Pope Leo XIV Attended Prestigious University in America
Thursday marked an extremely important day in the Catholic Church, as Pope Leo XIV was chosen as its 267th leader.
Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, will be the first American pontiff in history.
The new Pope was born in Chicago in 1955, and earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University in Philadelphia.
Alongside his fellow cardinals, American Cardinal Robert Prevost—born in Chicago, educated at Villanova, and a longtime missionary in Peru, takes the traditional oath to reject all secular influence ahead of the conclave.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 7, 2025
Though historically unlikely, an American papacy is no… pic.twitter.com/8HbOaYci6X
Several notable figures have studied at Villanova, including former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte and several sports stars like Jalen Brunson and Brian Westbrook.
The university is one of the most prominent Catholic institutions in America, and was founded by an organization established as part of the old Saint Augustine's Church.
Leo XIV joined the Order of St. Augustine months after completing his degree, and took his solemn vows four years later.
Over 130 cardinals deliberated over the last two days to determine the new Pope, and black smoke initially rose from the top of the Vatican on Wednesday. The signal indicated that a choice had yet to be made, but white smoke emerged from the chimney the following day.
The new Pope is prepared for his first greeting and blessing with papal robes as well as the official confirmation of the cardinals' vote.
Leo XIV will succeed Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. Francis was known for championing more progressive causes than his predecessors, as well for his focus and advocacy for marginalized groups.
The timing of Leo XIV's election is in line with recent papal conclaves, most of which have lasted between several hours and multiple days. Centuries ago, conclaves could take years as cardinals assessed the qualities and readiness of potential candidates.
For his first address to Catholics, Leo XIV asked church members to “enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are.”
He also noted that after the passing of Pope Francis, the church is ready to "move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other.”
We'll see what the future holds for Pope Leo XIV in the coming months and years, and we'll also get to see how the rest of the world reacts to the election of the first American Pope.