Pope Leo: Biography, LGBTQ Stance, Celebrity Ties & Salary

Distant cousin of Justin Bieber and the first American pope, Robert Francis Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — was elected on May 8, 2025, immediately sparking curiosity about his views on LGBTQ+ inclusion, his celebrity ties, and his salary. The 69-year-old Augustinian leads a global church of 1.3 billion people with a biographical blend of American birth, Latin American mission, and Roman administration.

Elected Pope: May 8, 2025 ·
Age: 69 ·
Nationality: American (first from the United States) ·
Number of Pope: 267th

Here is a quick snapshot of the new pope’s essential details.

Did Pope Leo welcome LGBTQ+?

On May 10, 2025, just two days after his election, Pope Leo XIV met with a prominent LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate. According to a statement from the Vatican (official Vatican communications), the Pope assured the advocate of continuity with Pope Francis’s pastoral approach — a tone of welcome without doctrinal change. No official changes to church teaching have been announced.

But the picture is nuanced. The New York Times (major US newspaper) noted that Leo XIV had very little public history on LGBTQ matters before becoming pope. A 2012 video address to bishops, cited by Context by Reuters (Reuters news service), reportedly described a “homosexual lifestyle” as at odds with the gospel. Yet in 2023, he told reporters that “many things have changed” and that the Church was trying to be more welcoming.

What percent of Catholics support LGBTQ?

• Pew Research surveys show about 45% of US Catholics support same-sex marriage, but the figure varies widely by region (Pew Research Center (nonpartisan demographic research))
• In Latin America and Africa, support is significantly lower.

What religion is most accepting of LGBT?

• Among major religions, Unitarian Universalism and Reform Judaism are the most accepting of LGBT rights; Catholicism falls toward the middle of the spectrum.

How is Pope Leo related to Justin Bieber?

Yes, Pope Leo XIV is indeed a distant cousin of pop star Justin Bieber — as well as Madonna and Hillary Clinton. The New York Times (genealogy research) traced his ancestry 500 years and found common ancestors with these celebrities. The relationship is genealogical, not personal; the Pope has never met Bieber or Madonna.

The genealogical research into Pope Leo XIV’s family tree reveals connections to three major pop culture and political figures.

The revelation went viral, but Vatican officials declined to comment, calling it a private family matter.

Is Pope Leo related to Hillary Clinton?

• Yes, confirmed by The New York Times’ genealogical research — they share an ancestor in colonial America.

The catch: While the connection is fascinating, it has no bearing on his papacy. It’s a reminder of how small the world’s family tree can be — and a headline that will follow him.

Did Pope Leo have a wife?

No. Pope Leo XIV has never been married. As a Catholic priest and later bishop, he took a vow of celibacy. His ordination as a priest in 1982 and his consecration as a bishop in 2014 followed the Latin Church’s discipline of clerical celibacy, which applies to diocesan and religious-order clergy alike (Vatican News).

Are Pope Leo’s parents living?

• His father, Louis Marius Prevost, and mother, Mildred Martínez, are both deceased. His father was a businessman; his mother a homemaker.

How old is Pope Leo XIV?

• Born July 15, 1955, he turned 69 in 2025 — one of the younger popes elected in modern times.

The trade-off: Young enough to influence long-term direction, but coming from a celibate religious order, he embodies the very tradition that many progressive Catholics want reformed.

What is Pope Leo XIV known for?

Before his papal election, Leo XIV (then Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost) was known as the first American pope in history, the first Augustinian pope, and a seasoned missionary. Born in Chicago, he later became a naturalized citizen of Peru while serving there as a missionary (Britannica (encyclopedia entry)). He served two terms as prior general of the Augustinians, giving him administrative experience in Rome.

• American roots: First US-born pope — symbolically significant for a church facing decline in the West but growth in the Global South.
• Augustinian identity First pope from the Order of Saint Augustine, emphasizing community and intellectual life.
• Peruvian connection Spent decades as a missionary, speaks Spanish fluently, and maintains strong ties to Latin America.

The Time magazine (news analysis) described him as a “centrist” — a figure who could bridge the reformist and traditionalist wings of the church, much like the historical balancing act seen in Edward VII: The Peacemaker King.

The pattern: His biography is a blend of global church demographics: American birth, Latin American mission, Roman administration. That triple lens may define his papacy.

What is a pope’s salary?

The pope does not receive a salary. All personal expenses — food, housing, travel — are covered by the Vatican. He receives a monthly stipend of about €1,000 to €2,500 for incidental expenses, according to multiple reports (Vatican News). The Vatican’s budget, estimated at €300 million annually, comes from donations (Peter’s Pence), investments, and tourism revenue.

Here’s a straightforward breakdown of the pope’s financial arrangements.

The stipend is far below what a typical US CEO earns, but the pope’s lifestyle is modest, living in the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence.

The implication: For a leader of a global institution, the pope’s compensation is symbolic — wealth is not the goal. The real currency is influence, money flows to church operations, not the man himself.

Pope Leo XIV enters office with a biography that draws global attention: he’s American, Augustinian, and connected to pop culture in ways no pope before him was. For the Catholic faithful in the United States, the choice is clear: embrace a leader who understands both the pews of Lima and the politics of Rome, or watch him navigate a church that expects more than photo ops — it expects a direction. His first months will tell whether his centrist smile hides a reformer or a caretaker.

This comprehensive look at the new pontiff’s life and policies is further explored in a detailed piece on Pope Leo XIVs biography and LGBTQ views.

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