Jason Horowitz

But now we have Pope Leo XIV, who has clearly broken that taboo.

But now we have Pope Leo XIV, who has clearly broken that taboo.

Yeah, so he was born in Chicago in 1955. And in a way, he's got a very American story. His father was of French and Italian descent. His mother was of Spanish descent. And it's clearly a very religious family. He enters the seminary pretty soon in his adolescence, and he's drawn to the Augustinian Fathers, which is a religious order. And he ends up at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

Yeah, so he was born in Chicago in 1955. And in a way, he's got a very American story. His father was of French and Italian descent. His mother was of Spanish descent. And it's clearly a very religious family. He enters the seminary pretty soon in his adolescence, and he's drawn to the Augustinian Fathers, which is a religious order. And he ends up at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

So, you know, it's also sort of stunning when very American when you think that the Pope went to Villanova, which a lot of people know from March Madness, you know? Right. So what else do we know about him? So like a lot of bright young things in the church, he is sent off to Rome where he studies theology and then he studies canon law.

So, you know, it's also sort of stunning when very American when you think that the Pope went to Villanova, which a lot of people know from March Madness, you know? Right. So what else do we know about him? So like a lot of bright young things in the church, he is sent off to Rome where he studies theology and then he studies canon law.

But then his story sort of changes and this sort of very American story takes a more international turn. And he's told this story before.

But then his story sort of changes and this sort of very American story takes a more international turn. And he's told this story before.

In 1985, Prevost is sent to Peru as a missionary, and that really changes his life.

In 1985, Prevost is sent to Peru as a missionary, and that really changes his life.

And he spends a lot of time out in Peru and he really becomes committed to the country and to the Catholics there that he ends up taking Peruvian citizenship And it really becomes core to his identity. In many ways, you know, yes, he has dual citizenship, the United States and Peru, but also he sort of projects himself as Peruvian in a way.

And he spends a lot of time out in Peru and he really becomes committed to the country and to the Catholics there that he ends up taking Peruvian citizenship And it really becomes core to his identity. In many ways, you know, yes, he has dual citizenship, the United States and Peru, but also he sort of projects himself as Peruvian in a way.

He's very much, you know, sees himself as part of South America as much as North America.

He's very much, you know, sees himself as part of South America as much as North America.

Yeah, I think that that's right. Pope Francis really was shaped by his experience in Argentina. And the brand of Catholicism there was something that I think that Francis saw himself a little bit, perhaps, in Prevost. And that's one of the reasons that, you know, he brought him to Rome.

Yeah, I think that that's right. Pope Francis really was shaped by his experience in Argentina. And the brand of Catholicism there was something that I think that Francis saw himself a little bit, perhaps, in Prevost. And that's one of the reasons that, you know, he brought him to Rome.

So Michael, do you remember when we talked last time and I mentioned that Francis really believed, like many in the Vatican, that personnel was policy? I do. I think that what he really needed to do was to bring people in who saw the world the way he saw the world. And that's where Prevost came in.

So Michael, do you remember when we talked last time and I mentioned that Francis really believed, like many in the Vatican, that personnel was policy? I do. I think that what he really needed to do was to bring people in who saw the world the way he saw the world. And that's where Prevost came in.

In 2015, he appointed him bishop. in Peru, but he also ends up bringing them back to Rome. And in 2023, he ends up heading up the Office for Bishops, which is this major job inside the Vatican, which is in charge of all the bishops all across the world.

In 2015, he appointed him bishop. in Peru, but he also ends up bringing them back to Rome. And in 2023, he ends up heading up the Office for Bishops, which is this major job inside the Vatican, which is in charge of all the bishops all across the world.