The Story of Pope Leo XIV/ Life from a Degree in Mathematics to Choosing a Religious Path

2025-05-10 09:14:00, Kuriozitete CNA

The Story of Pope Leo XIV/ Life from a Degree in Mathematics to Choosing a

Some 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide have a new spiritual leader: Pope Leo XIV.

The election of Robert Francis Prevost, who chose the name Leo XIV, as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church marks two historic firsts. Leo is the first American-born pope to lead the church and the first pope from the Augustinian order.

On Thursday, the new pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and gave a brief speech. His opening words were "Peace be with you all!"

The 69-year-old Pope added that he wanted his message of peace to "enter your hearts, reach your families and all people, wherever they are." During his address, he spoke in Italian, Spanish and Latin.

The Story of Pope Leo XIV/ Life from a Degree in Mathematics to Choosing a

The pope was born in Chicago in 1955, according to Vatican News. His father is of French and Italian descent, while his mother is of Spanish descent.

Leo studied at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. He went on to attend Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he received a degree in mathematics. He later pursued his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Although the new pope is American, one of the most important chapters of his ministry took place in Peru. Prevost served there for nearly two decades. He was named Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014, was made archbishop in 2023, and then a cardinal the following year. During his career, he has also taught canon law, patristics, and moral law.

The Story of Pope Leo XIV/ Life from a Degree in Mathematics to Choosing a

What are Pope Leo's views?

Early attention will focus on the pronouncements of Leo XIV to see whether he will continue his predecessor's reforms in the Roman Catholic Church.

By choosing his papal name, he showed a commitment to dynamic social issues, according to experts. The first pope to use the name Leo, whose papacy ended in 461, met with Attila the Hun and convinced him not to attack Rome.

The last Pope Leo led the Church from 1878 to 1903 and wrote an influential treatise on workers' rights.

Former Boston Archbishop Seán Patrick O'Malley wrote on his blog that the new Pope "has chosen a name widely associated with the social justice legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who was pope at a time of epic turmoil in the world, the time of the industrial revolution, the rise of Marxism, and widespread immigration." /CNA