"The election of Pope Leo XIV signals a defining moment for the Catholic Church. As he steps onto the world stage, the new pontiff inherits the throne of St. Peter, the legacy of Pope Francis, and the challenges of a rapidly changing Church. In Pope Leo XIV, veteran Vatican correspondent Christopher White delivers an authoritative account of the dramatic conclave that shaped this momentous transition, the forces that propelled Pope Leo XIV to the papacy, and the vision he brings to the Church's future. Drawing on exclusive reporting and expert analysis, White examines the potential impact of Pope Leo XIV's leadership on Catholicism's governance, doctrine, and engagement with pressing global issues. He also explores how the vision of Pope Francis's successor may shape the Church's role in contemporary society amid unprecedented uncertainty and change. In these unprecedented times of global uncertainty, Pope Leo XIV offers an essential look at the past, present, and future of a papacy that exerts a major influence on 1.4 billion Catholics and the world itself." --

Preface --

Part 1.

Pope Francis: forward looking and free --

Part 2.

Inside the most secretive election on Earth --

Part 3.

From Chicago to Rome. -- Son, priest, missionary, shepherd -- Il Papa Americano! -- The dawn of a new papacy --

Afterword