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LEOPOPE

Timeline

Pope Leo XIV timeline

From Chicago and Peru to the conclave and the pontificate. Built to hold hundreds of events; filter by track below.

23 events

  1. Life

    Born in Chicago

    Robert Francis Prevost is born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of three sons of Louis and Mildred Prevost.

  2. Life

    Graduates from Villanova; enters the Augustinians

    Earns a mathematics degree from Villanova University and enters the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine.

  3. Life

    Ordained a priest in Rome

    Prevost is ordained to the priesthood as an Augustinian.

  4. Peru

    Begins missionary work in Peru

    Joins the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, beginning decades of ministry in Peru.

  5. Peru

    Moves to Trujillo

    For about a decade he directs the Augustinian formation house in Trujillo and teaches canon law, also serving as diocesan judicial vicar.

  6. Vatican

    Elected Prior General of the Augustinians

    Leads the worldwide Augustinian order for two six-year terms, until 2013, based in Rome.

  7. Peru

    Bishop of Chiclayo

    After a year as Apostolic Administrator, Prevost is confirmed as Bishop of Chiclayo; he also becomes a naturalised Peruvian citizen.

  8. Vatican

    Named Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops

    Pope Francis calls Prevost to Rome to lead the office that advises the pope on bishop appointments worldwide.

  9. Vatican

    Created cardinal

    Pope Francis makes Prevost a cardinal in a consistory.

  10. Major events

    Death of Pope Francis

    Pope Francis dies aged 88, opening the vacancy that leads to the 2025 conclave.

  11. Pontificate

    Elected pope; takes the name Leo XIV

    The conclave elects Cardinal Prevost on the fourth ballot. He appears on the loggia of St Peter's, greets the crowd with 'Peace be with you all', and gives the blessing Urbi et Orbi.

  12. Pontificate

    Explains the name to the College of Cardinals

    Links the name Leo to Leo XIII and Rerum novarum, and frames artificial intelligence as a defining challenge to human dignity and labour.

  13. Pontificate

    Inauguration Mass

    Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Mass for the beginning of his Petrine ministry in St Peter's Square.

  14. Pontificate

    Takes possession of St John Lateran

    He is installed at the Basilica of St John Lateran, his cathedral as Bishop of Rome.

  15. Pontificate

    Revives Castel Gandolfo as summer residence

    He resumes use of the papal residence outside Rome, which Pope Francis had turned into a museum.

  16. Major events

    Canonizes Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati

    The first canonizations of the pontificate; Carlo Acutis is widely described as the first millennial saint.

  17. Documents

    Publishes first exhortation, Dilexi te

    The apostolic exhortation on love for the poor, begun by Pope Francis and completed by Leo XIV, is released on the feast of St Francis.

  18. Travels

    First foreign trip: Turkey and Lebanon

    Pilgrimage to İznik for the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, followed by a visit to Lebanon.

  19. Travels

    Day visit to Monaco

    A one-day apostolic visit focused on diplomatic ties.

  20. Travels

    Apostolic journey to Africa

    Visits Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea; includes the Basilica of St Augustine in Annaba.

  21. Documents

    First encyclical: Magnifica humanitas

    'On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence', dated to the 135th anniversary of Rerum novarum.

  22. Travels

    Apostolic journey to Spain

    Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands; Corpus Christi, the completion of the Sagrada Família's central tower, the Gaudí centenary, and migration.

  23. Pontificate

    France journey announced

    The Holy See Press Office announces an apostolic journey to France on 25–28 September 2026, including a visit to UNESCO headquarters.