Pope Leo XIV - by Christopher White (Paperback)

About the Book

In Pope Leo XIV, veteran Vatican correspondent Christopher White delivers an authoritative account of the dramatic conclave that shaped this momentous transition, the forces that propelled Pope Leo XIV to the papacy, and the vision he brings to the Church's future.

Book Synopsis

The election of Pope Leo XIV signals a defining moment for the Catholic Church. As he steps onto the world stage, the first pontiff ever to hail from the United States inherits the throne of St. Peter, the legacy of Pope Francis, and the challenges of a rapidly changing Church.

In Pope Leo XIV, veteran Vatican correspondent Christopher White delivers an authoritative account of the conclave that shaped this momentous transition, the forces that propelled Pope Leo XIV to the papacy, and the vision he brings to the Church's future. Drawing on exclusive reporting and expert analysis, White examines the potential impact of Pope Leo XIV's leadership on Catholicism's governance, doctrine, and engagement with pressing global issues. He also explores how the vision of Pope Francis's successor may shape the Church's role in contemporary society amid unprecedented uncertainty and change.

Timely and insightful, with sharp analysis, personal experience, and vivid storytelling, Pope Leo XIV offers an essential look at the past, present, and future of a papacy that exerts a major influence on 1.4 billion Catholics and the world itself.

Review Quotes

But if a reporter narrating his own more personal experience of events he witnessed is not traditional reporting, exactly, it makes this a more impressive book. It adds a dimension of humanity that makes for a more revealing and fascinating read because it invites the reader into the story.

It's an astonishing achievement. Many more books about Leo will follow, but many authors who take more time will struggle to do so well.
- RNS, Religious News Service

"As a reporter, Christopher White has demonstrated his ability to render accessible even the most opaque complexities of the Vatican. A trusted, prescient correspondent, White is a treasure for those eager to understand the influence, impact and importance of the Catholic Church."
- Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO, Catholic Charities USA

"Christopher White embodies what a great Vatican reporter must be: well-sourced to provide inside knowledge but with a keen journalistic, outsider's eye for detail. In print and on television, he makes the complex ecosystem that is the Catholic Church understandable, which makes him the perfect author to craft the absorbing story of Pope Leo XIV and the riveting conclave that elevated him."
- Chris Jansing, anchor of Chris Jansing Reports on MSNBC

"Christopher White is an exceptional Vatican journalist because he is indefatigable as a reporter, exceptionally well-connected, and learned about the Catholic Church, Christian theology and the role of politics inside and outside the church. That's why so many have relied on him and appreciate his work."
- E.J. Dionne, The Washington Post and The Brookings Institute

"Christopher White is my go-to Vatican expert -- an experienced reporter whose writing on the Catholic Church is nuanced and deeply considered."
- Christine Emba, American Enterprise Institute and the New York Times

"Christopher White's incisive reporting on the Vatican gives readers unparalleled insight and access into the highest levels of the church, along with the keen insights and invaluable observations that could come only from an expert like him."
- Jesuit Fr. James Martin, editor-at-large of America magazine

"There is no better source than Christopher White to find out what is happening at the Vatican. White has earned a reputation of trust, based on fairness, hard work, and character."
- Joseph Donnelly, former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican

About the Author

​Christopher White is associate director and senior fellow at Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. His award-winning coverage of the Vatican for the National Catholic Reporter took him to over two dozen countries with Pope Francis. White is also a Vatican analyst for NBC and MSNBC.