Pope Leo XIV
In His Own Words – The Definitive Biography of the New Leader of the Catholic Church
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- 14,99 €
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- 14,99 €
Descripción editorial
The definitive biography of Pope Leo XIV, featuring an exclusive first interview with the new leader of the Catholic Church, written by one of the world's most respected Vatican correspondents.
‘Extraordinary… a masterful and amazingly intimate portrait of our new pope’ AUSTEN IVEREIGH, biographer of Pope Francis
In May 2025, as white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the world watched with great anticipation for the new pope to emerge on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. A ‘dark horse candidate’, as the media came to call him, and the first American to be elected: Robert Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV. But who is the new pope?
In this detailed and intimate biography, Elise Ann Allen, respected Vatican correspondent in Rome for Crux, offers an exclusive insight into the new pontiff’s life story and includes his own perspective throughout.
From his childhood in Chicago and his early vocation as an Augustinian to his years as a missionary in Peru and his key role in the Vatican as head of the bishops, Allen reveals the experiences that forged his character, established him as a spiritual leader, and that are sure to inform his future actions as the Holy Father on this troubled world stage.
Including stories and reflections from Pope Leo himself, as well as those who knew him personally throughout the years, this biography is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the leader of the Catholic Church today – his priorities, convictions and vision for the future.
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Allen (To Rome with the Homeless), a senior correspondent at Crux, draws from a wealth of interviews with Pope Leo XIV and his family members, friends, and colleagues for this laudatory biography. Born Robert Prevost in 1955 Chicago, he served as a missionary priest in 1980s and '90s Peru, where he navigated the country's tense and violent political climate by forging close relationships between the church and local community, spearheading anti-poverty efforts, and establishing new church roles for women. In 2001 he was elected prior general for the Augustinians and served 12 years in Rome before returning to Peru as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015. His brief tenure as a cardinal began in 2023, and he rapidly racked up appointments to key Vatican organizations before being elected Pope after Francis's death in 2025. The book concludes with an extensive interview with Leo about his vision for the church, in which he suggests he plans to focus on poverty and interfaith outreach, while remaining aware of threats like AI and frictions within the church. While Allen's detailed portrait of Leo is rosy and mostly uncritical (he's depicted as a gentle, self-effacing inheritor of Francis's social justice–focused ethos), she does briefly address concerns about his handling of a sexual abuse case. This effusive portrait doesn't break much new ground, but there's enough here to please Leo's admirers.
