Pope Leo XIV - by Paul Kengor (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN POPE

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

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.

Review Quotes

"At a tumultuous period in Roman Catholicism and one in which the Church has made an historic move in electing the first American Pope, Paul Kengor's biography of Pope Leo is 'must' reading for both Catholics and non-Catholics. His story of Leo's life and amazing rise from altar boy in Chicago to Supreme Pontiff of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide offers clear clues on just how the new Pope will deal with issues ranging from his Church's relations with President Trump to the clash between traditional Catholics and those who see Vatican II as the wave of the future."

--JOHN GIZZI, NEWSMAX Chief Political Correspondent

About the Author

PAUL KENGOR, PHD (GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA) is Editor of The American Spectator, executive director and chief academic fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom, a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace, and professor of political science at Grove City College.

Kengor has focused much of his work on Ronald Reagan, faith and the presidency, conservative politics, the Cold War, Communism, and Catholicism, and is a New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books, including: A Pope and a President, God and Ronald Reagan, The Divine Plan, The Stigmatists, and The Devil and Karl Marx. A regular contributor to The American Spectator, Dr Kengor is a frequent contributor and expert historian in the media, from NEWSMAX to MSNBC to C-SPAN to EWTN to NPR to PBS, and a much-in-demand public speaker.

The author lives & works in the Pittsburgh metro area.

https: //spectator.org/author/paul-kengor/