Pope Leo XIV is to publish never-before-seen writings in a new book drawing on the Augustinian spiritual tradition that shaped him before his election to the papacy.

Freedom Under Grace: Reflections on the Spiritual Tradition That Formed Me will be published by Cornerstone, a division of Penguin Random House UK, on September 15, 2026. The volume will be the first published collection of writings by Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, selected by the Holy Father after his election in May 2025.

The book brings together homilies, addresses and writings from his 12 years as prior general of the Order of St Augustine, from 2001 to 2013. The publisher said the collection would allow readers to encounter the spiritual formation of the man who would become Pope “in his own words”, before he or others could have imagined his future role in the Church.

World English rights were acquired by Matthew Burdette, senior editor at Image Books, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group in the US, from Libreria Editrice Vaticana. UK and Commonwealth rights were acquired by Ben Brusey, publishing director at Cornerstone, from Denise Cronin, senior vice-president and executive director for subrights at Random House Group.

The book will also be the launch title for a new spirituality imprint at Cornerstone, which is due to be announced this summer.

Campbell Wharton, senior vice-president and publisher of PRH Christian in the US, said: “It’s our great privilege to present this inspiring book to readers. Each chapter is a window into the spiritual depth and vision of the man who would eventually become Pope Leo, with an urgent message of love and service to address the challenges of the world today.

“It’s a book for any Catholic, but also any Christian or spiritual seeker looking for guidance and hope for living a life that transforms the world.”

According to the publisher, Freedom Under Grace draws deeply on the spirituality of St Augustine, whom Pope Leo describes as his spiritual father. The writings present a vision of the Christian life rooted in community, solidarity, service to the poor and the conviction that the Gospel speaks urgently to a divided world.

“We are called to be fully human in the midst of an inhuman society. Christian holiness is love, and is born in our hearts,” Prevost writes in the book.

“As Augustinians, we are called to promote life, in the depths of what it means to be truly human; we must promote those values that make true humanity possible: peace and justice, the richness present in all cultures, the beauty of creation in nature. To be truly human requires an attitude of service to others and openness to authentic dialogue.”

The collection is centred on a theme that the publisher says has guided Pope Leo’s life: “Man is not defined by what he possesses or what he knows, but rather by what he loves.”

Robert Francis Prevost was born on the South Side of Chicago in 1955, the son of a school superintendent and a librarian. After studying mathematics at Villanova University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he made solemn vows in the Order of St Augustine and was ordained priest in Rome in 1982.

He became a missionary in Peru in 1985, served as prior general of the Order of St Augustine from 2001 to 2013, was consecrated bishop in 2014 and was made a cardinal in 2023. On May 8, 2025, he was elected Pope, becoming the first American and first Augustinian pope.

An excerpt from Freedom Under Grace is available at freedomundergrace.com.

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