Just seventeen days after the passing of the beloved Pope Francis, white smoke appeared at the top of the Sistine Chapel.
This signaled that the Roman Catholic Church had a new leader, Pope Leo XIV. But few people knew anything about him.
Everyone was asking, who was this man, and what were his beliefs? And how similar or different would he be from the progressive and compassionate Pope before him?
If you’re curious to know more about the man who runs the Vatican, keep reading. We’re about to reveal who Pope Leo XIV truly is with these interesting facts about him.
Pope Leo XIV was born 70 years ago on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, but grew up in nearby Dolton, Illinois.
He chose the name Leo after being elected pope as a tribute to Pope Leo XIII, a huge advocate of workers’ rights. His birth name, given by his parents, is actually Robert Francis Prevost.
His mother, Mildred Agnes Prevost, was a high school librarian. Leo’s father, Louis Marius Prevost, was a Navy veteran, a school principal, and later served as school superintendent.
Pope Leo XIV has a very close relationship with his two older brothers. Louis Martín Prevost, his eldest brother, served in the navy just like their father, while his other brother, John Joseph Prevost, is a retired educator.
As a kid, he always knew he wanted to be a priest. He would use an ironing board as his altar while playing the role of a priest during pretend Mass with his brothers.
Like any good catholic, Pope Leo XIV was very active in his local parish of St. Mary of the Assumption, singing in the choir and serving as an altar boy.
On September 1, 1977, he formally began his journey to become an Augustinian Friar in St Louis, Missouri. He was finally ordained a priest in Rome on June 19, 1982, by Archbishop Jean Jadot.
He moved to Peru in 1985 for missionary work but was back in the US by 1999. However, at the instruction of Pope Francis, he returned to Peru in 2014 as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo.
One of Pope Leo XIV’s hidden talents is his ability to resurrect broken-down cars. During his time in Peru as a bishop, he would buy used cars and fix them for parish use. And whenever he encountered a vehicle with a particularly challenging problem, he would turn to YouTube tutorials for divine inspiration.
He holds dual citizenship, being American by birth and Peruvian by naturalization in 2015.
The Holy Father is a math whiz, having earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977.
During his time at university, the Pope worked as a groundskeeper at the cemetery of Saint Denis Roman Catholic Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania.
The Pope is a polyglot and can speak English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. He also knows a little German and can read Latin.
One of Pope Leo XIV’s favorite sports is tennis, humbly describing himself as an amateur who can hold their own on the court.
Like a true Chicagoan, Pope Leo XIV supports the home teams, including the Chicago White Sox Baseball and the Chicago Bears NFL teams. He was even at the 2005 World Series to cheer on the White Sox.
He was appointed a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and was elected the 267th Pope on May 8, 2025.
One of the ways His Holiness unwinds is by playing Wordle and Words With Friends. And guess what? He played Wordle right before the papal election.
Just hours before entering the real papal conclave, Pope Leo XIV watched the 2024 movie, Conclave.
The Pope has some pretty famous distant cousins. He shares a common ancestor, Louis Boucher de Grandpre, with Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Justin Bieber, Hillary Clinton, and Justin Trudeau!
Pope Leo XIV broke several records when he was elected, becoming the first American, Peruvian, and Augustinian pope.
Could you imagine one of the world’s most influential religious leaders relaxing after a long day with a game of Wordle?
Pope Leo XIV’s election might have come as a surprise, but a closer look reveals he’s far more grounded than you might expect.
Really, with his love of sports, cars, family, and Wordle, he might as well be called the Holy Dad!
