When Cardinal Robert Prevost appeared on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica in May 2025, most of the faithful and Vatican observers wondered: Who is this man? His luminous smile and profound gaze immediately captivated millions of viewers around the world. But beyond this first impression, it is through his words, his thoughts, and his spirituality that we can truly understand who Leo XIV is.
Two recent works, published by Bayard and Salvator respectively, offer a rare and precious opportunity: to discover the new pope's thoughts directly, without filter or commentary. These collections of texts allow us to connect with the keen intelligence and spiritual sensitivity of a man called to guide the Catholic Church through one of the most complex periods in its history. Let's explore together what these writings reveal about the man who now bears the name Leo XIV.
Intelligence at the service of the Gospel
Reading Leo XIV's texts immediately reveals a quality that characterizes his theological and pastoral approach: a vigorous intelligence, capable of analyzing situations with precision while maintaining a deep anchorage in the tradition of the Church. This is not a cold or purely academic intelligence, but an embodied thought, nourished by years of missionary ministry and pastoral experience on several continents.
In his homilies and lectures collected in these works, we discover a man who knows how to handle theological concepts with ease without ever losing sight of the concrete dimension of the lives of the faithful. He addresses the major issues of our time – globalization, secularization, ecological challenges, social changes – not as an outside observer, but as a pastor deeply concerned about the spiritual and material well-being of his brothers and sisters in humanity.
This intelligence is particularly evident in his ability to forge links between the different dimensions of Christian life. For him, prayer is not separated from social action, contemplation is not opposed to missionary commitment, and tradition does not prevent openness to contemporary realities. It is an integrated vision of faith that shines through on every page, an approach that rejects simplistic oppositions and always seeks synthesis within an evangelical perspective.
A deep spiritual sensitivity
Beyond his analytical intelligence, what is striking in Leo XIV's writings is the depth of his spiritual life. We perceive a man of prayer, someone for whom the relationship with God is not a subject of study but a reality experienced daily. This contemplative dimension permeates all his writings, even the most theoretical or those most engaged in social issues.
His spiritual sensitivity is first manifested in his language. Unlike some ecclesiastical texts that can seem dry or overly technical, Leo XIV's writings speak to the heart as much as to the intellect. He uses concrete images, references to universal human experience, and examples from his own life or pastoral encounters. This approach makes his texts accessible without simplifying the richness of the Christian message.
In these works we also discover a man sensitive to beauty – the beauty of the liturgy, the beauty of creation, the beauty of human cultures in their diversity. This attention to the aesthetic dimension of faith is not superficial: it testifies to a profound conviction that God also reveals himself through beauty, and that the celebration of this beauty is an integral part of spiritual life.
His compassion for those who are suffering also shines through in many passages. Whether he is speaking of migrants, the poor, the sick, or those who feel excluded from the Church, one perceives a genuine empathy, a sincere desire to alleviate suffering and bring Gospel hope to all, without exception.
The Augustinian anchor: key to understanding
To fully understand Leo XIV's thought, it is essential to explore his Augustinian roots. This grounding in the tradition of Saint Augustine is not just an intellectual reference: it is a structuring influence that shapes his vision of the Church, grace, and the Christian life.
Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in the fourth century, left an indelible mark on Western Christian theology. His reflections on grace, sin, human freedom, and God's love continue to influence Catholic thought. But beyond theological concepts, Augustine was also a pastor, someone who sought to understand and accompany the faithful on their spiritual journey.
In Leo XIV, this Augustinian heritage manifests itself in several ways. First, in a realistic conception of the human condition: like Augustine, he recognizes the fragility of human beings, their propensity to sin, but also their capacity, through grace, to turn to God and live according to the Gospel. This balanced vision avoids both excessive pessimism and naive optimism.
Augustinian influence is also evident in his understanding of the Church. For Augustine, the Church is both holy and composed of sinners, already victorious in Christ but still on the path to its final fulfillment. This tension between the "already" and the "not yet" also characterizes Leo XIV's ecclesiological vision. He does not hide the weaknesses and sins of the institutional Church, but he firmly maintains his faith in the action of the Holy Spirit who guides the community of believers.
A man for a globalized Church
Robert Prevost's background has uniquely prepared him to exercise his Petrine ministry in the context of a Church that has become truly global. Born in the United States, having served in various parts of the globe, notably in Latin America and Asia, he brings a valuable international perspective. His writings demonstrate an intimate understanding of the challenges the Church faces in very different cultural contexts.
This experience of the globalization of the Church is reflected in his approach to pastoral issues. He does not propose standardized universal solutions, but recognizes the need for inculturation that respects local particularities. At the same time, he firmly maintains the unity of faith and communion among all the particular Churches.
In his writings, one also perceives a particular sensitivity to missionary issues. Leo XIV did not conceive of mission as an activity reserved for specialists or certain regions of the world, but as the fundamental vocation of the entire Church and of every Christian. This missionary vision is accompanied by a profound respect for the cultures and religious traditions of peoples, in the spirit of interreligious dialogue promoted by the Second Vatican Council.
Speech in the service of dialogue
One of the remarkable aspects of the texts collected in these two works is Leo XIV's ability to communicate in an accessible manner without sacrificing depth. He mastered the art of discourse that appealed to different audiences: committed believers, researchers, but also people far removed from the Church or outside observers.
This quality of communication is particularly evident in his early interventions as pope, reproduced in these books. From his first message "urbi et orbi," he knew how to find the right words to reassure, inspire, and call to action. His direct style, sometimes tinged with humor, breaks with certain habits of traditional ecclesiastical language without losing dignity or substance.
