How can we write a book on Leon XIV in 3 days? The secrets of manufacture of the two biographies of the Pope currently in bookstores
Pope race: the editor’s sprint
The first books for sale in bookstores and on platforms will win the jackpot! Because there is a good chance that the first biographies on the new unknown pope will get out.
However, Thursday, May 8 in the evening, at the time of the election of Léon XIV, those who hit the name of Cardinal Prévost on the Internet did not find much information! His Wikipedia page was almost empty. The Peruvian bishop did not write any book, did not stand out … except François!
And less than a week later, on May 14, the first book Leon XIV, the apostle of peacefrom Samuel Pruvot (ed. Salvator), goes out. Pulled to 10,000 copies! Two days later, it’s the turn of Leon XIV, the unexpected pope by Christophe Henning (ed. Artège), drawn to 20,000 copies, to join the shelves. The goal: to reach a vast audience that followed François’ funeral, Pope having attracted far beyond the Catholics, and the conclave, to introduce the new Pope.
But how to write a biography in three days? The authors explain to us …
Some chapters have been written in advance …
Christophe Henning : Of course ! I wrote the “hot” part on the new pope (his first gestures, his attitude, his words), his biography and a first (and humble) analyzes in 48 hours. But a good half of the book was already written. This is the documentary part that I had prepared when Pope Francis began to be sick: the major files of the upcoming pontificate, the deliberations of the previous conclaves, the heritage of François, the portraits of others papabiliwho have become in my book “Les Cardinaux who count today”.
Samuel Pruvot : A good half of the book was written before the election of Leon XIV, at the time of the general congregations and the conclave. I left in early May in Rome to write pre-Conclave analysis papers for my newspaper, and I had permission to use them for my story. I also wrote the challenges of the new pontificate, but I completed them after the election, in particular taking into account that the Pope is American, and the files that are specific to him.
The manufacture of this book looked like that of a newspaper, with “cold” pages (written very upstream), “lukewarm” (written but updated), and other “hot” (to be in extenso). We completed Sunday morning, after two and a half days of work.
“The goal was to take a photo of the present”
Christophe Henning journalist
What was your goal? Doesn’t such a fast work compete with the press?
Christophe Henning : The goal was not to build a literary story, but to make a photo of the present, an instantaneous bringing together the elements on this unexpected pope and the challenges of his pontificate. Hoping to be at the fairest one, knowing that we will not be exhaustive. This story is intended for the general public – specialists will learn nothing about it. A book allows you to reach another audience than the press, it can extend what the spectator may have seen. And without trying to make literature, you can give a magnitude to writing.
Samuel Pruvot : From the start, I wanted us to feel the atmosphere, emotions, voices, heat, tension … It is a journalistic story of conclave with many testimonies. I worked a lot in the tone, the style, so that the reader can feel a little in Rome, and be part of this incredible event: the birth of a Pope. With gestation (general congregations), the work of childbirth (conclave) and gutting (election).
I don’t feel like I compete with the press. In a newspaper, we are in a forced format; There, I could write (almost) as much as I wanted. I want to speak to the general public, to those, not necessarily Catholics, who have been affected by Pope Francis, and who may want to know this new Pope. The grace of the book is to give duration at this ephemeral, essential moment, because it is the zero moment of the pontificate.
Have you used an artificial intelligence?
Christophe Henning: Out of curiosity, I hit his name on Chatgpt, who replied that after 2023, he had no information … and on Wikipedia, it is especially the sources that interest me (the notes at the bottom of the page). This page was enriched over the hours, it was impressive.
Samuel Pruvot : I don’t use it! The journalists of I.Media are serious and competent, their information is reliable and first -hand.
The authors
Christophe Henning: Journalist in the Bayard group for twenty years. Editor in chief Panoramamonthly of Christian spirituality for six years, then report to the religious services of Pilgrim and The cross. Now responsible for the section The cross. He is the author of a dozen works (biographies, essays, interviews), especially on the monks of Tibhirine (ed. Bayard, ed. Salvator), as well as a Little life of Jean-Paul Ier (Salvator), a Little life of John Paul II (Desclée de Brouwer, 2005).
Samuel Pruvot: Chez Famille Christian since 2005. Editor -in -chief and editorialist, he is in charge of major reports and former manager of the magazine’s news pages. He is the author of many political and religious works, such as The church in front of the modern world, with Mgr Marc Aillet (first part Eds, 2025); Hidden wisdom of monasteries (Mame, 2023); Conversations with the President on the gods, France and the Republic (Cerf, 2022).
