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Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy
The election of Pope Leo XIV signals a defining moment for the Catholic Church. As he steps onto the world stage, the new pontiff 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 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. 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.
In these unprecedented times of global uncertainty, Pope Leo XIV offers an essential look at the past, present, and future of a papacy that exerts a major influence on 1.3 billion Catholics and the world itself.
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. 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.
In these unprecedented times of global uncertainty, Pope Leo XIV offers an essential look at the past, present, and future of a papacy that exerts a major influence on 1.3 billion Catholics and the world itself.
168 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2025
20 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Christopher White
122 books3 followersLibrarian's note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 26, 2025
I received a free copy of, Pope Leo XIV, by Christopher White, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I think a lot of people were shocked that our new pope is an American. Robert Prevost is from the suburbs of Chicago, but has worked a lot of his life in Peru. I was shocked when Pope Francis died, I was wondering who would are leader be, I have not been disappointed yet. This was a good read.
August 17, 2025
It’s commendable that this book was published so quickly after Robert Prevost was elected pope - kudos to Christopher White and to Loyola Press. Understandably this book is short and covers a quick window into Pope Leo XIV’s background, life, ecclesiastical experience, and how he operates. It also focuses quite a bit on Pope Francis and his approach, and sets the context for the current pope’s work before being elected pope and his elevation by Pope Francis into roles of increasing responsibility. No major revelations, ahas, or deep dive, but a simple encapsulation of what is known about the pope and how he has navigated his life so far in this short account. The writing style is reader friendly and moves along well. I appreciated that the author didn’t get too technical with church processes and provided explanations for readers who may not be familiar with words or terms related to the Catholic Church. I hope the author plans to write a follow up and more detailed book on Pope Leo XIV as the pope settles into his role and his papacy reflects his approach to leading the Catholic Church globally. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 23, 2025
Not only does this book explore Robert Prevost’s life before the papacy and his rise within the Catholic Church, it also breaks down the history of the conclave in a way that is both digestible and engaging for devoted Catholics as well as readers unfamiliar with the Church.
July 29, 2025
I'm intrigued by the "Chicago Pope" and wanted to learn more about him, so I pre-ordered this book as soon as it was available. Christopher White did a great job putting it together in a hurry, and though it could have used a little more proofreading, I won't quibble, as he's provided a lot of valuable information and perspective about both Pope Leo and Pope Francis, along with the conclave, the Vatican, and Catholicism's current situation. The book benefits from the fact that White got to know then-Cardinal Prevost a couple of years ago and recounts their first conversation, in which the cardinal had some striking insights to offer, particularly into the church in America. White reports having interacted with him several times since then, and has a real sense of his strengths (humble, kind, intelligent, great at listening to and working with others) as well as a potential challenge (not used to being in the spotlight). It's no wonder that White had a strong feeling Prevost might be the one selected as pope, though he manages not to gloat about his successful prediction! A helpful and enjoyable read.
August 17, 2025
The anti-conservative bias in the text is annoying at times, but still valuable insider information on the legacy of Pope Francis and on the new Pope Leo!
September 11, 2025
We’ve done quite a bit of travel this year, starting with a trip to the Vatican at the end of May, which included attendance at the weekly Papal Audience held on Wednesdays at St. Peter's Square where we got a chance to see and hear from the new Pope Leo XIV. In August we went to Spain to walk the Camino Primitivo, one of the pilgrimage routes which end at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the Apostle James is buried.
I’m not a religious person. I consider myself at best agnostic. However, I was raised Catholic, attended Catholic school, and still to this day understand the appeal of Catholic tradition and Catholic rituals. The purpose of the trip to Rome was to accompany my 90-year-old mother-in-law who had never been to the Vatican and wished to go before she died. The walk to Santiago de Compostela was a chance to experience the history and culture of a walk that started as a medieval tradition and to retrace the steps of the many who had gone before me - this was a walk that perhaps some of my distant ancestors may have taken.
Both of these recent experiences, along with my own background and the American-ness of the new Pope, put me in a “Catholic-curious” frame of mind, and open to reading Christopher White’s biography of Pope Leo XIV. I will confess that I’d never heard of Christopher White before picking up this book, nor did I expect too much from a biography that has been produced so quickly after the new pope’s assumption of the role.
