Welcome to our faith-filled Community.
We have served the people of South Philadelphia since 1860.
As Catholics, we are called to grow in FAITH, offer HOPE to the hopeless and always offer CHARITY to those in need in our community and world.
BIENVENIDOS A NUESTRA COMUNIDAD LLENA DE FE.
HEMOS SERVIDO A LA GENTE DEL SUR DE FILADELFIA DESDE 1860.
Como católicos, estamos llamados a crecer en FE, ofrecer ESPERANZA a los desesperados y siempre ofrecer CARIDAD a los necesitados en nuestra comunidad y el mundo
Pope Leo IV
In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th pope on May 8, 2025, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. At 69, he becomes the first American-born pope, marking a significant milestone in the Church’s global evolution.
Humble beginnings in Chicago
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost grew up in Dolton, a suburb south of the city. His upbringing was deeply rooted in service: his father, Louis Marius Prevost, was a US Navy veteran and school administrator, while his mother, Mildred Martínez, brought a Spanish heritage that shaped his multicultural worldview. He is the middle of three brothers.
Prevost’s academic path combined faith and intellect. After attending the minor seminary of the Order of St. Augustine, he earned a degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977. He later pursued theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and specialized in canon law at Rome’s Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Missionary zeal and service
Prevost’s commitment to missionary work was central to his priesthood. Entering the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, he took his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained in 1982. His long ministry in Peru—from 1985 to 1998—saw him serve as parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. His deep connection to Peru led to his naturalisation as a Peruvian citizen in 2015, underscoring his dual identity as both an American and Latin American churchman.
Leadership in the global church
Prevost’s rise within the Church hierarchy reflects his leadership and dedication. He served as prior general of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013, a pivotal role that gave him global visibility. In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, and by 2023, he was named Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. That same year, he was elevated to cardinal, a move seen as acknowledgment of his extensive experience and trusted leadership.
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