Pope Leo XIV Surprises Spain with His First Profession Outside Religion. Pope Leo XIV has visited Spain for the first time and immediately became the subject of public discussion. His university degree turned out to be far removed from religion. This unexpected detail drew attention to his past.
Pope Leon XIV found himself at the center of Spain’s social news, not only because of his first visit to the country but also due to an unexpected detail that came to light amid his public engagements. As noted by Divinity, it was not another papal speech that sparked discussion, but rather his university past, which turned out to be completely unrelated to religion. In Madrid and Barcelona, where the first stages of his visit took place, this topic quickly became a new reason for conversations about the personality of the head of the Catholic Church.
An unexpected choice
The name of Leon XIV — Robert Francis Prevost in secular life — has been widely discussed since his election in May 2025. But it is only now, during his first visit to Spain as pope, that attention has shifted to his biography. It turns out that the future pontiff was born in Chicago in 1955 in a family where religion played an important role, but his parents chose entirely secular professions: his father was a school principal, and his mother a librarian. As a child, Prevost was an active student, served on the student council, played sports, and did not limit himself only to church life.
A career outside the church
The most discussed detail is his first university major. According to Divinity, after finishing school, Prevo entered Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he chose a field unrelated to theology. His first serious academic step was 'Mathematical Sciences,' and later, he specialized in philosophy. He graduated in 1977, and for some time even taught mathematics and substituted for physics teachers at a school. This fact was a real surprise for many who were used to seeing the Pope solely as a religious leader.
The Path to a Spiritual Career
Only after this did Prevo decide to dedicate his life to the Church and continued his education in theology. He graduated from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he earned his second degree—this time in 'Sacred Theology.' Later, following a decision by the leadership, he was sent to Italy, where he enrolled at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and obtained a degree in canon law, followed by a doctorate. As a result, by the time of his election, Leo XIV not only spoke six languages but also held three university degrees, two of which were directly related to religion and one to the exact sciences.
Attention to detail
This unexpected twist in the Pope's biography has become a topic of discussion not only among the faithful but also in secular circles. In Spain, where papal visits always draw attention, it is this particular detail—so distant from the traditional image of a church leader—that has given his visit a unique character. The public is debating how a background in mathematics might have influenced Leon XIV’s way of thinking and decision-making, and why this part of his past has come into the spotlight right now.
According to Divinity, the Pope himself does not emphasize his first profession, but the fact remains: his path to the top of the Catholic hierarchy began far beyond the church walls. And it is this unexpected detail that has become one of the most talked-about topics in the Spanish news today.