But to my surprise this is not an “insta-biography”, instead it's a thoroughly researched and well written short book that explores not only the life (to date) of the new pope, but the context in which the conclave to elect the new pope took place. I now know that author White has been a Rome-based correspondent for the American newspaper National Catholic Reporter for several years and is recognized for being well-connected while objective in his reporting. Some of his personal interactions with those covered in this book (including the new pope) are included in this book, and they add a verisimilitude and “you are there” feel.
The book starts out by exploring the papacy of Pope Leo’s predecessor Francis. Francis had a missionary fervor and a strong belief that the church should be open and welcoming to all. When asked what he thought of gay people early in his papacy, Francis famously replied “Who am I to judge?”. He also famously responded to a reporter’s question about who he was by saying, “I am a sinner”. The notion of humble service and outreach to all was fundamental to the direction Francis wanted to take the church.
Francis’ leadership also challenged the Vatican power structure directly and indirectly. Perhaps most notably in that regard, he moved the leadership of the Catholic church toward “synodality”. Synodality is the notion that leading the direction of the church should be a role shared with all the people of the church and not restricted to the priesthood.
Francis used the general synod, held roughly every three to four years in recent papacies, as a vehicle to expand the range of voices heard in decision-making within the church. Some of these new voices from outside the priesthood (including women for the first time) Francis also chose for responsible roles within the Vatican. Many in positions of power within the Vatican were not happy with the changes that Francis was bringing about because it meant that their power centers were being disrupted and their power challenged.
With Francis’ demise those unhappy voices began to assert themselves, and as White describes, going into the conclave to elect Francis’ successor there were perceived to be three camps - those who wished to continue to move forward with the changes Francis was making, those who wished to do away with them altogether, and those who found Francis’ emphasis on outreach and a church open to all worth keeping, but not the synodality that threatened the Vatican power centers.
With all that as background it’s kind of amazing that the conclave took only two days to select Robert Francis Provost as the new pope. It was clear from his opening remarks that the first camp - those who wished to move forward with all of Francis’ changes - had easily prevailed. In his opening remarks Provost, now Pope Leo, explicitly said “we want to be a synodal church”.
And of course there is also a biography of Provost in this book. Concise but thorough, it outlines who Robert Francis Provost is, and what propelled him through his career as priest, then bishop, then head of the Augustinian order, and finally the Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops (the head of the body that reviews church leaders and recommends to the Pope those worthy of being promoted to the role of Bishop). We learn that Provost’s Catholic upbringing in the suburbs of Chicago led him to the priesthood in the Augustinian order, an order that emphasizes service and community, but it was his role as priest and then bishop in the Peruvian diocese of Chiclayo that solidified his service and leadership style.
I ended this slim book (less than 150 pages) with a better understanding of the new pope, along with a newfound appreciation for the direction that Francis has set for the Catholic Church, and that Leo appears certain to continue.
I’m not a religious person. I consider myself at best agnostic. However, I was raised Catholic, attended Catholic school, and still to this day understand the appeal of Catholic tradition and Catholic rituals. The purpose of the trip to Rome was to accompany my 90-year-old mother-in-law who had never been to the Vatican and wished to go before she died. The walk to Santiago de Compostela was a chance to experience the history and culture of a walk that started as a medieval tradition and to retrace the steps of the many who had gone before me - this was a walk that perhaps some of my distant ancestors may have taken.
Both of these recent experiences, along with my own background and the American-ness of the new Pope, put me in a “Catholic-curious” frame of mind, and open to reading Christopher White’s biography of Pope Leo XIV. I will confess that I’d never heard of Christopher White before picking up this book, nor did I expect too much from a biography that has been produced so quickly after the new pope’s assumption of the role.
But to my surprise this is not an “insta-biography”, instead it's a thoroughly researched and well written short book that explores not only the life (to date) of the new pope, but the context in which the conclave to elect the new pope took place. I now know that author White has been a Rome-based correspondent for the American newspaper National Catholic Reporter for several years and is recognized for being well-connected while objective in his reporting. Some of his personal interactions with those covered in this book (including the new pope) are included in this book, and they add a verisimilitude and “you are there” feel.
