"Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope," written by Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director at EWTN News. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNACNA Staff, May 23, 2025 / 17:14 pm (CNA).EWTN officially launched the first authoritative biography of Pope Leo XIV, which is available for purchase now, during an event at the Vatican on May 22."Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope," written by Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director at EWTN News, tells the story of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was elected the new Holy Father on May 8.Bunson, a Church expert and longtime Vatican journalist who has written over 50 books, said at the book launch at the Campo Santo Teutonico in Rome that Leo's diverse experience as a pastor, prior general, missionary and bishop in Peru, and as a cardinal have given him a profound understanding of the global Church.Pope Leo XIV, in his first weeks as pope, has also proven to be a unifying figure who has brought ...
"Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope," written by Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director at EWTN News. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
CNA Staff, May 23, 2025 / 17:14 pm (CNA).
EWTN officially launched the first authoritative biography of Pope Leo XIV, which is available for purchase now, during an event at the Vatican on May 22.
Bunson, a Church expert and longtime Vatican journalist who has written over 50 books, said at the book launch at the Campo Santo Teutonico in Rome that Leo's diverse experience as a pastor, prior general, missionary and bishop in Peru, and as a cardinal have given him a profound understanding of the global Church.
Pope Leo XIV, in his first weeks as pope, has also proven to be a unifying figure who has brought with him an "uncompromising emphasis on the divine person of Jesus Christ," Bunson continued.
"He is a universal person. He is someone in the world, but not of the world. He is somebody who, by his call to the priesthood and to the life of the Augustinians, embarked on an absolutely stunning journey," Bunson said May 22.
"And what is so remarkable about it is that as time progressed leading up to the conclave, more and more cardinals came to appreciate exactly who he is and why he was, at this moment in time, the person that they felt they could trust with the keys of Peter."
The biography paints a picture of Pope Leo XIV as a Christ-centered, Augustinian-influenced, and competent leader who is expected to prioritize unity, clarity, and the application of Catholic social teaching, particularly concerning the dignity of the human person in an era of rapid technological change.
Bunson has previously said that he hopes the book will help inform readers about the importance of Pope Leo's membership in the venerable Order of St. Augustine, and the fact that he is both a mathematician and canon lawyer will help him address the Vatican's financial woes.
Additionally, Bunson's book touches on some of the moral and theological issues currently being debated in the Church and public arena, and also discusses the significance of the choice of the name "Leo" and what that says about the pope's vision for his pontificate.
"Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope," written by Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director at EWTN News. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Michael Warsaw, EWTN's CEO and chairman of the board, told CNA that he is "excited that EWTN Publishing is releasing this biography of Pope Leo XIV so soon after his election."
"As the leading Catholic media platform, our aim is to share the Holy Father's story with the world, starting with his early life, to help people connect with the man now serving as the vicar of Christ," Warsaw said.
"EWTN is uniquely positioned to publish this biography of the first pope born in the United States and the second pope from the Americas. Like Pope Leo, the EWTN family is global, but our roots are American."
"Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope," written by Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director at EWTN News. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
The book about Leo's life is available to order on EWTN Religious Catalogue.
Pope Leo XIV receives an electric lawn mower from Czech manufacturer Swardman during a general audience in mid-November 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of SwardmanRome Newsroom, Dec 7, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).The Vatican's gardeners have a new tool for maintaining the papal grounds: a custom-designed electric lawn mower bearing the Holy See's coat of arms.Pope Leo XIV received the white Electra 2.0 mower during a general audience in mid-November, a gift from Czech manufacturer Swardman.The specially commissioned model features leather-lined handles and was hand-assembled at the company's facility in Šardice, Czech Republic. "It was an incredibly powerful experience full of humility and respect," Jakub Dvorák, the company's sales manager who personally presented the gift, told CNA. "The pontiff appreciated the Vatican's coat of arms placed on the appliance, listened with interest as we explained how it functions, and thanked us very politely."The quiet, precision-cutting mower is d...
Promo photo for the The Better Part Journal of shadows of Madonna lilies for the Blessed Virgin Mary. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Heidi Bollich-ErneWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 7, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).While teaching an ethics and culture course, Heidi Bollich-Erne was looking for a journal featuring the work of Catholic women for her students to read. After being told that it simply didn't exist, she decided to create one herself.With the help of a team of women, Bollich-Erne has founded what she calls the "first intellectual Catholic women's journal." Its purpose is to not only define the feminine genius but also to show how faithful women can embody its beauty in their daily lives. "I want women to find a home, a place that values their work. The journal itself is edited, written, and published solely by Catholic women," Bollich-Erne told CNA. "The way that women write, the way that we express ourselves is very different. That's just who we are. That's part of the ge...
Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the Angelus on December 7, 2025. / Vatican MediaVatican City, Dec 7, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).Pope Leo XIV on Sunday said his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon showed that "peace is possible," pointing to renewed steps toward Christian unity and powerful encounters with the Lebanese people still seeking justice after the 2020 Beirut port explosion.Speaking after the Angelus to pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square on Dec. 7, the pope recalled praying in Iznik, ancient Nicea, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, and representatives of other Christian communities on the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. Marking Sunday's 60th anniversary of the Common Declaration between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, Leo said, "We give thanks to God and renew our dedication to journeying towards the full visible unity ...
"Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope," written by Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director at EWTN News. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
