When the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on May 8, 2025, the world wasn't just looking at a new pontiff. It was looking at a massive shift in geopolitical history. For the first time ever, a man born in the United States—Robert Francis Prevost—stepped onto the balcony as Pope Leo XIV.
But if you ask about the Robert Francis Prevost nationality, the answer isn't as simple as "American." Honestly, it’s a lot more interesting than that.
While he was born on the South Side of Chicago, Prevost is a man of dual citizenship, carrying both a U.S. and a Peruvian passport. This isn't just a fun fact for a trivia night. It’s the primary reason the College of Cardinals felt comfortable breaking the centuries-old "superpower taboo." For a long time, the idea of an American pope was seen as a non-starter. People worried that a U.S. pope would look like an extension of Washington’s foreign policy.
Prevost changed that narrative because, in his heart and on his papers, he’s just as much a son of the Andes as he is a kid from Illinois.
The Chicago Roots: Where it All Started
Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, at Mercy Hospital in Chicago.
He grew up in Dolton, a suburb that hugs the city's edge. His family background is a complete melting pot. His father, Louis Marius Prevost, had French and Italian roots and was a Navy veteran who saw action at Normandy. His mother, Mildred Agnes Martínez, came from a mixed-race Black Creole family in Louisiana with Spanish heritage.
So, right from birth, his "nationality" was already a blend of several cultures. He went to Villanova University, got a degree in math, and then joined the Augustinians.
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Life in the United States
- Born: Chicago, Illinois.
- Education: Villanova (Pennsylvania) and Catholic Theological Union (Chicago).
- Early Career: Served as a provincial in the Chicago-based province of the Augustinians.
The Peruvian Transformation
In 1985, everything changed. Prevost was sent to Peru as a missionary.
He didn't just visit; he stayed. For decades. He lived in Chulucanas and Trujillo, working in the trenches of the church. He taught canon law, ran seminaries, and eventually became the Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.
That’s the year he officially became a naturalized Peruvian citizen.
When he speaks Spanish, it’s with a distinct Peruvian lilt. He lived through the country’s political upheavals and stood with the poor during times of intense social unrest. By the time Pope Francis called him back to Rome in 2023 to lead the Dicastery for Bishops, the "American" label had mostly been replaced by something more global.
In the Vatican, his colleagues jokingly called him the "Latin American Yankee."
Why His Dual Citizenship Changed the Papacy
You’ve got to understand the weight of the Robert Francis Prevost nationality debate within the Vatican walls. Before the 2025 conclave, the "taboo" against a U.S. pope was real. The Church usually tries to stay neutral in global politics. Picking a pope from the world's largest military and economic power felt like a risk.
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However, Prevost’s dual status acted as a "diplomatic bridge."
He wasn't just "the guy from Chicago." He was the guy who spent 20+ years in the Global South. He understood the struggles of the campesinos (farmers) in Northern Peru and the challenges of the middle class in the Midwest. This "universal" identity is what allowed the 133 cardinals to cast their votes for him after only four rounds.
Breaking Down the Nationalities
- United States: By birth and upbringing.
- Peru: By naturalization (2015) and decades of missionary service.
- Vatican City: By virtue of his role as a Cardinal and now Sovereign.
The Man Behind the Passports
Beyond the legal documents, Prevost is known as a centrist. He’s "cosmopolitan yet shy," according to Italian newspapers like La Repubblica.
He took the name Leo XIV as a nod to Leo XIII, the pope who pioneered Catholic social teaching during the industrial revolution. It's a signal that he plans to focus on workers' rights and the ethics of the "new" industrial revolution—artificial intelligence and global migration.
It’s pretty clear that his identity as a dual citizen will shape how he handles the U.S.-Latin American relationship. He’s already used his first speeches to talk about the "shared humanity" across the hemisphere, specifically defending the rights of migrants—a topic he knows well after seeing over 1.5 million Venezuelans seek asylum in Peru during his time there.
What This Means for the Future
If you're following the papacy of Leo XIV, keep an eye on his travel schedule.
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His first international trips aren't expected to be just to the "big" power centers. Because of his background, he has a unique ability to talk to the United States about Latin America in a way that doesn't feel like a lecture from a stranger.
He is, quite literally, one of them.
The story of the Robert Francis Prevost nationality is ultimately a story about the changing face of the Catholic Church. It’s no longer just European-centric. By electing a man who is both a "Yankee" and a "Peruvian," the Church has signaled that the future belongs to those who can walk between two worlds.
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To get a better sense of how his background influences his leadership, you should look into the history of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), the religious order he belongs to. Their focus on community and "one heart, one mind" is central to his philosophy. Additionally, reading his early encyclicals on social justice and AI will likely show the "Chicago-Peruvian" blend of pragmatism and pastoral care that defined his career before he ever wore the white cassock.