The book starts out by exploring the papacy of Pope Leo’s predecessor Francis. Francis had a missionary fervor and a strong belief that the church should be open and welcoming to all. When asked what he thought of gay people early in his papacy, Francis famously replied “Who am I to judge?”. He also famously responded to a reporter’s question about who he was by saying, “I am a sinner”. The notion of humble service and outreach to all was fundamental to the direction Francis wanted to take the church.
Francis’ leadership also challenged the Vatican power structure directly and indirectly. Perhaps most notably in that regard, he moved the leadership of the Catholic church toward “synodality”. Synodality is the notion that leading the direction of the church should be a role shared with all the people of the church and not restricted to the priesthood.
Francis used the general synod, held roughly every three to four years in recent papacies, as a vehicle to expand the range of voices heard in decision-making within the church. Some of these new voices from outside the priesthood (including women for the first time) Francis also chose for responsible roles within the Vatican. Many in positions of power within the Vatican were not happy with the changes that Francis was bringing about because it meant that their power centers were being disrupted and their power challenged.
With Francis’ demise those unhappy voices began to assert themselves, and as White describes, going into the conclave to elect Francis’ successor there were perceived to be three camps - those who wished to continue to move forward with the changes Francis was making, those who wished to do away with them altogether, and those who found Francis’ emphasis on outreach and a church open to all worth keeping, but not the synodality that threatened the Vatican power centers.
With all that as background it’s kind of amazing that the conclave took only two days to select Robert Francis Provost as the new pope. It was clear from his opening remarks that the first camp - those who wished to move forward with all of Francis’ changes - had easily prevailed. In his opening remarks Provost, now Pope Leo, explicitly said “we want to be a synodal church”.
And of course there is also a biography of Provost in this book. Concise but thorough, it outlines who Robert Francis Provost is, and what propelled him through his career as priest, then bishop, then head of the Augustinian order, and finally the Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops (the head of the body that reviews church leaders and recommends to the Pope those worthy of being promoted to the role of Bishop). We learn that Provost’s Catholic upbringing in the suburbs of Chicago led him to the priesthood in the Augustinian order, an order that emphasizes service and community, but it was his role as priest and then bishop in the Peruvian diocese of Chiclayo that solidified his service and leadership style.
I ended this slim book (less than 150 pages) with a better understanding of the new pope, along with a newfound appreciation for the direction that Francis has set for the Catholic Church, and that Leo appears certain to continue.
August 26, 2025
It is no secret I am mildly obsessed with our new Supreme Pontiff.
I mean, look at that face!
That being said, looks do not make a man.
This is where a good biography comes in handy. And Christopher White has given us just that.
Starting with a lengthy background of the papacy and history of the church over the past century, White’s book takes us from Vatican II straight through to Pope Francis’ time in office. I appreciated this as nothing happens in a vacuum. He blends the past with Robert Prevost’s life as well as his career. It hits the sometimes slightly volatile relationship between Bergoglio and Prevost as well as their eventual friendship. Despite their differences, Pope Francis was able to see what no one else was seeing in this quiet servant of the church - leadership qualities, steadiness, and an ability to bring people together. White’s writing intertwines the papacy of Francis with the meteoric rise of Prevost, bringing us to Francis’ death and conclave. My only critique with the section on the conclave is how much information he has about this secret meeting and it’s accuracy. Other than that, I appreciated the little behind-the-scenes.
The last section of the book deals with Prevost’s selection as Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Again, going back to the past with a short history on Pope Leo XIII and the reasons he took this name, helps to give us a better understanding of his choice. Last part is on the future of the Church under Pope Leo. The is quite a bit of speculation about what type of papacy he will have, which is natural, but I am glad most of it is given room to grow. Was he selected as the counterweight to a certain president or a bridge between two warring factions within the church over liturgy? It remains to be seen, but between Christopher White’s biography and the actions his holiness has taken since taking office have given me so much hope for the future. The calm I felt the moment this unknown walked onto the balcony in St. Peter’s square has been carried along through the last few months not just by his demeanor, but the way he carries this office, without American brashness, conceit, force. Just the same calm, decisive demeanor that defined his priesthood.
Thank you NetGalley for my Advanced Readers Copy!
I mean, look at that face!
That being said, looks do not make a man.
This is where a good biography comes in handy. And Christopher White has given us just that.
