Eager for a book on the life story and ideology of the American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday? Hold that thought. Very little has been written by or about him—so far.

Catholic publishers and journalists practiced at on-the-spot papal biographies are racing to research and write those first books. Indeed, Loyola Press is already marketing a July 15 release date for Vatican expert Christopher White's Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy. White was prepped to start on the manuscript as soon as the new pope was named.

That happened at midday Thursday in America, or early evening in Rome, when at least 2/3 of the 133 voting cardinals agreed on Prevost, the first North American ever to be pontiff. White smoke, the signal of a successful vote, floated from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel out over St. Peter's Square, and tens of thousands of believers who clustered there went wild. And ebook self-publishers went to work. Two new Kindle titles popped up Amazon overnight: Leo XIV – From Altar Boy to Papacy: The Life and Rise of the First American Pope, by an author identified as “The Alchemist,” and God Loves Everyone: The Essential Pope Leo XIV, Selected Homilies and Sermons: The Voice of Robert Francis Prevost, from Peru to the Papacy, translated from the Spanish by Mateo Valvarde.

The pope's official biography is available at the Vatican website. The Chicago-born pontiff, now 69, entered the Augustinian religious order when he was 22, and was ordained a priest in 1982. It may be that the only book he has authored was his Rule and Constitutions of the Order of Saint Augustine, published in 2002 by Villanova University. Decades later, he rose to be elected leader of the order, which was founded in the 14th century.

Prevost spent much of his career in Peru, where he also holds citizenship. He was named Archbishop of Chiclayo in 2015 and elevated to Cardinal in 2023, after which Pope Francis drew him back to Rome to serve as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, leading the Vatican office that vets future bishops and sends its nominations to the pope.

When the largest conclave in Church history commenced on Wednesday, with voting cardinals from 70 nations, Prevost was already known to many of them. Less than 24 hours later, he emerged as the pontiff, leader of 1.4 billion Catholics.

On the balcony, his first words to the world as Pope Leo XIV were, "Peace be with you." He spoke in Italian and Spanish about seeking to build bridges and dialogue during a divisive time. Now, the stampede of wanna-be biographers will be busy searching his past. Why did he choose a missionary order? Why take the name of Leo XIV, calling to mind Leo XIII, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903? Where will he stand on the myriad issues and controversies the global church faces today?

Soon enough, there will likely be books aiming to answer some of those questions.

This story has been updated with further information.