Pope Leo XIV: First American Pope – Bio, Salary & LGBTQ Stance

When white smoke curled above the Sistine Chapel on May 8, 2025, the world met a pope unlike any before him: an American. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago took the name Leo XIV, becoming the first pontiff born in the United States and the first from the Augustinian order.

Born: September 14, 1955 (age 69) ·
Papal name: Leo XIV ·
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA ·
Previous role: Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops ·
Election date: May 8, 2025 ·
Order: Augustinian

The table below captures the key biographical data for Pope Leo XIV.

The pattern: Leo XIV’s biography breaks two historical molds at once.

Why is Pope Leo special?

Leo XIV is the first pope born in the United States, according to the Vatican’s official news service (Vatican News). He’s also the second pope from the Americas after Pope Francis, and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, as noted by NPR.

First American pope

• Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, on September 14, 1955 (Vatican News)
• Major U.S. media described him as the first American pope immediately after the conclave announcement (The New York Times)

First Augustinian pope

• He is a member of the Augustinian order, a first for the papacy (NPR)
• He led the Augustinians for two consecutive terms before election (Vatican News)

Background of Robert Francis Prevost

His parents were Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martínez, and he has deep ties to Latin America through missionary work in Peru (Vatican News). He became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015, according to Britannica. He studied mathematics at Villanova University before theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago (CNN).

Does a pope get a salary?

The pope does not receive a salary; he is provided for entirely by the Vatican. There’s no personal income from the papacy — the office’s expenses are covered by Vatican funds, a detail that reflects the church’s structure rather than personal wealth. What this means: papal compensation is not a paycheck but an institutional allowance, tied to the role, not the individual.

Did Pope Leo have a wife?

Pope Leo XIV is not married. As a Catholic priest, he took a vow of celibacy, which is required for all priests and bishops in the Latin Church. His marital status is a matter of canon law, not personal choice alone — the celibacy rule for priests is a longstanding discipline, and for a pope, it’s an absolute condition. The implication: questions about a papal spouse misunderstand the office’s foundational commitments.

Has Pope Leo got children?

Pope Leo XIV has no children. He has never been married, and his life has been devoted to the priesthood and missionary work since ordination in 1982, according to BBC News. His family, however, includes a brother, though no public details about him have been widely reported.

Does Pope Leo believe in LGBTQ?

As of May 2025, Pope Leo XIV has not made any public statements on LGBTQ rights. The Catholic Church’s official teaching, however, holds that homosexual acts are sinful but calls for respect and dignity toward LGBTQ individuals. His silence is notable given his predecessor’s more pastoral openness — and it leaves room for either continuity or change. The trade-off: the global Catholic community waits to see if his Latino missionary experience shapes a different pastoral tone.

Frequently asked questions

The new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955…

Vatican News (Vatican News)

Robert Francis Prevost is the first clergyman from the US to lead the Roman Catholic church.

The Guardian (The Guardian)

For Catholics in the United States, the election of Leo XIV is a moment of visibility after centuries of European and Latin American leadership. For the global church, his Peruvian missionary background signals continuity with Francis’s outward focus. The choice is clear: watch his early appointments and public statements, or watch from the sidelines.