Starting with a lengthy background of the papacy and history of the church over the past century, White’s book takes us from Vatican II straight through to Pope Francis’ time in office. I appreciated this as nothing happens in a vacuum. He blends the past with Robert Prevost’s life as well as his career. It hits the sometimes slightly volatile relationship between Bergoglio and Prevost as well as their eventual friendship. Despite their differences, Pope Francis was able to see what no one else was seeing in this quiet servant of the church - leadership qualities, steadiness, and an ability to bring people together. White’s writing intertwines the papacy of Francis with the meteoric rise of Prevost, bringing us to Francis’ death and conclave. My only critique with the section on the conclave is how much information he has about this secret meeting and it’s accuracy. Other than that, I appreciated the little behind-the-scenes.
The last section of the book deals with Prevost’s selection as Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Again, going back to the past with a short history on Pope Leo XIII and the reasons he took this name, helps to give us a better understanding of his choice. Last part is on the future of the Church under Pope Leo. The is quite a bit of speculation about what type of papacy he will have, which is natural, but I am glad most of it is given room to grow. Was he selected as the counterweight to a certain president or a bridge between two warring factions within the church over liturgy? It remains to be seen, but between Christopher White’s biography and the actions his holiness has taken since taking office have given me so much hope for the future. The calm I felt the moment this unknown walked onto the balcony in St. Peter’s square has been carried along through the last few months not just by his demeanor, but the way he carries this office, without American brashness, conceit, force. Just the same calm, decisive demeanor that defined his priesthood.
Thank you NetGalley for my Advanced Readers Copy!
July 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV is an informative and easy to understand book that explores the past, present and future of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy. This book is written as a voice from the inside by expert Vatican journalistic Christopher White and includes details of the conclave leading up to Pope Leo XIV’s papacy, his vision for the Church's future and the potential impact of his leadership.
Most compelling is the inclusion of insightful interviews and correspondence from church leaders, including Pope Leo before his papacy (when he was known as Cardinal Prevost) as well as past conclaves, papal elections within the Catholic Church and the legacy Pope Francis left behind as Pope Leo’s predecessor. Francis was a pope who valued fidelity, courage and universal love, and was especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. Following in his footsteps, Pope Leo made a promise to continue leading with respect, fidelity, unity and love. His first message was a call for peace, for a Church that is “always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the detailed accounts of the inner workings of the Vatican and its popes. One especially fun detail was the celebratory dinner inside Vatican City the day Pope Leo was appointed. The menu, titled “Election of the Supreme Pontiff Leone XIV,” contained zucchini flan, asparagus risotto, roast beef and potatoes, coffee and zabaione semifreddo, and Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine.
Thank you Loyola Press and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.
Most compelling is the inclusion of insightful interviews and correspondence from church leaders, including Pope Leo before his papacy (when he was known as Cardinal Prevost) as well as past conclaves, papal elections within the Catholic Church and the legacy Pope Francis left behind as Pope Leo’s predecessor. Francis was a pope who valued fidelity, courage and universal love, and was especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. Following in his footsteps, Pope Leo made a promise to continue leading with respect, fidelity, unity and love. His first message was a call for peace, for a Church that is “always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the detailed accounts of the inner workings of the Vatican and its popes. One especially fun detail was the celebratory dinner inside Vatican City the day Pope Leo was appointed. The menu, titled “Election of the Supreme Pontiff Leone XIV,” contained zucchini flan, asparagus risotto, roast beef and potatoes, coffee and zabaione semifreddo, and Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine.
Thank you Loyola Press and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.
August 13, 2025
Author Chris White starts with a brief history of the conclave. He then devotes about 35% of the text to Pope Francis and his reforms to the church. After Pope Benedict XVI retired, the Catholic Church entered a new era, moving away from the traditional conservative status quo supported by the Opus Dei Society. With Pope Francis came more progressive reforms, like prioritizing care for the poor and critiquing American capitalism. He angered both American Catholic bishops and African bishops by blessing same-sex unions.
When he passed away earlier this year, in 2025, the world wondered if the church would stay on this path or revert to traditional ways. It stayed the course with Pope Leo. Named after Leo XIII, who openly spoke out against American greed during the Industrial Revolution, Robert Provost became vocal against anti-immigration policies in America because he stressed love for all through missionary work.
