Robert Prevost Elected First American Pope

In what was the quickest papal conclave, the Catholic Cardinals selected Robert Prevost to succeed Pope Francis. After two days, Prevost, whose odds were low on Polymarket and in online discussions relative to other contenders, like Parolin or Tagle, and represents the first American pope. Historically, Rome condemned the American Revolution mainly through the Bishop of London, and the Catholic Church has generally been averse to elevating Americans. Yet after 250 years, this is a remarkable shift as Prevost was, while not a longshot, certainly not a favorite for the papacy.

In 1955, Prevost was born in Chicago. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, focusing on the role of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.

He spent much of his career in Peru, where he was a missionary and seminary teacher throughout the 1980s. In 2001, he was elected Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, where he served until 2013, and in 2015 became the Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. In 2023, Pope Francis named him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In 2022, Pope Francis named three women to the Dicastery for Bishops, which was overseen by Prevost. In summary, Prevost has had a distinguished career and served in a role which pertained to the appointment of bishops.

Analysis

Pope Leo XIV represents more of the same with the Catholic Church. While many were expecting a more moderate or even a conservative pontiff, the cardinals essentially delivered a successor who was of similar mind to Pope Francis. Romanists will suggest that this does not refute the long-term trend towards conservatism within the Catholic Church; however, there is a difference between an American conservative and any other type of conservative. Whether or not they would truly be able to reflect the purported shift in seminaries remains to be seen, as does whether this shift exists outside the United States.

The new pope is a dual citizen with loyalties to both America and Peru. He served with Caritas Peru, which is a Catholic NGO that helps facilitate mass immigration into the US. Back in February, Prevost challenged JD Vance’s appeal to Ordo Amoris, wherein Americans should love their countrymen over foreigners. Despite all the upheaval in the West caused by mass immigration, one should expect that Prevost will champion the invasion of Western nations by third-worlders, much like his predecessor. Perhaps for this reason, he was chosen. Whereas most popes were against the Islamic incursion into Europe, this one seems to be pro-migrant, just like Francis, regardless of whether his theology is better on paper.

At 69 years of age, Prevost will likely serve over a decade, longer than Francis, while having experience in the highest offices of the Catholic Church. Overall, he might be considered a “moderate” choice, but moderates have a tendency of being indistinguishable from liberals.