History of Pope Leo XIV in Timeline

Pope Leo XIV is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. He marks several firsts: the first Pope born in the United States and North America, the first with U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first born after World War II, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas. These distinctions highlight his unique background and place in papal history.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

September 14, 1955: Robert Francis Prevost Born

On September 14, 1955, Robert Francis Prevost, who later became Pope Leo XIV, was born. He is the first pope born in the United States and the first from North America.

Others born on this day/year

1969: Attended St. Augustine Seminary High School

From 1969, Robert Francis Prevost attended St. Augustine Seminary High School, a minor seminary near Saugatuck, Michigan, until 1973.

1973: Attended St. Augustine Seminary High School

From 1969 to 1973, Robert Francis Prevost attended St. Augustine Seminary High School, a minor seminary near Saugatuck, Michigan.

1973: Enrolled in Villanova University

In 1973, after Tolentine College closed, Robert Francis Prevost enrolled in Villanova University.

September 1, 1977: Joined the Order of Saint Augustine

On September 1, 1977, Robert Francis Prevost joined the Order of Saint Augustine as a novice.

1977: Became a Friar

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

1977: Earned Bachelor of Science Degree

In 1977, Robert Francis Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Villanova University.

September 2, 1978: Took First Vows

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

September 10, 1981: Ordained a Deacon

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

June 19, 1982: Ordained a Priest

On June 19, 1982, Robert Francis Prevost was ordained a priest in Rome by Archbishop Jean Jadot.

1982: Obtained Master of Divinity

In 1982, Robert Francis 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 a Priest

In 1982, Robert Francis Prevost was ordained as a priest.

1984: Earned Licentiate of Canon Law

In 1984, Robert Francis Prevost earned a Licentiate of Canon Law (JCL) from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

1985: Joined Augustinian Mission

In 1985, Robert Francis Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru, serving as chancellor of the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas.

1986: Served as chancellor

In 1986, Robert Francis Prevost served as chancellor of the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas and an aide to bishop John McNabb.

1987: Earned Doctor of Canon Law Degree

In 1987, Robert Francis Prevost earned a Doctor of Canon Law (JCD) degree from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

1987: Vocation and Missions Director

In 1987, after defending his doctoral thesis, Robert Francis Prevost became 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, Robert Francis Prevost returned to Peru after working in Illinois and Wisconsin.

1998: Elected Prior Provincial

In 1998, Robert Francis 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, Robert Francis Prevost assumed the role of Prior Provincial of the Order of St. Augustine's Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel based in Chicago.

2000: Permitted Priest to Reside at Friary

In 2000, Robert Francis Prevost permitted James Ray, an Augustinian priest accused of sexual abuse, to reside at St. John Stone Friary in Chicago under supervision.

2001: Elected Prior General

In 2001, Robert Francis Prevost was elected Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine.

2004: Met Cardinal Bergoglio

In 2004, Robert Francis Prevost visited Buenos Aires and met Cardinal Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio for the first time.

2005: Attendance at the World Series

In 2005, Leo was in attendance at US Cellular Field for Game 1 of the World Series.

2013: Director of Formation

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

2013: Returned to Peru as Bishop

In 2013, Robert Francis Prevost returned to Peru.

2013: End of Term as Prior General

In 2013, Robert Francis Prevost's tenure as the global head of the Augustinian order concluded, after serving two consecutive, six-year terms.

November 3, 2014: Appointed Apostolic Administrator

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

December 12, 2014: Consecrated as Bishop

On December 12, 2014, Robert Francis Prevost was consecrated as bishop at St. Mary Cathedral by Archbishop James Green.

2014: Director of Formation

Until 2014, Robert Francis Prevost served as director of formation at the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago.

September 26, 2015: Named Bishop of Chiclayo

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

2015: Bishop of Chiclayo

In 2015, Robert Francis Prevost became Bishop of Chiclayo.

2017: Criticized Pardon of Fujimori

In 2017, Robert Francis Prevost criticized President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's decision to pardon Alberto Fujimori, calling for Fujimori to apologize for injustices.

July 13, 2019: Appointed to Congregation for the Clergy

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

April 15, 2020: Became Apostolic Administrator of Callao

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

November 21, 2020: Joined Congregation for Bishops

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

March 1, 2021: Private Audience with Pope Francis

On March 1, 2021, Robert Francis Prevost had a private audience with Pope Francis.

April 2022: Met with Alleged Victims

In April 2022, the Diocese of Chiclayo stated that Robert Francis Prevost met with Ana María Quispe and her sisters to personally attend to them.

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

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

May 2023: Participated in Council Meetings

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

September 30, 2023: Created a Cardinal

On September 30, 2023, Pope Francis created Robert Francis Prevost a cardinal with the rank of Cardinal-Deacon.

October 2023: Appointed to Additional Dicasteries

In October 2023, Pope Francis appointed Robert Francis Prevost as a member of seven additional dicasteries and named him to the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.

2023: Appointed Prefect

In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Robert Francis Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

2023: Made a Cardinal

In 2023, upon returning to Rome, Robert Francis Prevost was made a cardinal by Pope Francis and addressed issues such as climate change, global migration, church governance, and human rights.

August 2024: Remarks on Liturgy

In August 2024, speaking to a Chicago-area parish, Prevost stated that "liturgy needs to be beautiful to help us, to strengthen us in our faith."

2024: Investigation Doubts

In 2024, the sisters stated that no full penal canonical investigation occurred, and an investigation by América Televisión concluded that the church's investigation was not thorough.

February 6, 2025: Promotion to Cardinal-Bishop

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

April 2025: Assessment as a Moderate Figure

In April 2025, the Italian newspaper la Repubblica described Prevost as a "cosmopolitan and shy figure" appreciated by both conservatives and progressives within the church, highlighting his perceived moderate stance.

May 8, 2025: Election as Pope

On May 8, 2025, Prevost was elected pope, taking the name Leo XIV, on the second day of the conclave after four ballots. The announcement was made from St. Peter's Basilica.

May 2025: Speculation on Reinterpreting Fiducia Supplicans

In May 2025, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested that Pope Leo XIV "might re-interpret" Fiducia Supplicans, but not "abolish" it.

May 2025: Views on Family

In May 2025, Leo XIV stated that governments should build peaceful societies "above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman."

May 18, 2025: Inauguration Mass

On May 18, 2025, during his Inauguration Mass in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV used the ferula of Pope Paul VI which is most commonly associated with Pope John Paul II, and frequently used by Francis.

June 2025: Call for Reason in Israeli-Iranian Conflict

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

July 6, 2025: Revival of Summer Residence at Castel Gandolfo

On July 6, 2025, Pope Leo XIV revived the papal practice of taking summer residence at the Castel Gandolfo, a tradition which Pope Francis had discontinued.

July 2025: Views on Fiducia Supplicans

In July 2025, Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Vatican doctrine office, stated that he believed the blessing of those in same-sex unions, approved under Pope Francis, would continue under Pope Leo.

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

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

September 2025: Meeting with Reverend James J. Martin

In September 2025, Pope Leo XIV assured Reverend James J. Martin, a major advocate for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Church, that he would continue Francis' legacy of welcoming LGBTQ+ people into the Church.

September 2025: Views on the War

In September 2025, Pope Leo XIV said that the Vatican "at this time" cannot define the war as a "genocide", but he also noted that more and more people have described it as such. Leo also issued prayers for those affected by the clashes in southern Syria, and the 2025 Cambodia–Thailand clashes.