When the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel on May 8, 2025, a lot of people were scrambling to figure out exactly where the new guy was from. Robert Francis Prevost—now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV—is the first American to ever sit in the Chair of Peter. But if you talk to anyone in the coastal city of Chiclayo or the mountain-adjacent town of Chulucanas, they might give you a different answer. To them, he isn't just a visitor from Chicago.
So, is Robert Prevost Peruvian? The short answer is yes, but it’s a bit more complex than just where he was born. Legally, he holds dual citizenship. Emotionally and culturally? Well, he’s spent more than half his adult life in the "Land of the Incas." He didn't just visit; he naturalized.
The Chicago Roots and the Peruvian Pivot
Robert Prevost was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. His background is a bit of a Mediterranean melting pot: his father, Louis Marius Prevost, had French and Italian roots, while his mother, Mildred Martínez, was of Spanish descent. He grew up on the South Side, studied math at Villanova, and joined the Augustinians.
But things changed in 1985.
At just 30 years old, he was sent to the northern reaches of Peru. He landed in Chulucanas right after some of the worst El Niño flooding the region had ever seen. He wasn't sitting in a comfortable office. He was getting his hands dirty helping people whose homes had been washed away. This wasn't a short-term mission trip. It was the beginning of a forty-year relationship.
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Why People Ask: Is Robert Prevost Peruvian by Law?
The confusion about his nationality often stems from his 2014 appointment. When Pope Francis named him the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, things got official.
Under a 1980 agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Peru, certain high-ranking church officials are required to be Peruvian citizens. Prevost didn't hesitate. He became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015.
He isn't "Peruvian-ish." He carries the passport. He votes there. He lived through the "Shining Path" (Sendero Luminoso) insurgency in the 80s and 90s, a terrifying time of car bombs and blackouts that forged his outlook on justice and human rights. Honestly, if you live through a civil war and a decade-long dictatorship with a people, you're one of them.
A Timeline of a Dual Life
- 1955: Born in Chicago, Illinois.
- 1985: Arrives in Peru as a young missionary.
- 1988–1998: Leads the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo.
- 1999–2013: Returns to the U.S. and eventually Rome to lead the Augustinian Order globally.
- 2014: Returns to Peru as Bishop of Chiclayo.
- 2015: Becomes a naturalized Peruvian citizen.
- 2023: Appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Dicastery for Bishops in the Vatican.
- 2025: Elected Pope Leo XIV.
The "Least American" American
During the 2025 Conclave, there was a lot of talk about the "taboo" of having a pope from a global superpower like the United States. Many cardinals were worried it would look too political. Prevost was the "fix" for that.
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Italian newspapers often called him "the least American of the Americans." Because he spent so much time in the Global South, his perspective isn't tied to the culture wars of the U.S. Church. He speaks fluent Spanish with a distinct Peruvian lilt. In fact, during his very first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's, he famously switched from Italian to Spanish to give a shout-out to his "beloved diocese of Chiclayo."
People in Peru were literally dancing in the streets, shouting, "The Pope is Peruvian!" Even if the history books say he’s from Illinois, the heart of his ministry belongs to the Andes.
Beyond the Passport: His Impact on Peru
Prevost wasn't just a figurehead in Chiclayo. He was a vocal defender of democracy during Peru's recent years of political chaos. He didn't shy away from calling out corruption or demanding that former leaders ask for forgiveness for human rights abuses.
He also took on the "Sodalitium" scandal, a massive abuse case within a Peruvian lay organization, showing a grit that many locals respected. He wasn't an outsider looking in; he was a citizen dealing with his own country's mess.
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Real-World Takeaways
If you’re trying to understand the man now leading the Catholic Church, don't just look at his birthplace.
- Dual Identity is Key: He is the bridge between the wealthy North and the developing South.
- Missionary First: His "Peruvian-ness" comes from his work with the poor in Chulucanas, not just a legal document.
- The "Roberto" Factor: To thousands of Peruvians, he is still "Padre Roberto." That humility is likely how he’ll approach his papacy.
To wrap this up, Robert Prevost is legally both American and Peruvian. He represents a new kind of global leader—someone who isn't defined by a single border. If you want to follow his journey as Pope Leo XIV, look at how he handles issues like migration and poverty. Those were the daily realities of his life in Trujillo and Chiclayo for decades.
To stay updated on his upcoming travels—including a rumored "homecoming" visit to Lima and Chiclayo later this year—you can follow the official Vatican News bulletins or the Peruvian Episcopal Conference's updates.
Next Steps:
- Monitor the Vatican Press Office for the announcement of Leo XIV's first apostolic journey to South America.
- Research the Augustinian Order's history in Peru to see the specific missions where Prevost spent his formative years.