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Pope Leo Is Going Viral For His Very Unexpected University Degree

Pope Leo’s university degree confirmed.

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Cardinal Robert Prevost is making headlines for more than just becoming the first American pope — it’s his college major that’s turning heads across the globe.

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Pope Leo’s early life highlighted.

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Before his life in Rome, Pope Leo XIV’s journey was deeply rooted in service and study.

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Raised in the Windy City, Robert Prevost wasn’t groomed for Vatican politics. Instead, he was called to religious life early on.

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After entering the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers, he went on to study at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

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Prevost followed his calling, eventually serving as a missionary in Peru for decades.

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From the 1980s onward, he immersed himself in missionary work, eventually becoming Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.

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His decades of service didn’t go unnoticed. Pope Francis appointed him as a cardinal, setting him on a trajectory few expected.

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Now, he’s the man at the helm of the Catholic Church. And suddenly, everyone wants to know what else he’s hiding.

Pope’s degree revealed.

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The newly elected leader of the Catholic Church has an academic past so unexpected, it’s left the internet in stitches.

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At 69 years old, Prevost was announced as Pope Francis’ successor on May 8 — and with that, adopted the papal name Pope Leo XIV.

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Not only did he ascend to the highest position in Catholicism, but he also became the first American to ever wear the white cassock.

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Sure, he’s a spiritual leader now — but rewind a few decades, and you’ll find a young Robert Prevost buried in calculus textbooks.

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Naturally, the world wasted no time digging into the pope’s academic past — and stumbled upon something truly unexpected.

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Instead of majoring in religious studies or philosophy, Pope Leo XIV earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

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While math was his main academic pursuit, he also studied philosophy — giving him the perfect left-brain/right-brain combo.

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It turns out, being a man of faith and formulas is possible. And for Pope Leo XIV, it may have helped him navigate complex theological and institutional challenges.

Reactions to Pope’s degree clarified.

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“You’re telling me the Pope majored in math?” one stunned user posted. “This man’s been calculating our sins with precision!”

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The jokes kept coming. Another viral post joked that the Pope understands the multiplication of loaves and the underlying algebra behind it.

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“Math major career paths: quant, coder, data scientist… Pope,” one person quipped. Another chimed in: “Didn’t pass the Jump Trading interview? Become Pontiff instead.”

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One commenter summarized the internet’s love for the story perfectly. “He believes the miracle, but he also knows the formula.”

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Prevost never followed the expected route. From Peru to papal robes, his story is a series of surprising turns.

Reality of Pope’s new title disclosed.

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For anyone wondering if he kept up his math skills for a rainy day? Don’t count on it — papal resignations are very rare.

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So while it’s tempting to joke about him re-entering the job market, Pope Leo XIV is most likely in it for life.

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While there’s no official “salary,” the position comes with more perks than your average 9-5.

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From his residence at the Vatican to being the spiritual head of 1.3 billion Catholics, the benefits of the job aren’t exactly modest.

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The idea that the world’s most powerful religious figure could once have been a spreadsheet wizard? Iconic.

The duality of divine and data is strangely compelling.

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Whether you’re devout or not, there’s something fascinating about a pope who once solved derivatives and now leads divine discourse.

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Back in the ‘70s, when he chose math at Villanova, he likely had no idea it would one day be a trending topic.

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In an era of tech layoffs and shifting careers, Leo XIV is proof that you never know where your path might lead.

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From memes to fan edits, the unlikely math Pope has become the unexpected crossover of religion and pop culture.

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Pope Leo XIV’s journey is a masterclass in unpredictability — and a reminder that there’s no “typical” path to greatness.

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In a world full of surprises, the Pope’s Villanova degree might just be the most wholesome plot twist of 2025.