{{Short description|Canadian Catholic cardinal (born 1971)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Frank Leo | honorific_suffix = [[Third Order of Saint Dominic|TOSD]] | title = [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]], [[Archdiocese of Toronto|Archbishop of Toronto]] | image = Frank Leo.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Leo in 2023 | native_name = | native_name_lang = | church = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] | archdiocese = [[Archdiocese of Toronto|Toronto]] | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | appointed = February 11, 2023 | elected = | term = | enthroned = March 25, 2023 | began = | term_start = | quashed = | ended = | term_end = | predecessor = [[Thomas Christopher Collins]] | successor = | opposed = | other_post = Cardinal-Priest of [[Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle]] | ordination = December 14, 1996 | ordained_by = | consecration = September 12, 2022 | consecrated_by = [[Christian Lépine]] | cardinal = December 7, 2024 | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | birth_name = Francis Leo | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|06|30}} | birth_place = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada | baptised = | baptized = | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | religion = | residence = | parents = | previous_post = [[Archdiocese of Montreal|Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal]] & [[Diocese of Tamada|Titular Bishop of Tamada]] (2022–2023) | profession = | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|Institut de Formation Théologique de Montréal|International Marian Research Institute}} | signature = | motto = {{Langnf|la|Quodcumque dixerit facite|Do whatever He says|break=yes}} | resting_place_coordinates = | education = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = | coat_of_arms_alt = | other = | module = {{Infobox cardinal styles|child=yes | dipstyle = His Eminence | offstyle = Your Eminence | relstyle = His Eminence | image = Coat of arms of Frank Leo (cardinal).svg | image_size = 200px | deathstyle = | See = [[Archdiocese of Toronto|Toronto]] }}}}
'''Frank Leo''' (born June 30, 1971) is a [[Catholic Church in Canada|Canadian Catholic]] prelate who serves as [[Archdiocese of Toronto|Archbishop of Toronto]] since February 2023. He was [[Archdiocese of Montreal|Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal]] from September 2022 until his appointment to Toronto. Since 2007, he has been a member of the [[Third Order of Saint Dominic|Priestly Fraternities of Saint Dominic]].
He was made a cardinal on December 7, 2024, by [[Pope Francis]].
==Biography== Francis Leo was born in Montreal on June 30, 1971, to Italian immigrant parents, Francesco Leo and Rosa Valente. He earned a bachelor's degree at the Institut de Formation Théologique de Montréal (IFTM) and both a licentiate and a doctorate in theology at the [[The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute|International Marian Research Institute]]. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Montreal in 1996.<ref name=vatbio/> He studied at the [[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]] in Rome from 2006 to 2008 and then joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He was posted to the [[Apostolic Nunciature to Australia|apostolic nunciature in Australia]] from 2008 to 2011 and then to the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong from 2011 to 2012.<ref name=surprising/>
On November 18, 2007, he became a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. He took his vows on May 11, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.op.org/bishop-frank-leo-formally-installed-as-new-archbishop-of-toronto-2/|title=Bishop Frank Leo Formally Installed as New Archbishop of Toronto|access-date=November 3, 2024|website=Ordo Preedicatorum|date=April 2023 }}</ref>
In 2012, he returned to Montreal to take up appointments as director and dogmatics teacher at the Major Seminary, director of the IFTM's Department of Canon Law, and vice president of the archdiocesan vocations service. From 2013 to 2015, he was a member of the priests' council. He founded the Canadian Mariological Society and became its president. From 2015 to 2021 he was secretary general of the [[Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops]].<ref name=vatbio/>
In February 2022, he became vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese of Montreal.<ref name=vicar>{{cite web | access-date = 15 February 2023 | url = https://diocesemontreal.org/en/news-and-info/latest-news/msgr-frank-leo-appointed-vicar-general-and-moderator-curia | website = Archdiocese of Montreal | date = 11 February 2022 | title= Msgr Frank Leo Appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia }}</ref>
