With serene smile and tears of emotion. This has been presented Robert Prevost before his parishioners and the entire world this Thursday from the main balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro. The new Pope Leo XIV He is an affable, dialogue and very dear man in Peru, where he has lived for three decades as a missionary. At 69 he is a great passionate about sport, specifically tennis (he was playing in Rome before entering Santa Marta’s residence to participate in the conclave), and regular user of X, former Twitter, where he opened a personal account in August 2011 and has more than 162,000 followers.
Born in Chicago in 1955, he has Spanish roots by Mother (Mildred Martínez) and Franco-Toalianas on the paternal side (Louis Marius Prevost), so he speaks perfectly English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, in addition to having knowledge of Latin and German. He began his studies at the Minor Seminary of the PP. Agustinos, graduating in 1973, and continued at the Villanova University, obtaining the degree in mathematical sciences and a specialization in philosophy. He also studied at the Catholic Theological Union, where he received a master’s degree in Divinity with a mention in intercultural mission, and subsequently moved to Rome, where he completed his studies in Canon Law at the Angelicum University, the same in which he obtained the doctorate with mention ‘Magna Cum Laude’.
At 26 he was ordained a priest and moved to Peru, where he began a long and important work as a missionary that left a mark not only on a personal level but also academic, as he exercised as a teaching as training director, teacher of professors or director of studies in the Archdiocese of Trujillo. He worked in communities of Chulucanas, Iquitos and Apurímac, collaborating closely with the Augustinians, and focused his social work on the poorest and most marginalized.
He had a magnificent relationship with his predecessor, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, with which he shared his concern for the environment and immigration, among many other things. On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed him holder of Sufar and Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo; On November 21, 2020, he appointed him a member of the Congregation for Bishops; And on September 30, 2023, he obtained the title of Cardinal Deacon of Santa Monica.
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