The new Pope is a migrant of Hispanic blood

José López Zamorano | La Red Hispana
St. Mary's Cathedral in Chiclayo, Peru, where Prevost was diocesan bishop from 2015 to 2023. Photo Credit: Frank Coronel Mendoza CC BY-SA 4.0

Like Jesus Christ, the new Pope Leo XIV is a migrant. Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of immigrants to the United States.

His father, Louis Marius Prevost, is of French and Italian descent, and his mother, Mildred Agnes Martínez, is of Spanish descent. He has two brothers: Louis Martín and John Joseph.

He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese. He can also read Latin and German.

The new Bishop of Rome became a migrant himself when he was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru, from 1985 to 1986.

Two years later, he joined the mission in Trujillo, also in Peru, as director of the joint formation project for Augustinian candidates from the vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos, and Apurímac.

“One idea he shared that always touched us is that the first migrant in the world was our Lord Jesus Christ,” an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant in Peru told the Spanish news agency EFE. She not only knew and fondly remembers the Augustinian priest, but he also helped her pay for her breast cancer treatment.

“I was convinced that our Lord left that motto to him to implement wherever necessary, especially with migrants,” she added.

In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo, and three years later, he was elected second vice president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, where he also served as a member of the Economic Council and president of the Commission on Culture and Education.

At some point during his 20 years in Latin America, Robert Francis Prevost Martínez decided to obtain Peruvian citizenship.

Like his predecessor, Pope Francis, the new Pope has raised his voice to call the attention of the powerful and defend the cause of the world’s most vulnerable.

Just last February, Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, told Fox News that, “first you love your family, then your neighbor, then your community, and then your fellow citizens in your own country. And after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.”

In response, Father Prevost reprinted an article from the National Catholic Reporter with a personal comment: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to prioritize our love for others.”

His brother John Prevost indicated that the new Pope is deeply concerned about the plight of migrants and will not remain silent in the face of unjust policies.

In that sense, his election as Bishop of Rome could be seen as a continuation of Francis’ legacy of challenging government policies deemed inhumane or harmful to the dignity of migrants.

Pope Leo XIV’s early messages have focused on peace and bridge-building, and his career suggests a sensitivity to the needs of diverse communities. And that’s a breath of fresh air in a world that needs more bridges and fewer walls.

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