrived in Peru in 1985 and returned to the US in 1999 to take on leadership duties within the Augustinians.
He became a cardinal only in 2023, further underscoring his low public profile before the election.
In an interview that year with the Vatican’s news outlet, he said: ‘We are often preoccupied with teaching doctrine...but we risk forgetting that our first task is to teach what it means to know Jesus Christ.’
At a Vatican press conference in 2023, he also said: ‘Our work is to enlarge the tent and to let everyone know they are welcome inside the Church.’
Among those who knew him well in Peru was Jesus Leon Angeles, a Catholic group coordinator in Chiclayo.
Leon Angeles said: ‘He is a person who likes to help.’
He described Prevost as ‘very simple’, someone who went out of his way for others, particularly Venezuelan migrants living in Peru.
More than 1.5 million Venezuelans had fled to Peru in recent years due to economic collapse in their home country.
Leon Angeles added: ‘But at the same time, he knows how to listen. He has that virtue.’
‘The cardinal has the courtesy to ask for an opinion, even if it's from the simplest or most humble person.
‘He knows how to listen to everyone.’
Prevost was fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, allowing him to connect with diverse communities around the world.
To see the moment the new pontiff was introduced to the world—and how the announcement unfolded—watch the video below.
Tap to watch the historic reveal and global reaction.
Source: BBC News
With Pope Leo XIV now leading the Church, do you think Pope Leo XIV will follow in Pope Francis’s footsteps or carve his own path?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A recent decision by the world’s Catholic cardinals has left many intrigued and curious about the Church’s future direction.
What emerged was a historic appointment, marking a new chapter for the 1.4-billion-member faith community.
A quiet figure from Chicago took centre stage as the world’s Catholic cardinals made a decision that surprised many.
Robert Prevost, aged 69, emerged as the new head of the 1.4-billion-member Church, stepping into the role with little international recognition.
He chose the name Pope Leo XIV and succeeded Pope Francis, who had led the Church since 2013.
Quiet Chicago cardinal becomes Pope Leo XIV. Image source: AAP/Ettore Ferrari
Though born in the United States, Prevost had dual nationality after becoming a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
He spent decades in Peru as a missionary and later served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023.
His career also included a leadership role in the global Augustinian religious order and later two six-year terms in Rome heading the order.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to run the Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops around the world.
That position gave him significant influence, helping to shape the Church’s leadership across continents.
Despite his high-ranking post, Prevost rarely engaged in the social events popular among Vatican officials.
A friend since the 1970s, Reverend Mark Francis, shared: ‘He was always friendly and warm and remained a voice of common sense and practical concerns for the Church's outreach to the poor.’
Francis, who attended seminary with Prevost and later lived in Rome during the same period, also said: ‘He has a wry sense of humour, but was not someone who sought the limelight.’
Prevost’s background included a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University, a master’s from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a doctorate in Church law from the Pontifical College of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He first arrived in Peru in 1985 and returned to the US in 1999 to take on leadership duties within the Augustinians.
He became a cardinal only in 2023, further underscoring his low public profile before the election.
In an interview that year with the Vatican’s news outlet, he said: ‘We are often preoccupied with teaching doctrine...but we risk forgetting that our first task is to teach what it means to know Jesus Christ.’
At a Vatican press conference in 2023, he also said: ‘Our work is to enlarge the tent and to let everyone know they are welcome inside the Church.’
Among those who knew him well in Peru was Jesus Leon Angeles, a Catholic group coordinator in Chiclayo.
Leon Angeles said: ‘He is a person who likes to help.’
He described Prevost as ‘very simple’, someone who went out of his way for others, particularly Venezuelan migrants living in Peru.
More than 1.5 million Venezuelans had fled to Peru in recent years due to economic collapse in their home country.
Leon Angeles added: ‘But at the same time, he knows how to listen. He has that virtue.’
‘The cardinal has the courtesy to ask for an opinion, even if it's from the simplest or most humble person.
‘He knows how to listen to everyone.’
Prevost was fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, allowing him to connect with diverse communities around the world.
To see the moment the new pontiff was introduced to the world—and how the announcement unfolded—watch the video below.
Tap to watch the historic reveal and global reaction.
Source: BBC News
With Pope Leo XIV now leading the Church, do you think Pope Leo XIV will follow in Pope Francis’s footsteps or carve his own path?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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