Pope Leo Xiv (the First American Pontiff)

THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN POPE

The Life, Teachings, Rise and Leadership Qualities of Pope Leo XIV.

"Kengor’s deep understanding of both Catholicism and America make him the right scholar to introduce Americans to a deeper understanding of the first American Pontiff."—HON. NEWT GINGRICH

From New York Times bestselling author and noted Catholic historian Dr Paul Kengor: A portrait of Robert Francis Prevost, his background and life, theological beliefs and teachings, relationship with his predecessors and fellow cardinals and clergy, and surprising rise to become the 267th elected Pontiff and first American Pope, and the challenges he will face and how he is likely to lead the Catholic Church, including interviews with Catholic and papal experts.

In this first major biography of the new American pontiff, Editor of The American Spectator, chief academic fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom, professor of political science at Grove City College, historian and New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books, including A Pope and a President, The Divine Plan, and God and Ronald Reagan, Dr Paul Kengor delivers an engaging and gripping deep dive into the life and times of Robert Francis Prevost, whose election to the Chair of St. Peter on May 8, 2025, stunned the world. There had never been an American pope, and until this book, there has not been an in-depth examination of the new American pontiff and his extraordinary election. Professor Kengor takes readers on a spiritual sojourn from the very first pope, Peter, through the Medieval popes, through the turbulence of the Francis years, and through today’s pope and the figures who influenced him, from St. Augustine to Pope Leo XIII. He shows how this so-called “least American American” among the cardinals is actually quintessentially American, and yet also, remarkably, is quintessentially universal—ideally so for the head of the universal Roman Catholic Church.

In this definitive biography, Dr. Kengor provides fascinating information on Prevost’s sudden rise from priest to bishop to cardinal and the inside story on how the vote went down in the Conclave, leading to the highly unexpected and yet overwhelming choice of Prevost on the fourth ballot. Kengor also provides a detailed treatment of the very revealing opening 40 days of Leo XIV’s pontificate and offers unique insights into where the world might expect the pope to proceed hereafter. The pope’s first word from the Loggia was “peace,” and he has committed himself to a mission of peace and unity for the Church and the wider world.

If you want to get to know this mystery man who became pope—who became the first American pontiff—this is the book, a must-read for every Catholic and for non-Catholics as well.

Preface: Habemus American

Chapter 1: Where Peter Is

Chapter 2: “I Want a Mess:” The Francis Papacy

Chapter 3: I Papabili (The Pope-ables)

Chapter 4: Conclave 

Chapter 5: Pope of Surprises: The Unexpected Prevost

Chapter 6: A Surprised World Reacts

Chapter 7: The Vote at the Vatican: A Prevost Consensus

Chapter 8: The Roots of Robert Francis Prevost

Chapter 9: From Priest to Bishop (1990s-2010s)

Chapter 10: The Rapid Rise of Cardinal Prevost (2023-25)

Chapter 11: What’s in a Name? The Leo Legacy

Chapter 12: Son of Augustine

Chapter 13: Pope Leo XIV’s First 40 Days

Chapter 14: The Future of Leo XIV and the Church

An American Postscript

Acknowledgments

Notes 

Index

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