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Dr. Matthew Bunson – Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor
Kris McGregor interviews Dr. Matthew Bunson about his new book on Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. Dr. Bunson recounts the extraordinary events surrounding Pope Francis’s final days and the surprising election that followed. He offers a deeply personal perspective on the historic transition, describing his experience covering the month-long period in Rome with EWTN. Dr. Bunson reflects on the unexpected yet providential choice of Pope Leo XIV—a U.S.-born Augustinian with extensive missionary and Vatican experience—and explores why he resonated so strongly with the College of Cardinals.
Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate is already marked by clarity, humility, and theological depth rooted in the Augustinian tradition, as well as the Pope’s focus on the dignity of the human person, renewal of Catholic social teaching, and the global challenges posed by technology and modernity. With insight into the papal conclave, the Church’s current needs, and Pope Leo XIV’s spiritual and pastoral formation, Dr. Bunson presents a compelling portrait of a man uniquely positioned to guide the Church in a new era of both continuity and renewal.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:
- How does the unexpected election of Pope Leo XIV challenge your assumptions about how the Holy Spirit guides the Church?
- What can Pope Leo XIV’s missionary background teach you about serving Christ across cultures and boundaries?
- How might the Augustinian motto “In Christ, we are one” shape your approach to unity in your parish or community?
- In what ways can you foster greater clarity and charity when sharing the truths of the Catholic faith?
- How can you respond with trust when God’s plans surprise or disrupt your expectations?
- What role does the Liturgy of the Hours or Church Fathers like Augustine play in your personal spiritual growth?
- How do you discern the dignity of each person in light of today’s technological and societal shifts?
- What does the reverence Pope Leo XIV shows for Church tradition invite you to reconsider in your own relationship with the Church’s teachings?
- How can you contribute to healing divisions within the Church by anchoring your life more deeply in Christ?
- What might God be asking of you in this new chapter of the Church’s journey under Pope Leo XIV?
From the book’s description:
We have a Pope! And his name is Leo XIV.
But who is this American-born 266th successor to St. Peter? What is the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s vision for the Church, and what impact will his papacy have on Catholics and on the world?
Renowned Vatican journalist Dr. Matthew Bunson offers the first authoritative portrait of the new Holy Father. With unmatched access and a reputation for integrity and insight, Bunson delivers a compelling, richly textured narrative of the new pope’s life, beliefs, and most improbable journey to the Chair of St. Peter.
This book will roll off the presses on May 21st, making it the first definitive biography available to readers worldwide. Accessible, informative, and rooted in journalistic rigor and an intimate understanding of the Church, Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the man inside the white cassock — and the moment in which he will reign.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Enright is a member of the Catholic Church. He is a licensed psychologist and the founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating knowledge about forgiveness and community renewal through forgiveness. In 2020, he was awarded the Aristotelian Professorship in Forgiveness Science in the Department of Educational Psychology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the first to publish a scientific study on the topic of person-to-person forgiving (1989). He is a popular speaker on forgiveness, and his work has appeared in such outlets as Time magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune and on ABC’s 20/20. His International Forgiveness Institute organized the Jerusalem Conference on Forgiveness for the Renewal of Individuals, Families, and Communities at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, 2017; the Rome Conference on Forgiveness at the University of Santa Croce, 2018; and the International Educational Conference on Agape Love and Forgiveness in Madison, Wisconsin, 2022. For his innovative research on forgiveness, he received in 2022 what the American Psychological Association calls “psychology’s highest awards:” the APF Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology..