Chris White tells the story of Pope Leo, who seemed destined to be pope. From his humble upbringing to his work for the people of Peru, he showed his love for others. While not much is known about him, White’s interviews with people who knew him best help give us more information about who he is as a person. This book was well written, but I wish there had been more about Pope Leo himself. The focus felt more on Pope Francis and the Catholic Church as a whole. Overall, I enjoyed it, and it’s a book you can easily read in one sitting. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
When he passed away earlier this year, in 2025, the world wondered if the church would stay on this path or revert to traditional ways. It stayed the course with Pope Leo. Named after Leo XIII, who openly spoke out against American greed during the Industrial Revolution, Robert Provost became vocal against anti-immigration policies in America because he stressed love for all through missionary work.
Chris White tells the story of Pope Leo, who seemed destined to be pope. From his humble upbringing to his work for the people of Peru, he showed his love for others. While not much is known about him, White’s interviews with people who knew him best help give us more information about who he is as a person. This book was well written, but I wish there had been more about Pope Leo himself. The focus felt more on Pope Francis and the Catholic Church as a whole. Overall, I enjoyed it, and it’s a book you can easily read in one sitting. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Loyola Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As a Catholic in the United States, I was thoroughly shocked that the successor to Pope Francis was a guy named Bob from Chicago. I mean, this was huge for us! But upon closer inspection, the new Pope Leo’s selection is in line with the seismic shift the church made when they selected Pope Francis.
In order to understand the selection of Pope Leo, the author goes back to the selection of Pope Francis and how he did things a bit differently than his predecessor. His focus was on migrants and the poor, which was seen by some in the Church as a radically different papacy. Francis elevated Father Bob and became close to the American. They shared similar interests and ideas of the direction of the church.
Pope Leo (the former Bob Prevost) was born and raised on Chicago’s south side, but once found his calling as a priest, has spent most of his adult life in two countries: Italy and Peru. The author, Christopher White, can say he interviewed Pope Leo XIV when he was a cardinal and has greater knowledge of the conclave from being a Vatican reporter than many journalists.
I think this book will be of great interest to not only those interested in Roman Catholic history and teachings, but those who wish to know a little bit more about the new pope from North America and how conclaves work.
As a Catholic in the United States, I was thoroughly shocked that the successor to Pope Francis was a guy named Bob from Chicago. I mean, this was huge for us! But upon closer inspection, the new Pope Leo’s selection is in line with the seismic shift the church made when they selected Pope Francis.
In order to understand the selection of Pope Leo, the author goes back to the selection of Pope Francis and how he did things a bit differently than his predecessor. His focus was on migrants and the poor, which was seen by some in the Church as a radically different papacy. Francis elevated Father Bob and became close to the American. They shared similar interests and ideas of the direction of the church.
Pope Leo (the former Bob Prevost) was born and raised on Chicago’s south side, but once found his calling as a priest, has spent most of his adult life in two countries: Italy and Peru. The author, Christopher White, can say he interviewed Pope Leo XIV when he was a cardinal and has greater knowledge of the conclave from being a Vatican reporter than many journalists.
I think this book will be of great interest to not only those interested in Roman Catholic history and teachings, but those who wish to know a little bit more about the new pope from North America and how conclaves work.
July 4, 2025
Sure, the reader can learn from the internet that he's the first American pope, a polyglot, and spent approximately 1/3 of his life in three countries, the US, Peru and Italy, but here the reader learns what legacy Pope Francis left, and what potential direction the Church is moving towards with the election of Pope Leo XIV.
This author can truly say I knew him when. Arguably, not personally or extensively but via interviewing him while he occupied the position of Cardinal, as well as through the author's own coverage of Pope Leo's predecessor. There's also the authors' interaction with other Cardinals to give the reader a wider perspective on the election.
This book will appeal to not only those interested in Roman Catholic Church history (from the effect of Vatican II to the growth in the Catholic population in some of the world and the downturn in others) but also to those who desire more than a quick sound bite (all too often in this day and age of instantaneous news) .
"In Illo Uno Unum", ("We are One") is his professed motto It will be interesting to see how this will play out in this fractious age of world politics.
#PopeLeoXIVbook #NetGalley
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Loyola Press ,in exchange for an honest review.