Dialogue, for Leo XIV, is not just a pastoral method: it is a fundamental attitude that stems from his understanding of the Trinity. If God himself is a communion of persons in loving dialogue, then the Church must reflect this dialogical dimension in all its relationships—internal dialogue among members of the Christian community, dialogue with other Christian denominations, dialogue with other religions, and dialogue with the contemporary world.
Facing contemporary challenges
Leo XIV's writings do not shy away from the major challenges facing the Church. He directly addresses difficult issues: the sexual abuse crisis and its management, the place of women in the Church, debates on questions of sexual morality, the relationship to authority in a society that values individual autonomy, and many other sensitive subjects.
What characterizes his approach is the refusal of ready-made answers. Without renouncing the fundamental principles of Catholic doctrine, he seeks to understand concrete situations in their complexity. He recognizes that the Church must learn to listen before speaking, to accompany before judging, and to propose rather than impose.
On the ecological issue, which is of particular concern to younger generations, Leo XIV shows a keen awareness of the urgency. In line with his predecessor Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', he calls for a profound ecological conversion that affects not only lifestyles but also economic and social structures. His Augustinian roots help him articulate this environmental concern with a theological vision of creation.
The importance of community life
A recurring theme in Leo XIV's writings is the importance of community. Trained in the Augustinian tradition, which emphasized the communal life of religious, he emphasized the collective dimension of the Christian faith. Christianity, he constantly emphasized, is not an individualistic religion but an invitation to form a people, the Body of Christ.
This community vision has important practical implications. It means that the parish should not simply be a place where people come to receive religious services, but a true community of life where Christians share their joys and sorrows, support one another, and bear witness together to the Gospel. Leo XIV encouraged the development of small communities of faith within parishes, places where Christian fellowship can be experienced in a concrete way.
This emphasis on community also extends to the vision of the universal Church. Leo XIV often speaks of the need to strengthen ties between local churches, to foster the exchange of experiences and resources, and to cultivate a spirit of synodality in which everyone has their place and their voice.
The central place of Prayer
Prayer was at the heart of Leo XIV's spirituality. His texts abundantly attest to this: for him, prayer was not just another activity, but the source of all authentic Christian life. Without a regular and profound life of prayer, Christians risk becoming exhausted by activism or losing their sense of vocation.
This conviction is evident in his approach to practical and pastoral issues. Before proposing solutions or action plans, he always invites people to pray, to listen to the Holy Spirit, and to community discernment in prayer. This attitude is not an evasion of responsibility, but rather a recognition that the effectiveness of ecclesial action ultimately depends on God's grace.
In his writings, Leo XIV also shares his own experience of prayer, in a discreet but touching way. We understand that he is a man who has experienced God's presence in times of joy as well as in times of difficulty, and that this experience nourishes his faith and his ministry.
Servant leadership
Leo XIV's understanding of authority in the Church deserves special attention. Influenced by the Rule of Saint Augustine, which insisted that the superior must first be a servant, he proposed a vision of ecclesial leadership based on service rather than power.
This outlook has been evident in his style of government since his election. He quickly established broader consultation processes, gave more voice to the laity in certain bodies, and encouraged greater transparency in Vatican administration. His texts call on all Church leaders, at all levels, to adopt this attitude of service.
At the same time, he does not renounce exercising his authority when necessary. He recognizes that the unity of the Church sometimes requires clear decisions, even if they are not unanimous. But these decisions must always be taken in a spirit of discernment, after listening widely, and keeping as the ultimate criterion the good of the faithful and fidelity to the Gospel.
The Future of the Church According to Leo XIV
Reading these two works, we also perceive Leo XIV's vision of the future of the Church. He does not hide the current difficulties—secularization in certain regions, the loss of credibility due to scandals, internal divisions—but he maintains a deep confidence in Christ's promise to remain with his Church until the end of time.
His optimism is not naive. He recognizes that the Church must constantly reform, purify, and renew itself. But he firmly believes that this purification is possible and that it will lead to a more authentically evangelical Church, closer to the poor, more open to the world while remaining faithful to its mission.
For Leo XIV, the future of the Church lies in a return to its sources—the Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, the great spiritual tradition—while courageously opening itself to new challenges. It is not a matter of choosing between tradition and modernity, but of drawing on the treasure of tradition to illuminate the present and prepare for the future.
An invitation to the reader
These two works are not just historical documents about the beginning of a pontificate. They are an invitation to each reader to deepen their own spiritual life, to reflect on their place in the Church, and to engage more fully in the evangelical mission.
Reading Leo XIV's texts directly, without the filter of commentaries or interpretations, we come into contact with a living, embodied thought, nourished by decades of pastoral experience and theological reflection. We discover a man who, beneath the papal robes, remains profoundly human, aware of his limitations but confident in the grace of God.
Whether you are a practicing Catholic, a religious seeker, or simply an observer interested in religious matters, these texts offer food for thought. They question our own relationship to spirituality, the meaning we give to our lives, and our responsibility to others and to creation.
The publication of these works by Bayard and Salvator reflects a need among the French-speaking public to learn more about this pope, whose election surprised many. Beyond legitimate curiosity, it is an opportunity to discover a voice that can enrich our own spiritual journey, whatever our personal position regarding the Catholic Church.
Leo XIV himself, in his writings, presents himself not as a master imposing his thoughts, but as a brother who shares his experience and his faith. This fundamental humility, combined with a lively intelligence and a profound spiritual sensitivity, makes these works valuable reading for anyone interested in the life of the Church and the spiritual questions of our time. Reading them, we better understand how this man, yesterday still largely unknown, is today called to guide the ship of the Church through the storms of our time.
