Elise Ann Allen

A deeply personal biography of Pope Leo XIV, featuring his first-ever public interview as pope, from Elise Ann Allen, journalist and Rome correspondent for Crux.

“An extraordinary achievement . . . a masterful and amazingly intimate portrait of our new pope.”—Austen Ivereigh, biographer of Pope Francis

On May 8, 2025, the whole world watched with great anticipation as white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, and the new pope who emerged to greet us from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica was a surprise to all. He was a man no one expected, a “dark horse candidate,” as the media came to call him, and the first-ever American to be elected—Robert Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV.

But why him? What did the other cardinals see in Robert Prevost? Who is Leo XIV? How did his path lead him to the Holy See, and what can we expect from him?

Elise Ann Allen offers here the only biography of Pope Leo XIV, featuring the Holy Father’s very first interview after his election. She gives readers an intimate and detailed account of the life of Robert Prevost, from his birth in Chicago and his first years as a priest in the Augustinian order to his years as a missionary in Peru and the vital role he came to play in the Vatican as head of bishops. The result is an inspiring picture of a man of profound character, spiritual leadership, integrity, warmth, and citizenship in the world.

This biography is replete with revealing stories and reflections from those who know Leo XIV personally, details of his pastoral ministry over the years, and analysis of his global perspective as a dual citizen of the United States and Peru.

Pope Leo XIV is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the Church’s pastor—his priorities, convictions, and vision for the future of faith.