This author can truly say I knew him when. Arguably, not personally or extensively but via interviewing him while he occupied the position of Cardinal, as well as through the author's own coverage of Pope Leo's predecessor. There's also the authors' interaction with other Cardinals to give the reader a wider perspective on the election.
This book will appeal to not only those interested in Roman Catholic Church history (from the effect of Vatican II to the growth in the Catholic population in some of the world and the downturn in others) but also to those who desire more than a quick sound bite (all too often in this day and age of instantaneous news) .
"In Illo Uno Unum", ("We are One") is his professed motto It will be interesting to see how this will play out in this fractious age of world politics.
#PopeLeoXIVbook #NetGalley
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Loyola Press ,in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2025
We are all anxious to find out more information about the newest pope, Pope Leo XIV. Especially Americans.
This book by Christopher White is well written and the author is very familiar with the Vatican; (approximately) the first half of the book is about the most recent popes before the newly elected Pope Leo XIV and the process of electing a new pope. (The book is approximately 168 pages.) I kept getting the feeling that the first half of the book has been in progress and that the author was ready to gather as much info together and get this book to press just as soon as the new pope was elected. And I feel that he did that exceptionally well.
I loved to learn that the new pope does Wordle everyday! There was reference to an article about comments from the new popes brother. But some of the things I really loved were stories of his youth and that he really seems like he has been an especially wonderful young lad his entire life, "wanting to play priest" as a child.
I do enjoy memoirs and reading non-fiction and very glad that I had the opportunity to read the advance review copy via NetGalley and Loyola Press and the author Christopher White. Released July 2025. Between 4 & 5 stars.
This book by Christopher White is well written and the author is very familiar with the Vatican; (approximately) the first half of the book is about the most recent popes before the newly elected Pope Leo XIV and the process of electing a new pope. (The book is approximately 168 pages.) I kept getting the feeling that the first half of the book has been in progress and that the author was ready to gather as much info together and get this book to press just as soon as the new pope was elected. And I feel that he did that exceptionally well.
I loved to learn that the new pope does Wordle everyday! There was reference to an article about comments from the new popes brother. But some of the things I really loved were stories of his youth and that he really seems like he has been an especially wonderful young lad his entire life, "wanting to play priest" as a child.
I do enjoy memoirs and reading non-fiction and very glad that I had the opportunity to read the advance review copy via NetGalley and Loyola Press and the author Christopher White. Released July 2025. Between 4 & 5 stars.
August 19, 2025
To have this book written ten days after Pope Leo XIV was elected is nothing short of astounding. I can only imagine the sleepless nights and caffeine fueled work that must have gone in to producing this biography so quickly. Sure, it’s not the most in-depth biography of Pope Leo that will ever be written, but Christopher White has done an excellent job introducing us to our new Pope.
Because of this tight timeframe, the first part of the book does feel a bit disconnected. Presumably the summary leading up to the Conclave was pre-prepared before the rest of the book could be written. In saying this, it does provide a useful background to the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Even better, some of the book is written from personal experience. The author had met with Pope Leo when he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. Uncannily, he seems to have suspected that Robert Prevost might be elected. Christopher White also found the time to interview a number of sources, and to trawl through the ex-Cardinal’s soon-to-be-deleted social media, which made for some interesting reading. As an introduction to Pope Leo XIV, I would highly recommend this book.
Because of this tight timeframe, the first part of the book does feel a bit disconnected. Presumably the summary leading up to the Conclave was pre-prepared before the rest of the book could be written. In saying this, it does provide a useful background to the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Even better, some of the book is written from personal experience. The author had met with Pope Leo when he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. Uncannily, he seems to have suspected that Robert Prevost might be elected. Christopher White also found the time to interview a number of sources, and to trawl through the ex-Cardinal’s soon-to-be-deleted social media, which made for some interesting reading. As an introduction to Pope Leo XIV, I would highly recommend this book.
July 24, 2025
Pope Leo XIV is an interesting and thought-provoking look at the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo. It is easy to read as well as understand. Being elected Pope is one of the mysteries of the Catholic faith.
Pope Francis laid the groundwork for reform and the direction he envisioned the church direction taking. From the book, it looks as if there is still much left undone and yet to be decided. It is early days, but it appears Pope Leo will make this papacy his own by following his faith and not necessarily where other Cardinals want him to lead.
