Robert Francis Prevost
Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. (born September 14, 1955) is a U.S-born prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, since 2015. A member of the Augustinians, he worked in Peru in 1985–86 and from 1988 to 1998 as a parish pastor, diocesan official, and seminary teacher and administrator. He headed his order from its headquarters in Rome from 2001 to 2013. He spent the years 1987–88 and 1998–2001 in the United States, based in Chicago. Biography. Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. He completed his secondary  studies at the minor seminary of the Augustinian Fathers in 1973 and earned a B.S. degree in mathematics at Villanova University in 1977. He joined the Augustinians on September 1, 1977, took his first vows on September 2, 1978, and his solemn vows on August 29, 1981. The following year he obtained a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He was ordained a priest in Rome on June 19, 1982. He earned a degree in canon law from the Angelicum in Rome in 1985. He joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and was Chancellor of  the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986. He spent the year 1987–1988 in the U.S. as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago. He then worked for a decade in Peru, heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teaching canon law in the diocesan seminary, where he was also prefect of studies. He served as judge of the regional ecclesiastical court and a member of the College of Consultors of Trujillo. He also led a congregation on the outskirts of the city. In 1998 he was elected Provincial of the Augustinian Province  of Chicago and returned to the United States to assume that position on March 8, 1999. In 2001 he was elected to a six-year term as Prior General of the Augustinians. He was elected to a second six-year terms in 2007. From 2013 to 2014 he was Director of Formation in the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago, as well as First Councilor and Provincial Vicar of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, which covers the midwestern United States. On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, and  titular bishop of Sufar. He received his episcopal consecration on December 12. On September 26, 2015, he was named Bishop of Chiclayo. On July 13, 2019, he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy. On April 15, 2020, he was named Apostolic Administrator of Callao. On November 21, 2020, Pope Francis named him a member of the Congregation for Bishops. Within the Episcopal Conference of Peru he served on the permanent council for the 2018–2020 term and in 2019 was elected president of its Commission for Education and Culture. He was also a member of the leadership  of Caritas Peru. He had a private audience with Pope Francis on March 1, 2021, fueling speculation of a new assignment either in Chicago or Rome.