Srilanka, May 18 -- Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, has made history as the first American to ascend to the Papacy. His inaugural Holy Mass is scheduled for today, marking the commencement of his leadership in the Roman Catholic Church.

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents of French, Italian, and Spanish descent, Robert Prevost pursued his early education at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. He later attended the Villanova University in Pennsylvania, earning a degree in Mathematics and studying Philosophy in 1977.

His commitment to service led him to missionary work in Peru, where he spent several years ministering to local communities. His experiences there deeply influenced his Pastoral...