Habemus papam! The Basilica is delighted to congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Successor of Saint Peter! In today’s post, we invite you to learn five things about Pope Leo XIV and how his papacy has already made history.
1. His given name was Robert Francis Prevost.
Whenever a cardinal is chosen by the conclave to become pope, he chooses a new name. Presently, this custom is not outlined by official rules; however, it is traditionally understood that in changing his name, a new pontiff signals the emphasis he intends to have in his leadership. Of the 13 popes who have preceded Robert with the name Leo, perhaps the most well-known is Leo the Great, who was known for his diplomacy and theological leadership. The last pope to take the name prior to Pope Leo XIV is known for writing the encyclical Rerum Novarum in response to the Industrial Revolution, addressing workers’ rights and emphasizing the church’s role in social issues.
2. Leo XIV is the first pope born in the United States.
Pope Francis made history by becoming the first pope from the Americas; Pope Leo XIV marks another historic milestone by becoming the first pontiff born in the United States, hailing from Chicago. His parents, Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martínez, are of French-Italian descent and Spanish descent, respectively.
3. He is the first Augustinian pope.
First founded in 1244, the Augustinian order now has approximately 2,800 members across 47 countries. Before becoming pope, Pope Leo XIV served in different leadership positions with the Augustinians – as Provincial Prior of the Augustinian Province of “Mother of Good Counsel” in Chicago starting in 1999, and as the Prior General of the ordinary General Chapter of the Order of Saint Augustine a few years later.
Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms honors his Augustinian heritage by featuring the Augustinian seal of the burning heart along with a fleur de lis signifying the Immaculate Conception.
4. He once celebrated Mass at the National Shrine.
In 2023, Robert Prevost celebrated a private Mass at the National Shrine. He’s not the first pope to have visited the National Shrine prior to his election; Pope John Paul II visited the National Shrine in 1969, when he was still known as Karol Józef Wojtyła. It wasn’t until October 7, 1979, that he visited the National Shrine as reigning pope – becoming the first do so.
5. Pope Leo XIV’s episcopal motto is “In Illo uno unum”— meaning “In the One, we are one.”
This motto reflects Pope Leo XIV’s Augustinian heritage, being adapted from an excerpt from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127: “[A]lthough we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”
In a 2023 interview discussing his motto, he explained:
“As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of Saint Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking. I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me promoting unity and communion is fundamental.”
As part of his focus on unity, Pope Leo XIV has embraced a global outlook through his career; as bishop, he served for 20 years in Peru in two different cities and is a dual citizen in Peru and the United States. He also speaks Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and English.
As we enter this new chapter in Church history, we invite you to join with the faithful from around the world in praying for Pope Leo XIV and asking God to bless his papacy.
Join the Basilica in Celebrating Pope Leo XIV
We invite you to join us virtually and in person on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 12:00 Noon ET, for a Mass of Thanksgiving upon the Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, coinciding with our new Holy Father’s formal inauguration in St. Peter’s Square.
Banner photo and photo on left from AP.