Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova University alumnus, elected as first American pontiff
Villanova University alumnus Cardinal Robert Prevost has been chosen by the cardinal electors of the Catholic Church, ending the 2025 papal conclave after just one day of seclusion in the Vatican. Prevost, who chose Leo XIV as his papal name, was selected to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics and succeed Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV is the first pope born in the United States and the first Augustinian friar to be elected pontiff.
Villanova University's connection to the new pope
Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, Pope Leo XIV graduated from Villanova with a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1977. The pope is a member of the Augustinian religious order and was elected the top leader of the order twice.
"As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our university community and the global church. Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason — between spirituality and wisdom," Villanova University President Rev. Peter Donohue said in a statement.
"With today's election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world," Donohue added. "Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV's leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission."
Pope Leo XIV's election brings joyous end of semester at Villanova
The surprise announcement punctuated the end of the semester at Villanova University on Thursday, and then there was a joyous reaction across campus.
Villanova theology professor Jaisy Joseph described the moment on the campus in Delaware County when the community learned a graduate of 1977 would be the new Pope Leo XIV as "insane."
"We all couldn't believe what we just heard. I honestly thought I was delusional," Joseph said. "I was like, 'Did I want it so bad that I made it up?' So it was silence, and then it was just joy."
Joseph and sophomore Amos Colocho were in Rome in October for a special gathering that included then-Cardinal Prevost.
"I'm not Catholic, so I crossed my arms to reject the communion when it was given to me, and he gave me the blessing," Colocho said. "And thinking about that now, it's honestly insane that the pope blessed me when I went up to him."
Joseph believes that as an Augustinian pontiff, Pope Leo XIV will foster community and friendship.
"These are charisms of the Augustinian movement, of the Augustinian order," Joseph said. "And I think that's going to really align well with the legacy of Pope Francis, who was all about synodality, deep listening, communal discernment, but really an us, a we."
"I nearly fell out of my chair."
Rev. Peter Donahue, the president of Villanova, was a classmate of Pope Leo XIV. Rev. Donahue said he was surprised when Prevost's name was revealed, but knew he was always so proud of his relationship with Villanova.
"When the cardinal that came out to announce it said 'Roberto Francesco,' and I knew that was his name. And I was like 'Oh my God,' I nearly fell out of my chair," Donahue said while laughing. "He was always very proud of being a Villanova alum."
Donahue said he called in a favor with his former classmate a couple of years ago and is looking to revisit the ask.
"A couple of years ago, I asked him to be the commencement speaker, but he was unable to do it so maybe I'll ask him again. See if he can do it now," Donahue said.
Pope Leo XIV known to some as "our brother Bob"
In an article about Pope Leo XIV's selection as a cardinal, the former head of the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, referred to him as "our brother Bob."
Augustinians are followers of St. Augustine, a North African monk and bishop born in 354 AD, who was keenly aware of human nature and desires for community. The order says its members are "called to Restlessness," a quality seen as a "divine gift."
"Restlessness is that desire to be filled and fulfilled. We all have it. We try to ignore at times, but still it remains. We Augustinians believe that it can direct us to God," Augustinian Vocations of North America says on its website.
After Villanova, he studied at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago and was ordained a priest in 1982.
Before he was named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, Prevost was named prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, an office that helps the pope make bishop appointments around the world.
The Chicago-born pontiff also spent two decades in Peru as an Augustinian missionary and later as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. He's a dual citizen of the U.S. and Peru.
A pontiff "for every person of good will"
Archbishop Nelson Perez was appointed as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in January 2020. Perez and Pope Leo XIV worked together when the new pope served as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
In a statement, the archbishop said he saw firsthand how "wonderful, gentle, humble and spiritual man of God" Pope Leo XIV is.
"Pope Leo XIV will be a pastor not just for Catholics, but for every person of good will. He is a man of deep faith and extraordinary intellectual ability who understands the pastoral needs of our richly diverse Church as well as the challenges of our modern society," Perez said. "I know that his papacy will be marked by a desire for genuine Christian encounter with all people and that it will be filled with the compassionate love of Jesus Christ."
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, issued a congratulations to Pope Leo XIV, who has "roots right here in our commonwealth."
"May your papacy be marked by strength, courage, compassion, and humility as you lead the Catholic Church forward," Shapiro wrote on X.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholics celebrate Pope Leo XIV
There was a gasp of air inside the archdiocesan office center in Philadelphia, where dozens of employees watched as the announcement was made. It was a dramatic revelation, as the new pope has strong ties to Philadelphia and Delaware County.
Monsignor John Savinski was given the orders Thursday to be ready to ring the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul's bells.
Moments earlier, the retired pastor from Delaware County was saying Mass as white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel. Most of the crowd at Mass had no idea that a choice had been made and that there was a new pope. But like a switch, things got hectic.
For Savinski, words were hard to find to capture the emotion.
"This is very exciting," Savinski said. "It's so exciting. There's such a void when there's no Holy Father."
Next door to the cathedral, staff from the archdiocese watched the introduction of the new pope.
Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre said it was a shock to hear about Pope Leo XIV's strong ties to the Delaware Valley.
"It's quite a shock or a surprise," McIntyre said. "I never expected to see one of the Americans walk out on the balcony, to be honest with you. But I suspect, as the cardinals talked those days when they had the daily congregational meetings and got to know each other and had a chance to speak about the church and its needs at this point in its history, that candidates began to emerge. And perhaps, perhaps, he was a candidate that came out of the middle."
While Pope Leo XIV was the prior general of the Augustinian order in 2004, he visited Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast High School, which is located in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.
"We offer our prayers as he begins this sacred journey of leadership," Bonner Prendergast wrote on X.
Carol Tamburino, who lives in Philadelphia's Spring Garden neighborhood, said it was a moment she'll always keep with her.
"I'll never forget, and I'm so happy to be able to see it and be around for it," Tamburino said. "I know he's from Chicago, but I think he went to Villanova. That has me really wild."
Sources say Pope Leo XIV was due to be in Philadelphia in August for an Augustinian event in Center City. It's unclear what becomes of that now.
