Question
What languages does Pope Leo XIV speak?
Answer
Pope Leo XIV speaks English (his first language), Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, and reads Latin and German. His years in Peru and in the Roman Curia account for this range.
Last updated 2026-08-26
In more detail
Multilingualism is practically essential for a pope, who addresses pilgrims from around the world each week and conducts diplomacy with many states. Commentators have noted he uses English in public less often than some expected, favouring Italian and Spanish.
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Sources
- Official sourceVatican News — Biography of Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV · Official biography · May 8, 2025
- ArchiveWikipedia — Pope Leo XIV — Wikipedia · Background reference, continuously updated
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