If you’ve seen the name popping up in your feed lately and wondered where is Leo XIV from, you aren’t alone. It’s not every day the world wakes up to a new Pope, let alone one with a background that feels more like a Chicago neighborhood barbecue than a Vatican gala.
Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is from the South Side of Chicago. Specifically, he grew up in a working-class suburb called Dolton, Illinois. He isn’t some distant European aristocrat. He’s a guy who grew up playing in the streets of the Windy City and, funnily enough, is a die-hard White Sox fan. In 2025, he made history as the first-ever American to be elected to the papacy.
From the South Side to the Holy See
Most people expect a Pope to have spent their whole life in a Roman seminary, but Leo’s path was way more "American Dream" than that. Born on September 14, 1955, at Mercy Hospital in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, his family roots are a wild mix of French, Italian, Spanish, and Louisiana Creole.
His mom, Mildred, was a librarian. His dad, Louis, was a school principal. You can kind of see how that "teacher-librarian" energy stuck with him. He went to a local Catholic elementary school and eventually headed off to Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
Wait, what did he study? Mathematics. Seriously.
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Most theologians spend their undergrad years deep in philosophy books, but Leo XIV has a B.S. in Math. That might explain why he’s so into word games and logic puzzles. His brother, John, recently let it slip that the Pope still plays Wordle every single morning. He even tries to beat his family in Words With Friends. It’s pretty wild to imagine the leader of the Catholic Church stressing over a five-letter word before heading into a meeting about global diplomacy.
A Second Home in the Andes
While he’s "from" Chicago, Leo XIV is also a citizen of Peru. He spent about 20 years living there, and he didn't just stay in the nice parts of Lima. He worked as a missionary in the trenches.
He moved to Peru in the mid-80s, serving as a priest and eventually becoming the Bishop of Chiclayo. This wasn't a temporary assignment; he fully immersed himself. He’s a naturalized Peruvian citizen, which makes him a dual-citizen Pope.
When people ask where is Leo XIV from, the answer is really a tale of two worlds. He brings that Chicago "no-nonsense" attitude, but it’s tempered by decades of working with the poor in Latin America. It’s why many Vatican watchers see him as a bridge-builder. He’s just as comfortable talking about the White Sox winning the 2005 World Series as he is discussing social justice in the Andes.
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Why the Name "Leo"?
The choice of "Leo XIV" wasn't accidental. The last Leo—Leo XIII—died way back in 1903. He was famous for Rerum Novarum, a massive document that fought for workers' rights during the Industrial Revolution.
Our current Leo wanted to signal that he’s focused on the "new" industrial revolution—AI and the digital age. He’s clearly tech-savvy. He even held a "Catholic Influencer" festival at the Vatican where he was treated like a rock star by priests and nuns who use TikTok to preach.
Surprising Connections and Hobbies
- Pop Culture Ties: In a bizarre twist of genealogy, researchers found he's distantly related to Madonna and Justin Bieber through a common Canadian ancestor from the 1600s.
- Tennis Fan: Forget soccer; this Pope is a tennis nut. He’s gone on record saying he’s looking for a chance to get back on the courts now that he’s settled into the Vatican.
- The "Conclave" Irony: Just before the actual 2025 conclave began, he was watching the movie Conclave. His brother joked that he wanted to see "how to behave" if things got real. Apparently, it worked.
What This Means for the Future
Because he’s the first American Pope, there’s a lot of pressure on him to navigate the messy politics of the U.S. Church. But he doesn't seem interested in the culture wars. He’s more about "dialogue" and "open arms."
He’s already pushed for climate action and has been vocal about the ethical use of AI. He isn't just a figurehead; he’s an intellectual with a math degree who knows how to code (or at least understands the logic of it).
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If you’re following his journey, the best way to keep up is to watch how he handles the intersection of technology and faith. He’s already started broadcasting from stadiums and using digital platforms in ways his predecessors never did.
To stay informed on his latest moves, you can follow the official Vatican News portal or keep an eye on the Augustinian Order's updates, as he remains deeply connected to his roots as an Augustinian friar.
Pay close attention to his upcoming encyclicals; if his "Leo" namesake is any indication, we’re about to see some very modern takes on how humans and machines should coexist in a moral world.