The references to previous Popes were interesting. Learning about the Popes after they have served, is a lot easier to find information. I appreciated the back history which I did not know before this book. I hope to be able to learn more about the new Pope. I find Pope Leo to be somewhat of an enigma despite his down-to-earth persona.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend reading it.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
Pope Francis laid the groundwork for reform and the direction he envisioned the church direction taking. From the book, it looks as if there is still much left undone and yet to be decided. It is early days, but it appears Pope Leo will make this papacy his own by following his faith and not necessarily where other Cardinals want him to lead.
The references to previous Popes were interesting. Learning about the Popes after they have served, is a lot easier to find information. I appreciated the back history which I did not know before this book. I hope to be able to learn more about the new Pope. I find Pope Leo to be somewhat of an enigma despite his down-to-earth persona.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend reading it.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
August 9, 2025
The book offers a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the Vatican, which I found especially interesting as someone far removed from the Church. However, I had two significant issues with it.
First, the title is misleading. From Pope Leo XIV, I expected the book to focus primarily on the Pope himself—his personality, background, and life story. In reality, he only appears meaningfully in the second half. I was hoping for a deeper, more personal portrait, so this was disappointing.
Second, I was troubled by a particular passage discussing U.S.–Vatican relations, where the author referred to the Biden administration’s “effort to escalate the war in Ukraine.” For me, this is a huge red flag. If the author can present such a debatable and, in my view, inaccurate claim about current events, it raises doubts about the reliability of the rest of the work. In non-fiction, where readers expect factual accuracy, this is a serious concern. It left me questioning the credibility of the author’s other interpretations and conclusions.
First, the title is misleading. From Pope Leo XIV, I expected the book to focus primarily on the Pope himself—his personality, background, and life story. In reality, he only appears meaningfully in the second half. I was hoping for a deeper, more personal portrait, so this was disappointing.
Second, I was troubled by a particular passage discussing U.S.–Vatican relations, where the author referred to the Biden administration’s “effort to escalate the war in Ukraine.” For me, this is a huge red flag. If the author can present such a debatable and, in my view, inaccurate claim about current events, it raises doubts about the reliability of the rest of the work. In non-fiction, where readers expect factual accuracy, this is a serious concern. It left me questioning the credibility of the author’s other interpretations and conclusions.
September 11, 2025
Christopher White’s Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy is an informative, readable primer on the papacy and Vatican politics. Despite the title, it’s not really a biography — White offers only a high-level sketch of Leo’s life, with little more than a standard profile.
What the book does well is explain how Vatican politics, stretching from John XXIII through Francis, set the stage for Leo’s election. White writes clearly and engagingly, making sense of conclave dynamics and the long arc of reform.
The book came out just weeks after the conclave, and that speed shows. I would have preferred more depth on Leo himself and his style of leadership. Readers looking for a traditional biography may be disappointed; readers wanting context for how we arrived at a Pope Leo will find value here.
For a fuller take, I’ve posted a longer review at hackmule.com.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
What the book does well is explain how Vatican politics, stretching from John XXIII through Francis, set the stage for Leo’s election. White writes clearly and engagingly, making sense of conclave dynamics and the long arc of reform.
The book came out just weeks after the conclave, and that speed shows. I would have preferred more depth on Leo himself and his style of leadership. Readers looking for a traditional biography may be disappointed; readers wanting context for how we arrived at a Pope Leo will find value here.
For a fuller take, I’ve posted a longer review at hackmule.com.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
July 27, 2025
This book is a strong and engaging introduction to the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo XIV. It’s especially helpful for readers who want to understand how Francis’s reforms shaped the Church and influenced the conclave that followed. The structure is clear and well-paced: it starts with an overview of Pope Francis’s legacy, then takes a close look at the recent conclave, and finally gives a short but informative glimpse into Leo XIV’s background and outlook.
The writing is accessible even for those who don’t have much prior knowledge of Vatican politics or Church governance. What stood out to me was how the author made the complex dynamics behind the scenes feel understandable without oversimplifying. While the section on Pope Francis takes up a fair amount of space, it does help set the stage for what follows.
