The Internet Is Buzzing About One Unexpected Detail of Pope Leo XIV’s Past
In the whirlwind of global fascination surrounding the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, it’s not his age or background stealing the spotlight — it’s his college degree.
At 69, Pope Leo XIV — born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago — is captivating admirers with his unique blend of old-world piety and modern insight.
Far from the stereotypical image of a pope, he’s earned the nickname “Latin Yankee” from the Italian press, a nod to both his American roots and his decades of service in Latin America and Europe. Fluent in five languages and widely respected for his global perspective, he’s also revealed a surprising pop-culture twist: he’s a fan of Conclave, the 2024 political thriller — which, according to reports, he watched just before taking part in the real-life version.
Math, Memes, and the Mitre: The Internet Can’t Get Enough of Pope Leo XIV’s Surprising Past
While Pope Leo XIV’s election made headlines around the world, it’s not just his historic rise to the papacy that’s caught fire online — it’s what he studied before ever stepping foot in the Vatican.
Long before donning white robes and addressing crowds in St. Peter’s Square, the new pontiff — born Robert Francis Prevost in a quiet Illinois suburb — was just a bright, quiet student at Villanova University, a Catholic institution in Pennsylvania run by the Augustinians. In 1977, he graduated with a degree that’s leaving the internet in collective disbelief: mathematics.
Yes, Pope Leo XIV is a former math major.
The news has triggered a wave of reactions across social media, with users both amused and astonished.
“The Pope being a math major means he not only believes Jesus multiplied bread and fish — he knows how,” one user joked on X (formerly Twitter).
“Math major possible career paths: quant, programmer, grad student… pope,” another chimed in.
A third quipped, “The new Pope is from Chicago and has a math degree — proof that you can still succeed in life even if you don’t get past the first-round interview at Jump.”
One particularly viral comment summed up the collective shock:
“HE’S A MATH MAJOR???”
The idea of the spiritual leader for 1.3 billion Catholics having once sat through differential equations and pondered calculus problems is, for many, delightfully surreal.
But there’s more to Pope Leo XIV’s past than numbers and novenas. His brothers have described him as the classic “goody two shoes” growing up.
“We used to tease him when we were kids,” recalled Louis Prevost. “We’d say, ‘You’re going to be pope someday, you’re too holy!’”
Now, that childhood teasing has become prophecy. As Pope Leo XIV takes on his new role, he’s set to receive the full regalia of papal tradition — and its extravagant trappings. He’ll soon wear the pallium, the woolen vestment bestowed during his official inauguration Mass, and have the Fisherman’s Ring slipped onto his finger — a gold signet engraved with an image of St. Peter casting his net, reportedly valued at around $520,000.
Also among his sacred treasures is a pectoral cross with a secret compartment containing the bones of saints — a gift from his Augustinian order when he was elevated to cardinal in 2023.
From suburban Illinois to the Vatican throne, and from solving algebraic proofs to leading the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV’s journey is anything but ordinary. And if early internet reactions are any indication, he may already be the most meme-worthy pontiff of the digital age.
Fragments of the bones of three important saints for the order—St. Augustine, his mother St. Monica, and the archbishop St. Thomas of Villanova from the 16th century—are found on the cross.
