American Pontiff
Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church
Published on 23. April 2026
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-63006-331-3 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
Praise for AMERICAN PONTIFF: Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church by Paul Kengor, Ph.D."Dr. Paul 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. As my wife Callista, who served as Ambassador to the Holy See, said, 'Pope Leo XIV is good for the Catholic Church and good for America.' Dr. Kengor has explained why she is right and why all of us should be excited that the Conclave picked Pope Leo XIV."-HON. NEWT GINGRICH, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
"WAIT, WHAT??? Paul Kengor, author of a new book about the Pope, says Pope Leo XIV is a Republican who, quite likely, voted for Trump. An old friend...an eminent author of a number of great books...the topic of religion and politics is something that Paul has been thinking about for a long time...[he has] a new book that is very topical and very timely: AMERICAN PONTIFF."
-DINESH D'SOUZA, New York Times bestselling author
"I'm with [Paul]! Get the book if you want to know the real story about the Pope. The book is AMERICAN PONTIFF: POPE LEO XIV AND HIS PLAN TO HEAL THE CHURCH...follow all of Paul's excellent writings...he has lots of thoughts, and very very good thoughts."
-MICHAEL KNOWLES, host of The Daily Wire's The Michael Knowles Show
"Captures the drama that led to the election of the first American pope. Kengor is at his best in offering a biographical portrait of Leo; it gives us great insight into his thinking. His affection for Pope Leo XIII helps us to appreciate his mature understanding of social justice. This is more than a biography-Kengor knows how to tell a story. It is a story of a man whose holiness and humbleness was evident at a young age. While others sought to elevate themselves to the top, the man from Chicago never sought the limelight. We are fortunate that the world has now discovered him, and we are fortunate that Kengor illuminates his legacy with precision."
-BILL DONOHUE, PHD, President & CEO of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and publisher of Catalyst
"If you have been wondering (like most of the rest of the world) who Robert Prevost-AKA, Pope Leo XIV-is, you now have your answer, in a readable, intriguing and balanced treatment by Dr. Paul Kengor, who himself knows a thing or two about popes and Americans. This book will be a reference point for every Vaticanista for years to come."
-FATHER ROBERT SIRICO, President Emeritus of The Acton Institute
"The election of American Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV shocked the world and raised many questions. Who is this man who now leads the Catholic Church? Why did the Cardinals choose him? What will be his agenda? How will he differ-or be the same as-his controversial predecessor Pope Francis? In AMERICAN PONTIFF: Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church, Dr. Paul Kengor ably addresses these questions and more. Avoiding easy or ideological answers, Kengor frankly accesses the current situation in the Church with the eye of an expert historian and experienced Church observer. Both Catholics and non-Catholics should care about the future of the Catholic Church, and Kengor helps the reader to better understand Pope Leo XIV and the challenges he faces."
-ERIC SAMMONS, Editor-in-Chief of CRISIS Magazine and author of Holiness For Everyone
"With his signature blend of intellectual rigor and compelling storytelling, New York Times Bestselling author Paul Kengor charts the extraordinary ascent of Pope Leo XIV from the streets of Chicago to the seat of St. Peter. Drawing from material from cardinals, theologians, and a long list of Church insiders, Kengor's meticulous research unveils the drama and discernment behind the conclave that elevated Cardinal Robert Prevost to the papacy. In this compelling narrative, Kengor offers readers not only a glimpse into the making of a Pope, but a hopeful vision for the Church's future."
-ANNE HENDERSHOTT, PHD, Director of the Veritas Center at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and author of The Politics of Envy
"No one knows politics and religion like Dr. Paul Kengor. This is the first DEFINITIVE biography of our new American Pope and I am sure it will be a bestseller because it is already a blockbuster."
-CRAIG SHIRLEY, Presidential Historian, Ronald Reagan Biographer, and author of UPHEAVAL
"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
"Kengor
delivers a masterful and compelling work in AMERICAN PONTIFF that
combines rigorous scholarship with a deeply hopeful vision for the future of
the Church. He writes with clarity, conviction, and insight, offering readers
both a profound understanding of the challenges facing Catholicism and a
persuasive roadmap toward renewal. This is an essential and inspiring read for
anyone who cares about faith leadership and the enduring strength of the
Church."
-PATRICK
NOVECOSKY, author of 100 Ways John Paul II Changed the World
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Boca Raton, FL
United States
Product notice
Cloth
Illustrations
B&W photos
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
692 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-63006-331-3 (9781630063313)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
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/
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/
Content
Table of Contents to POPE LEO XIV: THE FIRST AMERICAN PONTIFF by Paul Kengor, Ph.D.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
About the Author
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
About the Author