VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will release a collection of his previously unpublished homilies and addresses later this year, offering readers insight into his theological development during the early years of his ministry.
The volume, titled “Freedom Under Grace: Reflections on the Spiritual Tradition That Formed,” compiles writings from 2001 to 2013, a period before Robert Prevost’s election to the papacy. The collection is scheduled for English-language publication in 2026, according to BBC Culture.
The writings span more than a decade of Prevost’s work prior to his elevation as pontiff. Publishers say the material will allow readers to “observe the development of Prevost’s thinking” during his formative years in ministry.
The book marks the first major publication of the pope’s early theological work made available to a general English-speaking audience. Previous papal publications have typically focused on writings produced after election to the Holy See.
Analysis: The publication of a pope’s pre-papal writings is not unprecedented, but the timing — releasing material from the first decade of the 2000s relatively early in a pontificate — suggests an effort to define the intellectual framework of this papacy from its outset. The title “Freedom Under Grace” points to Augustinian themes consistent with Prevost’s background as a member of the Order of Saint Augustine.
Sources: BBC Culture, The Guardian Books (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jun/25/pope-leo-iv-to-publish-book-freedom-under-grace)
Source: BBC Culture – Original article
Story synopsis gathered from: BBC Culture — source
