Leo XIV: Builder of Bridges

Leo XIV: Builder of Bridges by Fr Michael Collins

The first pope from North America, following the enormously popular Pope Francis, Leo XIV has caught the popular imagination both in his homeland and across the globe. In his new book, Father Michael Collins, who has written five papal biographies, examines the life story of the Chicago-born Robert Prevost.

Peru became the second home of Robert Prevost, who spent almost two decades there working as a curate, administrator and finally as bishop. Prevost spent twelve years at the helm of the Augustinian order, travelling to 50 countries during his tenure. These journeys brought him into contact with a variety of cultures spread across five continents. Pope Francis appointed Prevost a bishop in Peru, having known him since Francis was archbishop of Buenos Aires. Summoning Prevost to Rome in 2023, where he was placed in charge of the world’s bishops, Pope Francis was giving a clear signal that he wanted the polyglot American to be considered as a possible successor.

This new biography covers not only Prevost’s family history and his pre-papal life, but also the early months of his papacy, examining the new pope’s approach to dealing with internal Vatican politics, his first visits abroad – to Turkey and Lebanon – and how he is handling thorny issues, such as the sexual abuse scandal and the closure of Sodalitium of Christian Life.

Fr Michael Collins, who lived and taught in Rome for several years, has written books on the Vatican and Pope Francis which were published by Dorling Kindersley and have been translated into twelve languages. He writes widely on the papacy. In Leo XIV: Builder of Bridges, Michael Collins recounts Robert Prevost’s quiet path to the papacy, from his first encounter with liberation theology in Latin America to his disagreements with the corrupt Peruvian government. Collins reveals the behind-the-scenes maneuvers which led to Prevost’s surprise election, usurping the favourite, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the first months as Pope Leo took the mantel of Pope Francis and began to model the papacy in a new direction, seeking to reconcile belligerent countries and resolve tensions within the Catholic Church.  Introducing the reader to this new pope, Collins reveals the signs of a pontificate which will shape the Church in the coming years.