Why didn’t Robert Francis Prevost speak in English? Languages spoken by the new American Pope Leo XIV

Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost (Chicago, Illinois, September 14, 1955), has been named the new Pope.

His path to the papacy has been shaped by a blend of pastoral work and high-level administrative duties, making him one of the leading contenders to succeed Pope Francis. With his appointment, he becomes the first American Pope in history, and the fourth pontiff of the 21st century, following John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.

Prior to his election, he served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, roles he had held since January 2023. He now takes over from Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the leader of the Catholic Church.

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Academic background and languages

After graduating from high school in 1973, Prevost earned a degree in Mathematical Sciences from Villanova University, a private Catholic institution affiliated with the Order of St. Augustine, located just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He went on to receive a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, followed by a licentiate and doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. This rigorous academic training has been key to his rise within the Church’s leadership ranks.

Prevost is a polyglot who speaks English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. He also reads Latin and German. His fluency in Spanish, in particular, has helped him forge strong bonds with Latin American communities over decades of ministry and mission work.

Why the Pope didn’t speak in English in his first address

Though he is a native English speaker, Pope Leo XIV delivered his first public remarks in Italian and Spanish, languages he has used throughout much of his ecclesiastical career.

While no explanation was given for his decision not to speak any words in English, as a longtime missionary in Peru and a senior figure in the Vatican, where Italian is the working language, his preference for these languages likely reflects both his pastoral roots and his institutional experience.

The decision not to speak English during his first appearance may underscore his deep connection to the global South and his vision of a Church that reaches far beyond national identities.

Mission in Peru and leadership in the Order of St. Augustine

The new Pope’s first assignment took him to the mission of Chulucanas in the northern region of Piura, Peru, where he served as parochial vicar of the cathedral and chancellor of the Territorial Prelature. During his years in Peru, Prevost focused not only on evangelization but also on training new priests.

He returned to Peru in 1988 after a short period back in the U.S., where he worked as vocations and missions director for the Augustinian Province of Chicago. His bond with the country became so strong that in 2015 he acquired Peruvian citizenship. He had originally been sent there as a missionary in 1985.

On December 12, 2014, Pope Francis appointed him titular bishop of Sufar and apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru.

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