Any account of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV has to offer something rather different from Elise Allen’s biography, which had the benefit of knowledge of his ministry in Peru and extensive interviews with the Pope himself. Christopher Lamb has taken on a more general agenda in American Hope: What Pope Leo XIV Means for the Church and the World (Headline, £25). It does not set out to be a biography; it is more of a roundup of the challenges he faces in the light of his record and personality. This is a perfectly good objective; the trouble is that, after the Allen book, interviews with assorted personalities in the Vatican and generalisations do not quite cut it.
9:00 AM
An uninspiring portrait
Christopher Lamb offers a serviceable overview of the challenges facing Pope Leo XIV, but his analysis rarely moves far beyond the obvious
Melanie McDonagh
5 min read
Already a subscriber? Sign in
5freearticles every month
Continue reading with a free account. No card needed.
- Five free articles every thirty days, on any device you sign in on
- The Catholic Herald newsletter, every morning
- Subscribe whenever you like for everything: every article and the magazine
subscribe to the catholic herald today
Our best content is exclusively available to our subscribers. Subscribe today and gain instant access to expert analysis, in-depth articles, and thought-provoking insights—anytime, anywhere. Don’t miss out on the conversations that matter most.
Subscribe
