Career Timeline of Pope Leo XIV: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Pope Leo XIV made an impact.

Pope Leo XIV is the leader of the Catholic Church and the sovereign of Vatican City. He is the first Pope born in the United States and the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenships. He is also the first from the Order of Saint Augustine and the second from the Americas to hold the papacy.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

September 1, 1977: Entered Order of Saint Augustine's Novitiate

On September 1, 1977, Prevost entered the Order of Saint Augustine's novitiate in the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel.

1977: Entered Order of Saint Augustine

In 1977, Prevost became a friar in the Order of Saint Augustine.

September 2, 1978: Took First Vows

On September 2, 1978, Prevost took his first vows.

September 10, 1981: Ordained a Deacon

On September 10, 1981, Prevost was ordained a deacon by Thomas Gumbleton.

June 19, 1982: Ordained a Priest

On June 19, 1982, Prevost was ordained a priest in Rome.

1982: Obtained Master of Divinity

In 1982, Prevost obtained a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Catholic Theological Union and taught physics and math at St. Rita of Cascia High School.

1982: Ordained as Priest

In 1982, Prevost was ordained as a priest.

1985: Joined Augustinian Mission in Peru

In 1985, Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru, serving as chancellor of the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas, as well as an aide to bishop John McNabb.

1987: Publication of Doctoral Dissertation

In 1987, Prevost's doctoral dissertation, "The Office and Authority of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine", was published by the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

1987: Returned to Illinois as Vocation Director

In 1987, after defending his doctoral thesis, Prevost was vocation director and missions director of the Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Olympia Fields, Illinois.

1988: Returned to Peru

In 1988, Prevost returned to Peru.

1992: Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Montserrat

In 1992, Prevost became the parochial administrator of Our Lady of Montserrat, Trujillo, a position he held until 1999.

1998: Elected Prior Provincial

In 1998, Prevost was elected Prior Provincial of the Order of St. Augustine's Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel based in Chicago.

March 8, 1999: Assumed Role as Prior Provincial

On March 8, 1999, Prevost assumed the role of Prior Provincial of the Order of St. Augustine's Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel based in Chicago.

1999: End of Term as Parochial Administrator

In 1999, Prevost's term as parochial administrator of Our Lady of Montserrat, Trujillo ended.

2001: Elected Prior General

In 2001, Prevost was elected prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine.

2002: Publication of the Order of Saint Augustine

In 2002, when Prevost was global head of the Augustinians, the Rule and Constitutions of the Order of Saint Augustine was issued by Authority of the Prior General, Robert F. Prevost.

2013: Director of Formation

From 2013, Prevost served as director of formation at the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago.

2013: End of Second Term as Prior General

In 2013, Prevost concluded his two consecutive six-year terms as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine.

November 3, 2014: Appointed Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo

On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as the apostolic administrator of Chiclayo and the titular bishop of Sufar.

December 12, 2014: Consecrated as Titular Bishop of Sufar

On December 12, 2014, Prevost was consecrated as the titular bishop of Sufar at St. Mary Cathedral by Archbishop Green.

2014: Provincial Vicar

In 2014, Prevost served as first councilor and provincial vicar of the province of Our Mother of Good Counsel.

September 26, 2015: Named Bishop of Chiclayo

On September 26, 2015, Prevost was named Bishop of Chiclayo.

2015: Became Bishop of Chiclayo

In 2015, Prevost returned to Peru and became Bishop of Chiclayo.

July 13, 2019: Appointed to Congregation for the Clergy

On July 13, 2019, Prevost was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy.

April 15, 2020: Became Apostolic Administrator of Callao

On April 15, 2020, Prevost became apostolic administrator of Callao.

November 21, 2020: Joined Congregation for Bishops

On November 21, 2020, Prevost joined the Congregation for Bishops.

January 30, 2023: Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops

On January 30, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops with the title Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo.

May 2023: Views on Synodality and Episcopal Leadership

In May 2023, Prevost discussed synodality, suggesting the participation and co-responsibility of all the faithful could address polarization in the church, and stated that episcopal leadership should prioritize faith over administration.

May 2023: Participated in Latin American Episcopal Council Meetings

In May 2023, Prevost participated in the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council meetings in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

September 30, 2023: Prevost created Cardinal

On September 30, 2023, Francis created Prevost a cardinal with the rank of Cardinal-Deacon and assigned him the deaconry of Santa Monica degli Agostiniani, which increased his visibility within the church and elevated his prominence as a papal candidate.

2023: Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops

In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome, and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Upon his return to Rome, Prevost was made a cardinal.

2023: Law Allowing Women to Become President of the Pontifical Commission

In 2023, a law allowed women to become president of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.

November 2024: Pope advocates for stronger church action on climate change

In a November 2024 seminar, the Pope advocated for stronger church action on climate change, stating that "dominion over nature" should not be "tyrannical".

February 6, 2025: Prevost promoted to cardinal-bishop

On February 6, 2025, Francis promoted Prevost to cardinal-bishop and assigned him as titular bishop of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano.

May 8, 2025: Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV

On May 8, 2025, Prevost was elected pope on the fourth ballot of the conclave and chose the papal name Leo XIV.

May 18, 2025: Inauguration Mass in St. Peter's Square

During his Inauguration Mass in St. Peter's Square on May 18, 2025, Leo XIV used the ferula of Pope Paul VI.

June 5, 2025: Nomination of Joseph Lin Yuntuan

On June 5, 2025, Leo nominated Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou.

June 2025: Urging Reason Following Israeli Strikes

Following the Israeli strikes on Iran in June 2025, Leo urged Iranian and Israeli authorities to act with "reason".

September 7, 2025: Canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati

On September 7, 2025, Leo presided over the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati at a mass in Saint Peter's Square.

September 2025: Permission for Tridentine Mass

In September 2025, Leo gave permission for the Tridentine Mass to be said in St. Peter's Basilica, the first time such permission had been granted since the promulgation of Traditionis custodes in 2021.

October 2025: Religious Freedom Address

In October 2025, Leo stated that religious freedom is "not optional but essential" during an audience with pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need, before the launch of its Religious Freedom in the World Report.

November 2025: First International Trip to Turkey

In November 2025, Leo XIV's first international trip as pontiff was to Turkey to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea with other Christians.

November 21, 2025: Amendment to Vatican City State Law

On November 21, 2025, Leo signed an amendment to the 2023 law allowing women to become president of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.

November 27, 2025: First Overseas Visit to Turkey

On November 27, 2025, Leo made his first overseas visit as pope, arriving in Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea with Patriarch Bartholomew of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

2025: Elected Pope Leo XIV

In 2025, Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV in a conclave. He chose the name Leo XIV to echo Leo XIII's concern for workers and fairness, and as a response to the challenges of a new industrial revolution and artificial intelligence.

2025: Pope praises Laudato si'

Shortly after his election in 2025, the Pope praised the document Laudato si' and said that it was "even more relevant today", ten years after it was written.