This is how Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin describes it in his foreword to a new book about Pope Leo XIV by Italian journalist Antonio Preziosi.
"Cardinal Prevost was always like this," writes Parolin. "I have got to know him over the past two years since Pope Francis appointed him head of the Dicastery for Bishops."
He has experienced him as a man who fulfils his tasks with conscientiousness and dedication, is always well informed and approaches everything with calm, deliberation and balanced, respectful solutions.
At the same time, Parolin emphasised that Leo, as a religious, had already quoted the Doctor of the Church Augustine several times at the beginning of his pontificate - for example with the words: "For you I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian" - and thus expressed his "deep humanity and the spirit of service with which he wanted to exercise his ministry".
The book "Leone XIV. La via disarmata e disarmante" ("Leo XIV. The Disarmed and Disarming Way") traces the beginning of the pontificate of the first US pope in 17 chapters.
Preziosi also sheds light on the life of Leo XIV and his years in Peru.