On behalf of St Patrick’s College Jaffna Alumni Association UK, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th pope.
On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the papal namePope Leo XIV.This historic election marks the first time an American has ascended to the papacy in the Church’s over 2,000-year history.
🕊️ About Pope Leo XIV
Full Name:Robert Francis Prevost
Date of Birth:September 14, 1955
Birthplace:Chicago, Illinois, USA
Religious Order:Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.)
Motto:In illo uno unum (“In the one Christ we are one”)
🌍 Ministry and Service
Pope Leo XIV has had a distinguished career within the Church:
Missionary Work in Peru: He spent several years in Peru, initially as a missionary and later serving as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. His deep commitment to the Peruvian people led him to acquire Peruvian citizenship in 2015.
Leadership Roles:
Prior General of the Augustinians: 2001–2013
Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops: Appointed in 2023, overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide
President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America: Since 2023
📖 Education
Pope Leo XIV holds advanced degrees in theology and canon law:
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics: Villanova University
Master of Divinity: Catholic Theological Union, Chicago
Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law: Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome