The inside story of Pope Leo XIV’s election

This special episode of Inside the Vatican features Colleen Dully joined by journalists Gerard O'Connell and Elisabetta Piquet, co-authors of The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis. The conversation delves into the unprecedented secrecy and spiritual dimensions of the 2026 conclave that elected the first American pope, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Prévis. Drawing on years of Vatican reporting and firsthand access, the authors reveal how cardinals experienced a profound sense of divine guidance amid intense political maneuvering, smear campaigns, and internal divisions. They explain their meticulous, notebook-based research process—avoiding digital records—to reconstruct the conclave’s dynamics, including how Prévis, initially an under-the-radar candidate, emerged as a unifying figure through quiet influence, calm demeanor, and a global pastoral vision. The episode also reflects on the legacy of Pope Francis, including a touching personal story of him officiating the authors’ wedding, and explores how Pope Leo’s papacy is consolidating Francis’s reforms while appealing across ideological lines. The authors defend their work against accusations of breaking the conclave’s secrecy oath, arguing that their book is a historical record rooted in rigorous journalism and the cardinals’ own spiritual testimony.