On July 16, 2022, [[Pope Francis]] appointed him titular bishop of Tamada and auxiliary bishop of Montreal.<ref name=vatbio>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = February 15, 2023 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2022/07/16/220716b.html | date = 16 July 2022 | title = Resignations and Assignments, 16.07.2022}}</ref> He received his episcopal consecration on September 12, 2022.<ref name=surprising>{{cite news | access-date = 15 February 2023 | work= National Catholic Register | url = https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/archbishop-francis-leo-s-surprising-road-to-toronto | date = 13 February 2023 | title = Archbishop Francis Leo's Surprising Road to Toronto | first = Raymond J. | last = de Souza }}</ref>
On February 11, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Leo as Archbishop of Toronto.<ref name="vatican230211">{{cite press release | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/02/11/230211a.html | title = Resignations and Appointments, 11.02.2023 | date = February 11, 2023 | publisher = Holy See Press Office }}</ref><ref name="vaticannews202302a">{{cite web | url = https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-02/pope-names-bishop-frank-leo-to-head-toronto-archdiocese.html | title = Pope names Bishop Frank Leo to head Toronto Archdiocese | date = 11 February 2023 | work = Vatican News | publisher = Dicasterium pro Communicatione }}</ref> He was installed there on 25 March in [[St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica (Toronto)|St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Toronto's new Catholic archbishop officially installed | date = 25 March 2022 | access-date = 26 March 2023 | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/toronto-s-new-catholic-archbishop-officially-installed/article_29b3de1a-ccb9-5024-af90-cdb9b3986084.html | newspaper = Toronto Star }}</ref>
On October 6, 2024, Pope Francis announced that he would make Leo a cardinal on December 8, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-06 |title=Pope Francis announces Consistory for creation of 21 new Cardinals - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-10/pope-francis-announces-consistory-for-creation-of-new-cardinals.html |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Allison |title=Pope names 21 new cardinals, including archbishop of Toronto|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pope-names-new-cardinals-toronto-archbishop-1.7344327 |access-date=7 October 2024 |agency=The Canadian Press |publisher=CBC News |date=6 October 2024}}</ref> That date was later moved to December 7, 2024,<ref>{{cite news | access-date = October 12, 2024 | url = https://www.ncregister.com/cna/vatican-shares-pope-francis-schedule-for-december-consistory-to-create-cardinals?amp | first = Hannah | last = Brockhaus | date = October 12, 2024 | title = Vatican Shares Pope Francis' Schedule for December Consistory to Create Cardinals | work = National Catholic Register }}</ref> and he was then elevated as [[cardinal priest]] of [[Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle]].<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 8 December 2024 | date = 7 December 2024 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/12/07/0975/01948.html | title = Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali, 07.12.2024 }}</ref>
He participated as a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
Leo is the Grand Prior of the Canada-Toronto Lieutenancy of the [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic)|Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/oessh/luogotenenze_en.html|title=The Lieutenancies of the World Lieutenants and Grand Priors|access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>
==See also== * [[Catholic Church in Canada]] * [[Cardinals created by Pope Francis]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bleofm.html Archbishop Frank Leo, Catholic Hierarchy] * [https://www.archtoronto.org/en/offices-and-ministries/administrative-offices-1/archbishop/home/ Archbishop Francis Leo, Archdiocese of Toronto]
{{s-start}} {{s-rel}} {{s-bef|before=[[Thomas Christopher Collins]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archbishops of Toronto|Archbishop of Toronto]]|years=11 February 2023 – present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-break}} {{s-end}} {{Canadian cardinals|state=collapsed}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Leo, Frank}} [[Category:1971 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni]] [[Category:Diplomats for the Holy See]] [[Category:Clergy from Montreal]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Canada]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:Canadian cardinals]] [[Category:Canadian people of Italian descent]] [[Category:Grand Priors of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre]] [[Category:Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre]] [[Category:Roman Catholic titular bishops of Tamada]] [[Category:Chancellors of the University of St. Michael's College]]