I gave the book four stars because it’s a good, well-balanced overview—but I would’ve liked a bit more of everything, especially more depth on Pope Leo himself. Still, it’s a worthwhile read for anyone interested in recent Church developments and where things might be headed next.
* Huge thanks toward NetGalley and Loyola Press for providing a free e-copy for a honest review!
The writing is accessible even for those who don’t have much prior knowledge of Vatican politics or Church governance. What stood out to me was how the author made the complex dynamics behind the scenes feel understandable without oversimplifying. While the section on Pope Francis takes up a fair amount of space, it does help set the stage for what follows.
I gave the book four stars because it’s a good, well-balanced overview—but I would’ve liked a bit more of everything, especially more depth on Pope Leo himself. Still, it’s a worthwhile read for anyone interested in recent Church developments and where things might be headed next.
* Huge thanks toward NetGalley and Loyola Press for providing a free e-copy for a honest review!
August 17, 2025
I loved many things about this book. The background information on Pope Francis was amazing. I really enjoyed visiting with him for a little while.
I also was impressed with all of the history on the Conclave and previous Popes. This information really did shed a light on the whole process.
I especially liked the information on Pope Leo, in particular, his childhood stories. It is obvious why he is so charismatic. His parents raised him to be loved, have respect for others, and to stay grounded in the truth. He is a remarkable Pope, and I truly believe he will make a difference in this world.
What I was less impressed with was the anti-American sentiments sprinkled throughout the second half of the book. To be honest, they made me uncomfortable. If the book was written without them, it would definitely be a 5 star read for me.
I also was impressed with all of the history on the Conclave and previous Popes. This information really did shed a light on the whole process.
I especially liked the information on Pope Leo, in particular, his childhood stories. It is obvious why he is so charismatic. His parents raised him to be loved, have respect for others, and to stay grounded in the truth. He is a remarkable Pope, and I truly believe he will make a difference in this world.
What I was less impressed with was the anti-American sentiments sprinkled throughout the second half of the book. To be honest, they made me uncomfortable. If the book was written without them, it would definitely be a 5 star read for me.
July 27, 2025
As someone who covered the death of Pope Francis and the ensuing conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, this book (written so quickly afterwards) captures the fast-paced history of what happened in Spring 2025 that changed Catholic history forever. Because White had the chance to interview then-Cardinal Prevost, he is able to provide reporting on the man who (White rightly predicted) would become the first American-born pope. An exciting read.
August 14, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Even though I'm not Catholic, I am interested in Pope Leo XIV since he came from my home town, sweet home, Chicago. It was very interesting and an easy read. There were footnotes on the page, which I appreciate. It did have typos, but it wasn't too bad for an ARC. If the history of the Catholic Church and the papacy interests you, I recommend this book to you.
August 17, 2025
A great quick read that’s timely and timeless! It’s as much of a primer on where the Vatican and the Catholic Church is now as it is on what the future holds. It feels like it’s very accessible while mostly dealing with arcane practices of an ancient institution - what is synodality and why does it matter? It turns out there’s always a lot to learn from Pope Francis and we’ll soon be learning from Leo as well.
July 6, 2025
An excellent round-up of this moment in the transition of the Catholic Church, which matters not just to Catholics. Christopher White writes with the clarity of a fine journalist, from the inside of events. Recommended.
August 4, 2025
This book is like reading a 150 page newspaper or magazine article...all the facts are there without too much commentary or reflection. If you read the Catholic and secular press you probably won't learn much that it new but it's all gathered in one volume.
August 5, 2025
Book on the first USA-born Pope. Written in a hurry but well done.
Bible has incredible scientific accuracy like round Earth 🌎 and the hydrologic cycle and jet streams and man from soil and much more!
Bible has incredible scientific accuracy like round Earth 🌎 and the hydrologic cycle and jet streams and man from soil and much more!
July 20, 2025
a bit us centric but an interesting read
August 7, 2025
Thank you to netgalley and Loyola Press for the ARC.
Review to follow
Review to follow
August 21, 2025
A great look at our new pope! The book covered Pope Francis and events leading up to Leo's selection. Very well written
August 29, 2025
A very helpful (and fast) read.
August 31, 2025
So excited for this chapter of the Catholic Church and its leadership under Pope Leo. A short but insightful read about both Pope Francis and Pope Leo.
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