Monseñor Robert” helped the poor, trekked into the Andes and spread his faith. “He always provided words of hope.”

Prevost was brought to the Vatican in 2023 by Pope Francis as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations.

Cardinal Robert Prevost may be the first person from the U.S. to become the head of the Catholic Church but his surprising election by the world's cardinals as Pope Leo XIV probably had less to do with his birthplace than his former workplace.