American Pontiff

PAUL KENGOR, PHD (GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA) is Editor of The American Spectator, executive director and chief academic fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom, a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace, and professor of political science at Grove City College.Kengor has focused much of his work on Ronald Reagan, faith and the presidency, conservative politics, the Cold War, Communism, and Catholicism, and is a New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books, including: A Pope and a President, God and Ronald Reagan, The Divine Plan, The Stigmatists, and The Devil and Karl Marx. A regular contributor to The American Spectator, Dr Kengor is a frequent contributor and expert historian in the media, from NEWSMAX to MSNBC to C-SPAN to EWTN to NPR to PBS, and a much-in-demand public speaker.The author lives & works in the Pittsburgh metro area.https://spectator.org/author/paul-kengor/

• Table of Contents to POPE LEO XIV: THE FIRST AMERICAN PONTIFF by Paul Kengor, Ph.D.Preface: Habemus AmericanChapter 1: Where Peter IsChapter 2: “I Want a Mess:” The Francis PapacyChapter 3: I Papabili (The Pope-ables)Chapter 4: Conclave Chapter 5: Pope of Surprises: The Unexpected PrevostChapter 6: A Surprised World ReactsChapter 7: The Vote at the Vatican: A Prevost ConsensusChapter 8: The Roots of Robert Francis PrevostChapter 9: From Priest to Bishop (1990s-2010s)Chapter 10: The Rapid Rise of Cardinal Prevost (2023-25)Chapter 11: What’s in a Name? The Leo LegacyChapter 12: Son of AugustineChapter 13: Pope Leo XIV’s First 40 DaysChapter 14: The Future of Leo XIV and the ChurchAn American PostscriptAcknowledgmentsNotes IndexAbout the Author

Praise for AMERICAN PONTIFF: Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church by Paul Kengor, Ph.D.“Dr. Paul Kengor’s deep understanding of both Catholicism and America make him the right scholar to introduce Americans to a deeper understanding of the first American pontiff. As my wife Callista, who served as Ambassador to the Holy See, said, 'Pope Leo XIV is good for the Catholic Church and good for America.' Dr. Kengor has explained why she is right and why all of us should be excited that the Conclave picked Pope Leo XIV.”—HON. NEWT GINGRICH, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives“WAIT, WHAT??? Paul Kengor, author of a new book about the Pope, says Pope Leo XIV is a Republican who, quite likely, voted for Trump. An old friend…an eminent author of a number of great books…the topic of religion and politics is something that Paul has been thinking about for a long time...[he has] a new book that is very topical and very timely: AMERICAN PONTIFF.”—DINESH D’SOUZA, New York Times bestselling author “I’m with [Paul]! Get the book if you want to know the real story about the Pope. The book is AMERICAN  PONTIFF: POPE LEO XIV AND HIS PLAN TO HEAL THE CHURCH…follow all of Paul’s excellent writings…he has lots of thoughts, and very very good thoughts.”—MICHAEL KNOWLES, host of The Daily Wire’s The Michael Knowles Show“Captures the drama that led to the election of the first American pope. Kengor is at his best in offering a biographical portrait of Leo; it gives us great insight into his thinking. His affection for Pope Leo XIII helps us to appreciate his mature understanding of social justice. This is more than a biography—Kengor knows how to tell a story. It is a story of a man whose holiness and humbleness was evident at a young age. While others sought to elevate themselves to the top, the man from Chicago never sought the limelight. We are fortunate that the world has now discovered him, and we are fortunate that Kengor illuminates his legacy with precision.”—BILL DONOHUE, PHD, President & CEO of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and publisher of Catalyst“If you have been wondering (like most of the rest of the world) who Robert Prevost—AKA, Pope Leo XIV—is, you now have your answer, in a readable, intriguing and balanced treatment by Dr. Paul Kengor, who himself knows a thing or two about popes and Americans. This book will be a reference point for every Vaticanista for years to come.”—FATHER ROBERT SIRICO, President Emeritus of The Acton Institute“The election of American Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV shocked the world and raised many questions. Who is this man who now leads the Catholic Church? Why did the Cardinals choose him? What will be his agenda? How will he differ—or be the same as—his controversial predecessor Pope Francis? In AMERICAN PONTIFF: Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church, Dr. Paul Kengor ably addresses these questions and more. Avoiding easy or ideological answers, Kengor frankly accesses the current situation in the Church with the eye of an expert historian and experienced Church observer. Both Catholics and non-Catholics should care about the future of the Catholic Church, and Kengor helps the reader to better understand Pope Leo XIV and the challenges he faces.”—ERIC SAMMONS, Editor-in-Chief of CRISIS Magazine and author of Holiness For Everyone"With his signature blend of intellectual rigor and compelling storytelling, New York Times Bestselling author Paul Kengor charts the extraordinary ascent of Pope Leo XIV from the streets of Chicago to the seat of St. Peter. Drawing from material from cardinals, theologians, and a long list of Church insiders, Kengor’s meticulous research unveils the drama and discernment behind the conclave that elevated Cardinal Robert Prevost to the papacy. In this compelling narrative, Kengor offers readers not only a glimpse into the making of a Pope, but a hopeful vision for the Church’s future."—ANNE HENDERSHOTT, PHD, Director of the Veritas Center at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and author of The Politics of Envy"No one knows politics and religion like Dr. Paul Kengor. This is the first DEFINITIVE biography of our new American Pope and I am sure it will be a bestseller because it is already a blockbuster.”—CRAIG SHIRLEY, Presidential Historian, Ronald Reagan Biographer, and author of UPHEAVAL"At a tumultuous period in Roman Catholicism and one in which the Church has made an historic move in electing the first American Pope, Paul Kengor's biography of Pope Leo is ‘must’ reading for both Catholics and non-Catholics. His story of Leo's life and amazing rise from altar boy in Chicago to Supreme Pontiff of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide offers clear clues on just how the new Pope will deal with issues ranging from his Church's relations with President Trump to the clash between traditional Catholics and those who see Vatican II as the wave of the future."—JOHN GIZZI, NEWSMAX Chief Political Correspondent“Kengordelivers a masterful and compelling work in AMERICAN PONTIFF thatcombines rigorous scholarship with a deeply hopeful vision for the future ofthe Church. He writes with clarity, conviction, and insight, offering readersboth a profound understanding of the challenges facing Catholicism and apersuasive roadmap toward renewal. This is an essential and inspiring read foranyone who cares about faith leadership and the enduring strength of theChurch.”—PATRICKNOVECOSKY, author of 100 Ways John Paul II Changed the World