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Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, is the current head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, having been elected on May 8, 2025.

 He is a significant figure in papal history for several reasons: he is the first pope born in the United States, the first to hold Peruvian citizenship, and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine. Prevost's early life saw him attend St. Augustine Seminary High School and Villanova University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977. He entered the Augustinian order, making his first profession in 1978 and solemn vows in 1981. He received his theological education at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, in Rome, where he also pursued studies in Canon Law, earning a licentiate in 1984 and a doctorate in 1987 from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. A significant portion of his priestly life was spent in Peru, where he served in various capacities, including as director of a formation project for Augustinian candidates in Trujillo and as judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Trujillo. His experience in Peru gave him firsthand knowledge of political violence and inequality, and he was known for defending the human rights of communities against the Shining Path guerrilla organization.

From 2001 to 2013, Prevost served as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, based in Rome and traveling extensively around the world. In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo, and he was consecrated bishop later that year. He became the Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015 and served until 2023. During his time as bishop, he also served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Callao. In 2023, Pope Francis made him a cardinal and appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, as well as President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Throughout his career, Prevost has emphasized synodality, missionary dialogue, and engagement with contemporary challenges such as climate change, global migration, and human rights. Upon his election as Pope Leo XIV, he became the 267th pontiff.

His choice of papal name is said to be inspired by Pope Leo XIII, who modernized the papacy, and Leo XIV himself has expressed a view that the current moment calls for "cultural shifts" within the Church due to advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics. He is known for his calm and listening approach, a trait that was observed during his participation in the Synod on Synodality. His pontificate has begun with a focus on topics such as child protection, the importance of community in Christian life, and outreach to various ecclesial movements.