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American Pope: Leo XIV's Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City
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Expected 6 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 22:06:19
15 copies available
U.S. only
From the co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered and NPR’s Senior Editor of Religion and Spirituality, a deeply reported, revelatory biography of Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, that offers rare and exciting new insight into the life and times of the man who would come to lead the Catholic Church.
On May 8, 2025, eighteen days after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to share the name of the new leader of the Catholic Church.
“Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Robertum Franciscum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost—qui sibi nomen imposuit Leo XIV.”
For the first time in its 2,000 year history, the Catholic Church would be led by an American.
NPR’s Daniel Burke and Scott Detrow, who were in St. Peter’s Square that day leading the network’s coverage, were among those shocked by the selection. Growing up in the faith as kids and reporting on it as adults, they had been told it was an article of faith, a given, that the Catholic Church would never elect an American pope. And yet, there was Prevost—now Leo XIV—smiling, waving, and declaring to the crowd in Italian, “Peace be with you.”
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who grew up just outside Chicago but had spent much of his adult life in Peru, had been a dark horse candidate to say the least–an unassuming Augustinian who had only recently been promoted to the top levels of Church leadership. His elevation to the most prominent religious seat in the world prompted unprecedented enthusiasm—a surge of “Da Pope” memes and American tourists flocking to Rome with gifts of deep dish pizza and hats from Villanova (his alma mater)—but despite international media coverage and fascination, the scope of Prevost’s journey has yet to be told in full, intimate detail.
Now, in American Pope, Burke and Detrow present the first comprehensive, impressively sourced biography of the new pontiff. The two journalists spent the year after Leo’s election reporting in Peru, Chicago, and Rome. They tracked down Leo’s close confidants, childhood friends, family members, classmates, fellow clergy, and Vatican insiders. They gained unprecedented access to archival documents, letters, emails, and other personal correspondence that provide key insights into Prevost’s experiences and views. As a result, readers are introduced to a man at varying stages of his destiny: Robert, a quiet young boy from a working-class parish straddling Chicago’s southern border, coming into his faith in Kennedy-era America; Bob, a serious student who writes for his high school paper and spends time in the seminary leading family interventions for alcoholics; Padre and Monsignor Roberto, a stabilizing and hopeful presence in impoverished and terrorized communities of Peru, and who would help lead his diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic; Father Bob, the leader of the Augustinian order at a time of crisis for the Catholic Church; Cardinal Prevost, the unassuming ally of Pope Francis; and, finally, Leo, whose ascension will forever change the Church he serves and loves.
Enlightening, engrossing, and undeniably human, American Pope is the key to understanding one of the most consequential figures of our time.
On May 8, 2025, eighteen days after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to share the name of the new leader of the Catholic Church.
“Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Robertum Franciscum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost—qui sibi nomen imposuit Leo XIV.”
For the first time in its 2,000 year history, the Catholic Church would be led by an American.
NPR’s Daniel Burke and Scott Detrow, who were in St. Peter’s Square that day leading the network’s coverage, were among those shocked by the selection. Growing up in the faith as kids and reporting on it as adults, they had been told it was an article of faith, a given, that the Catholic Church would never elect an American pope. And yet, there was Prevost—now Leo XIV—smiling, waving, and declaring to the crowd in Italian, “Peace be with you.”
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who grew up just outside Chicago but had spent much of his adult life in Peru, had been a dark horse candidate to say the least–an unassuming Augustinian who had only recently been promoted to the top levels of Church leadership. His elevation to the most prominent religious seat in the world prompted unprecedented enthusiasm—a surge of “Da Pope” memes and American tourists flocking to Rome with gifts of deep dish pizza and hats from Villanova (his alma mater)—but despite international media coverage and fascination, the scope of Prevost’s journey has yet to be told in full, intimate detail.
Now, in American Pope, Burke and Detrow present the first comprehensive, impressively sourced biography of the new pontiff. The two journalists spent the year after Leo’s election reporting in Peru, Chicago, and Rome. They tracked down Leo’s close confidants, childhood friends, family members, classmates, fellow clergy, and Vatican insiders. They gained unprecedented access to archival documents, letters, emails, and other personal correspondence that provide key insights into Prevost’s experiences and views. As a result, readers are introduced to a man at varying stages of his destiny: Robert, a quiet young boy from a working-class parish straddling Chicago’s southern border, coming into his faith in Kennedy-era America; Bob, a serious student who writes for his high school paper and spends time in the seminary leading family interventions for alcoholics; Padre and Monsignor Roberto, a stabilizing and hopeful presence in impoverished and terrorized communities of Peru, and who would help lead his diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic; Father Bob, the leader of the Augustinian order at a time of crisis for the Catholic Church; Cardinal Prevost, the unassuming ally of Pope Francis; and, finally, Leo, whose ascension will forever change the Church he serves and loves.
Enlightening, engrossing, and undeniably human, American Pope is the key to understanding one of the most consequential figures of our time.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Daniel Burke
51 books16 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
OK, so since I a) work at NPR and b) am a cradle Catholic whose early religious training came from Western Province Dominican Friars, so as such, c) am a big fan of the current Pope, the fact that I am into this book is not going to shock anybody.
But I honestly didn't expect to dig it this much. It is a thoughtful examination of the pontiff's life, paired with a sometimes dense unpacking of the history of the things that have shaped him -- the Augustinians in America; the factions within the church after Vatican II, etc. -- that helps to illuminate the central story. And ultimately, it's a moving and engaging portrait of a man whose most consistent quality seems to be the willingness to go where he is called, whether that's to a struggling part of Peru or the church's highest office.
But I honestly didn't expect to dig it this much. It is a thoughtful examination of the pontiff's life, paired with a sometimes dense unpacking of the history of the things that have shaped him -- the Augustinians in America; the factions within the church after Vatican II, etc. -- that helps to illuminate the central story. And ultimately, it's a moving and engaging portrait of a man whose most consistent quality seems to be the willingness to go where he is called, whether that's to a struggling part of Peru or the church's highest office.
Did Not Finish
September 21, 2026This book was basically a history of the Catholic church and culture in 20th century America. While interesting, Bob Prevost (a.k.a Pope Leo ) was hardly in it, despite this being his biography. We get detailed accounts of the schools he went to, his teachers, his classes, his classmates, various activities, Vatican II (sweeping changes in the church) lots about Villanova University (again, classes, clubs, professors, etc.) but nothing about Bob. Bob shows up at Villanova in the 1970's. He studies math. He dresses as Groucho Marx for a Halloween party. That's about it.
I got fed up. I skipped to the end where he's elected pope then I put the book down. Sorry Bob :/
I got fed up. I skipped to the end where he's elected pope then I put the book down. Sorry Bob :/
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews