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The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis
From the death and funeral of Pope Francis, to the underground maneuvers as cardinals arrive from around the world and various groups try to lobby and shape the selection of papal candidates to the conclave and the election of Pope Leo XIV. What can we expect of him? The authors share their predictions about how his papacy will proceed.
312 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 14, 2026
I know Gerard O’Connell from his excellent work with America.
This book reads like fiction and is very entertaining.
He and his journalist wife are vaticanists. Through their many experiences and contacts, they provide a behind the scene view of the work of the Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
In their haste to publish, their editors allowed too much overlap and repetitiveness.
I love their descriptions of the food they ate during their turbulent month of front line reporting.
(I’d have appreciated more English translation of phrases and dishes)
This book reads like fiction and is very entertaining.
He and his journalist wife are vaticanists. Through their many experiences and contacts, they provide a behind the scene view of the work of the Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
In their haste to publish, their editors allowed too much overlap and repetitiveness.
I love their descriptions of the food they ate during their turbulent month of front line reporting.
(I’d have appreciated more English translation of phrases and dishes)
May 5, 2026
This book is written in the form of a diary by two veteran Vatican journalists who were close friends of Pope Francis. It describes in great detail the people, events, politics and machinations leading to the election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. The book covers the period from the final days of Pope Francis life until Robert Prevost’s inauguration as Pope Leo XIV. At times it dives into the weeds, while at others it discusses extraneous matters such as what the authors ate for dinner and where they dined and with whom.
The book makes it clear that the Cardinals were seeking a new Pope who would continue on the path laid out by Pope Francis. Pope Leo had served as a missionary and a pastor in South America, and leader of a religious order that had ministries around the world. This led to his selection by Pope Francis for various posts in Peru and at the Vatican, and his eventual promotion to Cardinal Bishop by Francis, for whom he became a close and trusted confidant, perhaps with the idea that one day Robert Prevost would be elected to serve as Pope. He was selected because the Cardinals believed he would follow Francis’ path of a missionary pastoral sandal church, not because he was an American. In fact, the South American Cardinals said he was one of them due to the many years that the Pope served in Peru which led him to exhibit Latino sensitivities, and become a Peruvian citizen.
This is a fascinating look behind the scenes at the secretive process of selecting the Pope about which there has been much speculation as exemplified by the book and movie Conclave.
However, it feels a bit too long as it discusses post-Conclave events. Although providing a few insights into Pope Leo’s past, character, background, and possible future agenda, the authors fill much of this section with a recitation of the events attended by the Pope, the people that he met, and his speeches. It seems that they are trying to reach a specified page count rather than providing any additional major insights about the Pope for the reader.
The book makes it clear that the Cardinals were seeking a new Pope who would continue on the path laid out by Pope Francis. Pope Leo had served as a missionary and a pastor in South America, and leader of a religious order that had ministries around the world. This led to his selection by Pope Francis for various posts in Peru and at the Vatican, and his eventual promotion to Cardinal Bishop by Francis, for whom he became a close and trusted confidant, perhaps with the idea that one day Robert Prevost would be elected to serve as Pope. He was selected because the Cardinals believed he would follow Francis’ path of a missionary pastoral sandal church, not because he was an American. In fact, the South American Cardinals said he was one of them due to the many years that the Pope served in Peru which led him to exhibit Latino sensitivities, and become a Peruvian citizen.
This is a fascinating look behind the scenes at the secretive process of selecting the Pope about which there has been much speculation as exemplified by the book and movie Conclave.
However, it feels a bit too long as it discusses post-Conclave events. Although providing a few insights into Pope Leo’s past, character, background, and possible future agenda, the authors fill much of this section with a recitation of the events attended by the Pope, the people that he met, and his speeches. It seems that they are trying to reach a specified page count rather than providing any additional major insights about the Pope for the reader.
April 7, 2026
Cardinal Prevost was sure they wouldn’t elect an American
As a new listener of the Inside the Vatican podcast from America magazine and with Gerry O’Connell, one of the authors, I have known this book was coming for a while, and it has many interesting insights, including the Pope Francis had backed away from Cardinal Parolin and instead favored Cardinal Prevost. But it was indeed Pope Francis’ last surprise, since not even Cardinal Prevost thought an American would ever be elected as Pope. But his experience as a missionary in Peru was what softened that thinking.
As a new listener of the Inside the Vatican podcast from America magazine and with Gerry O’Connell, one of the authors, I have known this book was coming for a while, and it has many interesting insights, including the Pope Francis had backed away from Cardinal Parolin and instead favored Cardinal Prevost. But it was indeed Pope Francis’ last surprise, since not even Cardinal Prevost thought an American would ever be elected as Pope. But his experience as a missionary in Peru was what softened that thinking.
April 9, 2026
A ok book, but it’s really more a testament to Pope Francis, whose the authors knew well, than it is about the election of Pope Leo. Nothing bears this out more than the fact that Pope Francis and Jorge Bergoglio, together, is mentioned 378 times. Pope Leo and Robert Prevost, together, is mentioned 97 times.
May 1, 2026
Bonne synthèse, mais la tendance des auteurs à la répétition et à l'autosatisfaction finit par être insupportable.
May 16, 2026
An inside look at the death of Pope Francis and election of Pope Leo. Some technical parts but very entertaining and educational
May 7, 2026
A fascinating look inside the election of Pope Leo XIV.
The authors, journalists, are very familiar with the Vatican and it’s various members. They were also longtime friends over 20 years of the late Pope Francis. In this wall written and detailed book the authors take us inside the election of Robert Francis Prevost as a new Pope. I highly recommend it.
The authors, journalists, are very familiar with the Vatican and it’s various members. They were also longtime friends over 20 years of the late Pope Francis. In this wall written and detailed book the authors take us inside the election of Robert Francis Prevost as a new Pope. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews