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Meet Pope Leo XIV: The First Pope from the U.S.

This year, the Catholic Church welcomed a new Holy Father when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. was elected as the 267^th Bishop of Rome! Here are a few interesting facts to help you get to know our new Pope:

1. He chose the Papal name of Leo XIV.

• The Holy Father said he chose the name “Leo” because he was greatly inspired by Pope Leo XIII. Leo XIII was Pope during the Industrial Revolution and is known for championing Catholic social teaching during a time when the world was changing on a rapid scale. Pope Leo XIV said the Church faces a similar time now, particularly with the development of artificial intelligence.

2. He is the first Pope from the United States of America.

• A native of Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV instantly made history as the first American pope. His childhood home is located in Dolton, Illinois which is on the south side of Chicago. According to his family, Pope Leo knew from a young age that he wanted to become a priest. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982.

3. He is a member of the Augustinian Order.

• Throughout his entire vocation, Pope Leo XIV has been deeply devoted to the Augustinian Order. He completed his secondary education at the Augustinian Minor Seminary in 1973 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University (founded by the Augustinians) in 1977. While obtaining his doctorate, his thesis focused on the role of the local prior in the Augustinian order. He served as Prior General of the Augustinian Order from 2001 – 2013.

4. He served as a missionary in Peru from 1985 – 1998.

• Pope Leo XIV has a great love for mission work and was very inspired by his time serving in Peru. When he first stepped out onto the balcony as Pope, he extended a special greeting to the Diocese of Chiclayo. While in Peru, Pope Leo XIV spent many years serving the poor, teaching seminarians, traveling to rural communities to bring them the Eucharist, and more. Pope Leo XIV is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru.

5. He is fluent in 5 languages.

• Like many of his predecessors, Pope Leo XIV has a great talent for mastering languages. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese. He is also able to read Latin and German. This is a gift for the Holy Father as it allows him to be able to more easily connect with many Catholics from countries around the world by speaking to them in their native language.

Pope Leo’s election has certainly sparked a “pilgrimage boom,” with U.S. pilgrims. Since his election in May 2025, until now, the third week of October, 206 Tours has had 43 Pilgrimage groups attend the Papal Audience in Rome. There is great joy as these pilgrims have the opportunity to greet the new Holy Father, so proud of the fact that he is from their homeland.

If you would like to see Pope Leo XIV in person, you can attend a Papal Audience on a Pilgrimage to Rome with 206 Tours! Every Wednesday (pending the Papal schedule), pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square (or Audience Hall depending on the weather) to greet the Holy Father, listen to a brief teaching, and receive his blessing. It is a very special experience to see the Successor of St. Peter in person.

Travel to Rome and See Pope Leo XIV: www.206tours.com/pope

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