07/05/2026
POPE LEO XIV MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF PAPAL ELECTION
On May 8, 2025, the Catholic Church witnessed a historic moment as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. He became the first American-born pope in the history of the Church, marking an important moment for Catholics around the world.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV was raised in a simple and faith-filled Catholic family. Together with his two brothers, he grew up in the village of Dolton, where his vocation was nurtured at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish. As a young boy, Robert Prevost served actively in the Church as a student, choir member, and altar server.
His parents played a big role in shaping his faith and character. His father, Louis Prevost, was an educator who served as superintendent of Glenwood School District 167 and principal of the former Mount Carmel Elementary School in Chicago Heights. His mother, Mildred Prevost, worked in Catholic institutions as a librarian and dedicated her life to education and service.
After graduating from St. Maryβs in 1969, Prevost continued his studies at St. Augustine Seminary High School. He later studied at Tolentine Seminary in Olympia Fields before attending Villanova University. He eventually joined the Order of Saint Augustine and spent many years serving as a missionary in Peru before being called to serve in the Vatican.
From being a simple altar server in Chicago to becoming the Successor of St. Peter, the life of Pope Leo XIV reminds us that God can call ordinary people to fulfill extraordinary missions in the Church.
As we celebrate the first anniversary of his papal election, may Pope Leo XIV continue to guide the Church with wisdom, humility, and faith.
