10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Pope Leo XIV
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost stepped onto the Vatican balcony as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, he made history as the first U.S.-born pontiff. Here are 10 surprising facts about his journey.
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10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Pope Leo XIV
10. He Holds A Degree In MathematicsBefore studying theology in Rome, Robert Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977.
9. He Grew Up A Chicago White Sox FanRaised on Chicago's South Side, the future pontiff grew up cheering for the Chicago White Sox.
8. He Is An Avid Amateur Tennis PlayerKnown affectionately as the "Tennis Pope," he has long enjoyed playing matches on Rome's clay courts.
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7. He Speaks Five Languages FluentlyA true polyglot, he converses effortlessly in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Latin.
6. He Is A Naturalized Peruvian CitizenAfter decades of missionary service in South America, he became a dual U.S.-Peruvian citizen in 2015.
5. He Built A Seminary Mission In TrujilloDuring the late 1980s and 1990s, he spent over a decade forming future priests in northern Peru.
4. He Is The First Augustinian PopeElected in May 2025, he is the first member of the Order of Saint Augustine to ascend to the papacy.
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3. His Coat Of Arms Bears A Pierced HeartHis papal shield features the Augustinian emblem of a flaming heart resting atop an open book.
2. His Name Honors A 19th-Century ReformerReviving a papal name last used in 1903, he paid tribute to the father of Catholic social teaching.
1. He Made History As The First U.S.-Born PopeOn May 8, 2025, he was elected the 267th pontiff, shattering a long-standing geopolitical taboo.
