Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Prevost, is set to publish a collection of his early writings in English later this year. Titled Freedom Under Grace: Reflections on the Spiritual Tradition That Formed Me, the book will be released in September and includes previously unpublished homilies and addresses from his tenure as prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine between 2001 and 2013.
Book Details and Publisher Insights
The collection, originally published in Italian by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the Vatican's publishing house, will be published in the US by Penguin Random House Christian. Campbell Wharton, publisher at Penguin Random House Christian, described the book as containing “an urgent message of love and service to address the challenges of the world today.” In the UK, it will serve as the launch title for a new spirituality imprint at Penguin division Cornerstone. Wharton further noted that the book is “for any Catholic, but also any Christian or spiritual seeker.”
Background of Pope Leo XIV
Prevost became the first American pope in May 2025. Born in Chicago, he studied mathematics at Villanova University in Philadelphia before being ordained as a priest in Rome in 1982. He was subsequently sent to a mission in Peru. After serving as prior general of the Augustinian order in the 2000s, he was consecrated bishop in 2014 and made a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2023.
Structure and Themes of the Collection
The collection is organized chronologically, allowing “readers to observe the development of Prevost’s thinking,” according to editor Matthew Burdette in a reader’s note. Themes covered in the book include education, leadership, diversity, and “the church in the world.” The title Freedom Under Grace originates from the Rule of Saint Augustine, in which the Bishop of Hippo urges his monks to live “not as servants under the law, but as men free under grace.”
Previous Publication and Additional Context
A collection of sermons and speeches made by Prevost since becoming pope was published in February as Peace Be with You!: My Words to the Church and to the World. The upcoming release is expected to offer further insight into the spiritual formation of the pontiff.
