New Delhi, May 9 -- In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th pope on May 8, 2025, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. At 69, he becomes the first American-born pope, marking a significant milestone in the Church's global evolution.

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost grew up in Dolton, a suburb south of the city. His upbringing was deeply rooted in service: his father, Louis Marius Prevost, was a US Navy veteran and school administrator, while his mother, Mildred Martinez, brought a Spanish heritage that shaped his multicultural worldview. He is the middle of three brothers.

Prevost's academic path combined faith and intellect. After attending the minor ...