Pope Robert F.

Pope Robert F
name	Pope Robert F
Personal details
religion	Christianity

Pope Robert F, with the papal name "Leo XIV", an American-Peruvian national, is the current Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025 AD. He was elected to this position on 8 May 2025 AD, upon the appearance of white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on the second day of the "Cardinals"Template:Efn conclave. His previous roles include President of the "Dicastery for Bishops" in the Vatican, Bishop of Chiclayo, another city in Peru, from 2014 AD to 2023 AD, Superior General or "Prior General" of the Augustinian religious order, and missionary and later Archbishop in Peru. Pope Leo XIV is known as a moderate figure who seeks to bridge the gap between conservative and liberal tendencies within the Church. In his first address, he emphasized peace and unity, saying: "Peace be with you all!".

Biography

Pope Robert F, known as "Leo XIV", was born on 14 September 1955 AD in Chicago, America. In addition to American citizenship, he is also a citizen of Peru, a country where he served for many years as a missionary and later as Archbishop. This dual cultural experience is considered one of his unique characteristics among the cardinals and has drawn attention.

Background

• Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State from 8 May 2025 AD;
• President of the "Dicastery for Bishops" in the Vatican;
• Bishop of Chiclayo, another city in Peru, from 2014 AD to 2023 AD;
• Superior General or "Prior General" of the Augustinian religious order;
• Missionary and later Archbishop in Peru.

Confidant of Pope Francis

Pope Robert F was summoned to the Vatican in 2023 AD by Pope Francis and appointed President of the "Dicastery for Bishops", a powerful office responsible for reviewing and selecting episcopal candidates from around the world. This appointment indicated the deep trust Pope Francis had in him and Prevost's special position within the Vatican's decision-making structure.

More than an American

The longstanding taboo against electing a Pope from the United States, due to that country's geopolitical power, has always been a major challenge. However, Italian media have given Prevost the title "the least American of Americans". Years of living and serving in Peru and holding citizenship of that country have given him a more international profile and lessened this challenge for him.

Global Leadership Experience

Prevost had previously been elected for two terms as the Superior General or "Prior General" of the Augustinian religious order, an order founded in the 13th century by Saint Augustine. This leadership experience in a global religious organization has provided him with valuable experience for managing the complex affairs of the Vatican and sets him apart. A significant portion of his activities were within Augustinian missionary teams, where he gained particular renown and credibility for his multifaceted efficiency and his ability to provide moderate leadership between left-leaning bishops inclined towards "liberation theology" and conservatives influenced by "Opus Dei", successfully maintaining balance.

Management of the Dicastery for Bishops in the Vatican

In the last two years, through his strong management of the "Dicastery for Bishops" in the Vatican, he has solidified his reputation as an effective administrator. This position has placed him in direct contact with the global hierarchy of the Catholic Church and created an extensive network for him.

Heir to the Francis Reforms

Prevost's election can be seen as consolidating the legacy of Pope Francis, but with greater emphasis on quiet competence and managerial skill rather than charismatic fervor. This approach could be a reassuring and encouraging option for many of the elector cardinals seeking stability and continuity of reforms.

Modernism in Action

During his tenure in Rome, although he maintained a low-profile public presence, he played a key role in one of Pope Francis's most revolutionary reforms: adding three women to the voting body that decides on presenting episcopal candidates to the Pope. This action demonstrates his open and modernist outlook. Despite concerns about Prevost's relatively young age and the possibility of a long papacy, the majority of elector cardinals overlooked these worries. His election as the first Pope from the United States is a historic transformation for the Catholic Church, and the Christian world will follow the future with curiosity.

Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State

Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State on 8 May 2025 AD, following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025 AD. This election occurred after white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, a sign that the cardinals had reached an agreement on the second day of the secret meeting (conclave). In this meeting, 133 eligible voting cardinals were present, all of whom were sequestered in the Vatican during the conclave. To be elected Pope, a candidate had to secure two-thirds of the votes.

