A new Pope has emerged in the Catholic Church after series of votes by the Cardinals in the Conclave.
The new Pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who currently serves as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops—one of the most influential roles in the Vatican.
He was born on 14 September, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
He is of American nationality and has Peruvian and Latin American connections through his missionary work.
He joined the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), a mendicant order in the Catholic Church, known for its emphasis on community life and service.
He studied in Rome, earning degrees in theology and canon law, and was ordained a Priest in 1982.
He spent much of his early priesthood in Peru as a missionary and worked in Chulucanas, a poor and rural diocese in northern Peru.
Prevost held key roles in the Augustinian community there and was known for his pastoral work, formation of seminarians, and advocacy for the poor.
Between 2001 and 2013, he served as Prior General of the Augustinian Order (Rome), overseeing their global operations. He was elected twice, showing strong support from the order worldwide.
In 2014, the late Pope Francis appointed him as Apostolic Administrator and then Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru—a sign of his continued deep connection with the country.
Similarly in 2023, the late Pope Francis appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, succeeding Cardinal Marc Ouellet.
This office is responsible for selecting and overseeing bishops worldwide, making him a key figure in shaping the episcopate under Francis’ reform-minded pontificate.
He was made a Cardinal in September 2023.
Prevost is known for having pastoral and missionary mindset and places emphasis on synodality, humility, and listening—core themes in Pope Francis’ vision.
The new Pope has experience both in the Global South and in the administrative heart of the Church.
