The current Pope is Pope Leo XIV, elected on 8 May 2025, and serving as the 267th Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, he is the first pope from the United States and also spent many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru, giving him strong ties to both North and South America.
He chose the name “Leo” in honour of earlier reforming popes such as Leo XIII, signalling an interest in social teaching, justice, and engagement with modern global issues. From the start of his papacy, Leo XIV has been closely associated with themes like peace, migration, climate responsibility, and dialogue between cultures and religions.
His leadership style has been described as pastoral but increasingly outspoken. In 2026, during a major tour of Africa, he delivered strong speeches against inequality, corruption, and global conflict, positioning the Church as a moral voice in international affairs.
Leo XIV also emphasises synodality, meaning shared decision-making within the Church, and has continued reforms begun by his predecessor Pope Francis. He is seen as a figure trying to balance tradition with modern challenges such as artificial intelligence, migration pressures, and geopolitical instability.
Overall, Pope Leo XIV represents a relatively new papal era: globally connected, socially engaged, and more openly vocal on world affairs than many of his predecessors.