Peoria Standard

As the world observed on Thursday, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Illinois was elected as the new Pope, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first American to hold this position. He has chosen the papal name Leo XIV.

Born in Chicago in September 1955, Pope Leo XIV grew up in the south suburbs and attended St. Mary of the Assumption parish in Dolton. He was ordained in 1982 and later earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas.

The new Pope is seen by some as representing "a dignified middle of the road." At 69 years old, he studied at Villanova University before spending much of his life abroad, primarily in Peru where he became a naturalized citizen and worked as a missionary. He later served as archbishop and became Bishop of Chiclayo starting in 2015.

In 2023, his predecessor Pope Francis appointed him to the Dicastery for Bishops, a Vatican office responsible for overseeing worldwide appointments of bishops. Pope Francis also named him president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

A communications director from his former diocese in Chiclayo told the Associated Press that "no matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy." Last year, he emphasized service by stating that "the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom," but should be "called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them."

On Thursday afternoon, Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) announced the election news on the Illinois House floor and expressed her well wishes for Pope Leo XIV. “We are so excited and praying for Pope Leo XIV that he is able to guide the entire world in a peaceful manner,” Hammond said.

Find out more about Pope Leo XIV from the Associated Press.