Thereza Ameal Illustrations by Izaac Brito The Pope from Both Americas LEO XIV
The Pope from Both Americas LEO XIV
Under the direction of Romain Lizé, President, Magnificat Editor, Magnificat: Isabelle Galmiche Editor, Ignatius: Vivian Dudro Translator: Magnificat- Ignatius Copyeditor: Kathleen Hollenbeck Proofreader: Elise Asan Layout Designer: Magali Meunier Production: Thierry Dubus, Audrey Bord Original Portuguese edition: Leão, O Papa das duas Americas © 2025 by PAULUS Editora, Apelação, Portugal © 2025 by Magnificat, New York. Ignatius Press, San Francisco All rights reserved ISBN MAGNIFICAT: 978-1-63967-193-9. ISBN Ignatius Press: 978-1-62164-890-1
Thereza Ameal Illustrated by Izaac Brito The Pope from Both Americas LEO XIV
CONTENTS A Boy, an Angel, and the Beginning of Everything........................ 7 Answering the Call................................................................... 10 Llamas, Mud, and a Mission in Sandals..................................... 14 Serving Two Lands with an Angel Trying to Keep Up.................. 18 Bishop Robert Prevost...............................................................21 Habemus Papam!...................................................................... 24 My Bob, the Pope..................................................................... 28
Hello! I’m a guardian angel. Yes, a real one. I don’t have big, fancy wings or a golden harp, but I do have an important mission. The day God asked me to watch over Robert—who would one day become Pope Leo XIV—he said with an all-knowing smile, “You’ll need patience . . . and a sense of humor. But I’m counting on you. This boy has a big mission ahead.” I didn’t hesitate. I’ve protected bishops, martyrs, and even a missionary who could never keep track of his shoes. I knew I was ready. When I arrived at the hospital, I saw a mother glowing with love, a proud father snapping pictures from every angle, and a round, wiggly baby sneezing so loudly that it seemed he was trying to make an announcement! I leaned in and introduced myself. (You may not know this, but babies understand angelic language.) The baby looked up and smiled. That’s when I knew that our journey together had begun. Soon little Robert was on the go: crawling, climbing, falling, crying, laughing. Next came running, jumping, and trying to keep up with two older brothers. Robert seemed to find new dangers every single day. Guardian angels don’t get bored; we’re too busy keeping kids safe! Robert—or Bob, as I call him—was a smart boy bursting with questions. A BOY, AN ANGEL, AND THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING 1 h Z Z 7
“Why do birds sing?” “Where does God live?” “Why do adults say, ‘I’m coming!’ and then don’t come?” He grew up in a small brick house just outside Chicago, Illinois. With three boys in the family, there was never a dull—or quiet—moment. Both his parents had graduate degrees in education. His mother, Mildred, was a woman of deep faith who could correct her children with a knowing smile. When Bob was thirteen, she became a librarian in a Catholic high school. His father, Louis, had served in the United States Navy during the Second World War. He oversaw public school districts before becoming the principal of a Catholic elementary school. The family prayed together, went to Mass together, and volunteered together at their parish, Saint Mary of the Assumption. They often invited priests or neighbors over for dinner. (Mildred was a great cook!) The family’s faith and warmth filled the house with joy. From the beginning, something holy was blooming inside Bob. He loved to play Mass. He would set up an ironing board as an altar, cover it with a tablecloth, and use wafer-shaped candies for hosts. His brothers were the “congregation” (though they usually ran off before the homily). “In Latin or in English?” Bob would ask, standing tall and serious. “In silence, please!” the brothers would shout, covering their ears. I watched it all, smiling softly. Bob was being called by God to the priesthood. Sometimes, at night, after prayers, he would lie in bed with wide eyes and whisper, “Angel, what if God wants me to be a priest?” I would rest my wings gently on his shoulders and whisper back, “Be brave, little one. You’re on the right path. Heaven is smiling.” h9
Young Bob lived an active and happy life. He was often seen dashing across a tennis court or a baseball field, with eyes shining and a grin that could light up the sky. His love for professional baseball began when he and his brothers were altar boys. As a thank-you, they were given free tickets to see the Chicago White Sox. We cheered so loudly at those games that even I became a fan! Bob had a joy that bubbled over into everything he did, be it serving at Mass, studying, or sharing with others. Any guardian angel would have been proud to watch over a soul like his. When he turned fourteen, Bob made a surprising choice for a boy his age: He entered the minor seminary of the Order of Saint Augustine. It was a boarding school for boys with big dreams to serve the Church. There, with classes (he was an excellent student), prayers, sports, and friendships, Bob became a young man. As he grew taller, his heart grew bigger—especially with his longing to give himself completely to God. He sang at Mass with such joy that even the saints in heaven paused to listen. At eighteen, Bob went to Villanova University in Pennsylvania, also run by the Augustinian Order. He majored in mathematics, seeing that the world was orderly and beautiful because it had logic and proportion. He also studied Hebrew and Latin, and took the final steps to become a full member of the Augustinian Order. The years that followed were filled with prayer and learning. Then came a joyful day: Robert Francis Prevost, his heart aglow with love for Jesus, was ordained a priest in Rome. And just like that, he became ANSWERING THE CALL 2 Z Z h10
Father Bob: gentle, cheerful, a little shy, and with a heart so open that it seemed heaven itself could fit inside. Now, angels don’t usually cry. But on that day, I had to brush a tear from my eye. We returned to Chicago, where Father Bob studied theology. Between his classes, he taught math and physics at a Catholic high school. After completing his degree, he said to me: “Angel, I’m going to study in Rome!” Rome! Back we went to the city of fountains, cobbled streets, grand churches, delicious pizzas—and yes, the pope. Robert was still a young priest and a humble student. While we lived in the house of the Augustinian Order, he learned Italian, read mountains of books, and—of course—prayed. He studied canon law (which I tried to help with, though the textbooks could have used a few more pictures!). While he studied, I floated above golden domes, wandered through quiet libraries, and listened to psalms echoing through chapels as old as time. Ah, Rome . . . angels feel a little closer to heaven there. h12
The Pope from Both Americas Hello! I’m a guardian angel. Yes, a real one. I don’t have big, fancy wings or a golden harp, but I do have an important mission. The day God asked me to watch over Robert—who would one day become Pope Leo XIV—he said with an all-knowing smile, “You’ll need patience . . . and a sense of humor. But I’m counting on you. This boy has a big mission ahead.” I didn’t hesitate. I’ve protected bishops, martyrs, and even a missionary who could never keep track of his shoes. I knew I was ready. From the moment Robert Prevost was born into a loving, faith-filled family, God was shaping him for his greatest calling: to become Pope Leo XIV. Follow his journey through the imaginary eyes of someone who was with him every step of the way—his guardian angel. LEO XIV AGES 7 AND UP
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