Daniel Burke: American Pope, Gebunden

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From a popular host of NPR's All Things Considered and NPR's senior editor of religion and spirituality, the first deeply reported, revelatory biography of Robert Prevost (now known as Leo XIV)-the quiet, devout priest from Chicago whose unexpected election to the papacy promises to change the future of the Catholic Church at home and abroad.

On May 8, 2025, eighteen days after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Dominique Memberti, the longest serving deacon in the college of cardinals, stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican Square to share the name of the new leader of the Catholic Church. For two weeks, the world had watched, rapt, as commentators, news anchors, and scholars had debated the candidates, the odds, and projected the scenarios. But few anticipated the name that Memberti shouted out to the crowd:

"Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Robertum Franciscum Sanctae
Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost-qui sibi nomen imposuit Leo XIV."

Within seconds, the world changed. For the first time in its 2, 000 year history, the Catholic Church would be led by an American.

Robert Francis Prevost, a cardinal bishop from Illinois, had been a dark horse candidate to say the least-an unassuming Augustinian who had only recently been appointed to a cardinal bishop role by the late pope, his legitimacy as a candidate was discounted by many due to his age, nationality, and ranging beliefs on various social and doctrinal topics.

NPR's Daniel Burke and Scott Detrow, who were in Vatican Square that day leading the network's coverage, were among those shocked by the decision. Growing up in the faith as kids and reporting on it as adults, they had been told many times 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."

It was an unbelievable, unprecedented moment, and the world took notice: before long, memes of "Da Pope" and an image of Prevost at the 2005 Chicago World Series quickly zoomed through the internet. In the following weeks, tourists flocked to Rome, offering the pontiff deep dish pizza and hats from Villanova (his alma mater) as he greeted crowds from the Pope-Mobile. No other papal election in recent memory has prompted this kind of response. And yet, despite international media coverage and fascination, Leo largely has remained a mystery to the millions of people who are eager to understand him.

Now, in American Pope, Burke and Detrow present the first comprehensive, deeply sourced biography of the new pontiff, revealing the full scope of his journey from Chicago's working-class parishes and Peru's civil war-torn communities to the Vatican's corridors of power. Drawing on decades of experience, archival research, rigorous reporting, and unparalleled access to Vatican insiders, it is a detailed, intimate look at one of the most surprising and powerful leaders in our world today.