Letter from Ayatollah A'rafi to the Pope

Ayatollah Alireza A'rafi, head of Iran's seminaries, in light of the recent American-Zionist crimes against the oppressed nation of Iran and the assassination and martyrdom of Iran's supreme leader, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, and a number of our country's commanders, sent an important letter to Pope Leo XIV, leader of the world's Catholics, the text of which is as follows;

With a heart full of sorrow and a spirit wounded by the intensity of oppression and injustice, I write this message to you under circumstances where the nation of Iran and the world of Shiism have been plunged into immense and unprecedented mourning. The pen falters in writing and the tongue in speaking, but human and religious duty necessitates that the cry of a nation's victimhood reach the ears of the world, (especially spiritual leaders who call for peace and justice).

As you are aware, in the early hours of Saturday, 9 Esfand 1404 (28 February 2026), America and the usurping Zionist regime, in a devilish alliance, committed a great and unprecedented crime against the independent and Islamic country of Iran.

In this unmanly aggression, which mocked all international laws and humanitarian principles, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the supreme authority of the Shiite world and the wise leader of the Islamic Revolution, while performing his duty in his office in Tehran, along with a number of his companions and family members, attained the great blessing of martyrdom at the hands of the enemy. He was a staunch supporter of the rights of minorities, especially Iranian Christians.

However, this unmanly assassination was not merely a simple war crime. The deliberate targeting of the highest religious authority of a denomination with several hundred million followers, who was also held in special esteem by nearly two billion Muslims worldwide—an act considered an unprecedented crime in the history of religions and a clear insult to all followers of divine religions—opens a "new chapter of audacity" whereby any bullying power may in the future consider the life of any spiritual leader a legitimate target!

Undoubtedly, what caused the threats against the life of this great authority over the past decades was his full-fledged and fearless defense of the victimhood of the Palestinian nation and the valiant resistance of the people of Gaza against genocide and occupation; an issue which you yourself have repeatedly and explicitly condemned and called a clear example of the killing of innocents.

On the other hand, simultaneously with this attack, the aggressor regime, with utter barbarity, in a heart-wrenching and unforgettable act that shook the awakened conscience of humanity, targeted a girls' primary school in the city of Minab in an aerial bombardment. In this horrific crime, nearly 170 innocent students aged 8 to 12 were slaughtered.

The images of the bodies of these little angels and their schoolbags and shoes left under the rubble pain the heart of every free human being. Today, defending the children of Minab, like the children of Gaza, is a moral, religious, and human responsibility for all of us to prevent the repetition of such tragedies against children.

You, as the leader of Catholic Christians and a standard-bearer of interfaith dialogue and global peace, have always been a defender of the oppressed and a herald of human dignity. Today, the peace-loving and religious nation of Iran is in agonizing grief before the eyes of the world's awakened consciences.

It is expected that the Holy See, as an independent religious and moral institution, will condemn these heinous crimes, which are clear examples of "war crimes", "crimes against humanity", and "insolence towards the sanctity of religious leaders", with a loud voice and deny any connection between this crime and the compassionate teachings of Christianity.

Views

Pope Leo XIV identified the illusion of absolute power as a factor exacerbating the joint war of America and Israel against Iran and called for the establishment of peace. He added: Enough of selfishness and worship of money! Enough of displays of power! Enough of war! In his strongest statement to date, he condemned the illusion of absolute power that fuels the flames of war by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran and called on political leaders to stop and negotiate for peace.

The leader of the world's Catholics, on the same day that negotiations between Iran and the United States began in Pakistan and coinciding with the establishment of a fragile ceasefire, held an evening prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica.

Reactions

Statement by a Group of Iranian Sunni Scholars

His Excellency Robert Francis Prevost

Pope Leo XIV, Supreme Leader of the World's Catholics

May the great and merciful God's peace be upon you and all the free people of the world who, following the teachings of the divine prophets, have adopted steadfastness against the arrogant tyrants and oppressors and, fearlessly, cry out the voice of love, truth-seeking, and defense of the oppressed. Your recent courageous stance against the rebelliousness of the ill-conducted rulers of America and the usurping Zionist regime towards the free people of the world, especially the steadfast and God-believing nations of Iran, Lebanon, and Palestine, reflects Your Excellency's admirable commitment and sense of responsibility in defending truth and providing spiritual guidance to human society against the tyranny of the false and violent pharaohs of our time towards innocent children, women, and men, and will undoubtedly record your name and action among the prominent reformers and influential religious clergy of the present era.

This stance demonstrated to what extent the concern of reforming scholars and true servants of the pure divine religions, including Your Excellency, who carry the call and message of the great Prophet Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), can be effective in raising awareness, awakening human society, and defending ethics and humanity. We, a group of Iranian Sunni religious scholars, while declaring the steadfastness and intolerance of oppression by the general public of Iran, including Muslims and our dear followers of other pure heavenly religions, for our part thank you for your appropriate and courageous stance as the supreme leader of the world's Catholics and hope that under the enlightening teachings of the pure divine religions, human society, by repelling the evil of rebellious arrogant powers and disrupters of peace and friendship, will soon reach the shore of salvation and global oppression and injustice will give way to love, justice, ethics, and development of service to God's servants.

Letter from Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani to the Pope

Grand Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani wrote in a letter to the leader of the world's Catholics:

Undoubtedly, your courageous stance against American arrogance and corrupt Zionism was among the most necessary positions, which will globally and eternally record your name and conduct. This stance showed that throughout history there have always been insightful scholars from the pure divine religions who defend humanity and human rights, even at great cost to themselves. For our part, we thank you for your rightful stance as the respected leader of the world's Catholics and bearer of the call of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him). It is clear that what you expressed exists in the deepest layers of the religious texts of Islam. Hoping for the formation of a global coalition of followers of religions based on the teachings of the divine prophets and under the shadow of the appearance of the righteous and universal reformer.

Letter from Ayatollah Araki to the Pope

His Excellency Pope Leo XIV Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church

With utmost respect, I write this letter to you under circumstances where your resonant voice in defense of peace and justice shines like a lamp in the darkness of warmongers and power-seekers. In a world where the logic of force has replaced dialogue and the threat of destroying civilizations has become the normal policy of the arrogant and oppressive American president. Your Excellency has risen to the aid of millions of defenseless humans, victims of war, displaced persons, and mothers who have lost their children in the fire of bombardment, and you speak in their support. When you called the threat of "destroying an entire civilization" and "aggression against other countries" "completely unacceptable," you issued not a political statement, but the cry of humanity's moral conscience. Your Excellency demonstrated that following the Gospel means standing against the illusion of arrogant power which is the source of wars and insecurities.

The publication of the fake image of Trump in the guise of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) was a blasphemous act and an insult to the sanctities of all divine religions and an assault on the beliefs of billions of Christians and Muslims in the world. You rightly warned that "the message of the Gospel must not be misused." This action shows how far some power-seekers can go in distorting truths and insulting sanctities for self-aggrandizement and deceiving public opinion. But truth can never be covered by lies and insults.

Your Excellency; you proved that the leadership of the Church neither bows before bullies nor remains silent to preserve political interests. The insults and threats of Trump not only do not shake your position but add to the loftiness and honor of your stances. History will remember the men of peace, not those who, by insulting sanctities and threatening civilizations, have left nothing but shame and disgrace for themselves. The insult of Trump to the respected leader of the world's Catholics is, in truth, an insult to millions of humans who live in hope of a peaceful life. He thinks that with harsh rhetoric he can silence the voice of conscience; unaware that this insult is a document of the corruption, decadence, and baseness of the insulter and his petty and sick character. In conclusion, we once again value and thank you for this valuable stance and beseech the great God for the establishment of justice and peace throughout the world. Mohsen Araki 29 Farvardin 1405 [18 April 2026]

See also

• Catholicism
• Christianity
• Pope Francis

References

• The new Pope introduced / Robert F. Prevost, the first American Pope, website of the Ahlul Bayt International News Agency; ABNA, Date of publication: 18 Ordibehesht 1404 SH, Date of viewing: 19 Ordibehesht 1404 SH.
• Who is the first American Pope in history?, Shargh Network website, Date of publication: 18 Ordibehesht 1404 SH, Date of viewing: 19 Ordibehesht 1404 SH.
• Cardinal "Robert Francis Prevost" from America elected as the new Pope, Asr Iran analytical news site, Date of publication: 18 Ordibehesht 1404 SH, Date of viewing: 19 Ordibehesht 1404 SH.