What do you think?
Rate this book
Pope Francis: Untying the Knots
From his first appearance on a Vatican balcony Pope Francis proved himself a Pope of Surprises. With a series of potent gestures, history’s first Jesuit pope declared a mission to restore authenticity and integrity to a Catholic Church bedevilled by sex abuse and secrecy, intrigue and in-fighting, ambition and arrogance. He declared it should be 'a poor Church, for the poor'.
But there is a hidden past to this modest man with the winning smile. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was previously a bitterly divisive figure. His decade as leader of Argentina’s Jesuits left the religious order deeply split. And his behaviour during Argentina’s Dirty War, when military death squads snatched innocent people from the streets, raised serious questions – on which this book casts new light.
Yet something dramatic then happened to Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He underwent an extraordinary transformation. After a time of exile he re-emerged having turned from a conservative authoritarian into a humble friend of the poor – and became Bishop of the Slums, making enemies among Argentina’s political classes in the process.
For Pope Francis – Untying the Knots, Paul Vallely travelled to Argentina and Rome to meet Bergoglio’s intimates over the last four decades. His book charts a remarkable journey. It reveals what changed the man who was to become Pope Francis – from a reactionary into the revolutionary who is unnerving Rome’s clerical careerists with the extent of his behind-the-scenes changes. In this perceptive portrait Paul Vallely offers both new evidence and penetrating insights into the kind of pope Francis could become.
But there is a hidden past to this modest man with the winning smile. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was previously a bitterly divisive figure. His decade as leader of Argentina’s Jesuits left the religious order deeply split. And his behaviour during Argentina’s Dirty War, when military death squads snatched innocent people from the streets, raised serious questions – on which this book casts new light.
Yet something dramatic then happened to Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He underwent an extraordinary transformation. After a time of exile he re-emerged having turned from a conservative authoritarian into a humble friend of the poor – and became Bishop of the Slums, making enemies among Argentina’s political classes in the process.
For Pope Francis – Untying the Knots, Paul Vallely travelled to Argentina and Rome to meet Bergoglio’s intimates over the last four decades. His book charts a remarkable journey. It reveals what changed the man who was to become Pope Francis – from a reactionary into the revolutionary who is unnerving Rome’s clerical careerists with the extent of his behind-the-scenes changes. In this perceptive portrait Paul Vallely offers both new evidence and penetrating insights into the kind of pope Francis could become.
227 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
28 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Paul Vallely
17 books4 followersPaul Vallely is a British journalist and writer on religion, ethics, Africa and development issues.
He is Visiting Professor in Public Ethics and Media at the University of Chester and Senior Honorary Fellow at the Global Development Institute at the University of Manchester.
Follow this link for the retired US general Paul E. Vallely.
He is Visiting Professor in Public Ethics and Media at the University of Chester and Senior Honorary Fellow at the Global Development Institute at the University of Manchester.
Follow this link for the retired US general Paul E. Vallely.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 8, 2014
Since the 1970's I have grown increasingly upset with the Catholic Church's distancing itself from Christ's teachings and the reforms of Vatican II(1962-1965). This book gives a good account of Pope Francis' life and his plans for a return to reform and change. Elected Pope in 2013 he has already eliminated most, if not all, of the corruption with the Vatican Bank and has drastically reined in the controlling and corrupt practices of the Roman Curia and many Italian bishops. He would encourage the clergy to move from ambition and isolation to a more simple lifestyle that includes joining people in their communities.
With respect to the laity he has begun to institute an "all are welcome response" that calls for ordinary people's participation. Francis would adopt a structure and authority that would be less vertical and more horizontal. He encourages discussion on issues related to women's roles in the Church, the divorced receiving Communion, remarriage, openness to homosexuals, inclusion of non believers, Jews, Moslems, Hindi, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Buddhist et. al. As with Vatican II, Francis would support a return to discussions on right to life to include war, reform of economic systems that create inequality of income and living standards, capital punishment, euthanasia and abortion.
Francis seems to be a very intelligent, humble and loving individual who, by his own admission, recognizes that he's also made many mistakes. He asks for prayers and forgiveness. His executive skills, leadership, openness, shared decision making and humility are a rare combination.
I was inspired by the book. I was inspired by Francis and I like his understanding of Christ's message.
With respect to the laity he has begun to institute an "all are welcome response" that calls for ordinary people's participation. Francis would adopt a structure and authority that would be less vertical and more horizontal. He encourages discussion on issues related to women's roles in the Church, the divorced receiving Communion, remarriage, openness to homosexuals, inclusion of non believers, Jews, Moslems, Hindi, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Buddhist et. al. As with Vatican II, Francis would support a return to discussions on right to life to include war, reform of economic systems that create inequality of income and living standards, capital punishment, euthanasia and abortion.
Francis seems to be a very intelligent, humble and loving individual who, by his own admission, recognizes that he's also made many mistakes. He asks for prayers and forgiveness. His executive skills, leadership, openness, shared decision making and humility are a rare combination.
I was inspired by the book. I was inspired by Francis and I like his understanding of Christ's message.
July 9, 2015
I have often said that if popes had been like this when I was younger I would still be Catholic. I found this a very interesting look at the life of Pope Francis and the influences that made him the ma he is. I did not know that he came second to Pope Benedict in the last conclave and might have won had it not been for dirty tricks pulled by the Jesuits (his own order but then again they have always had the reputation of being the s.o.b.s of the church).
Learning about the things he did for the poor and weak in Argentina was really interesting. I hope that the College of Cardinals is learning and the from now on popes will all be in his image and not that of previous popes.
Learning about the things he did for the poor and weak in Argentina was really interesting. I hope that the College of Cardinals is learning and the from now on popes will all be in his image and not that of previous popes.
February 7, 2015
"The only purpose of the Church is to go out to tell the world the good news about Jesus Christ. It needs to surge forth to the peripheries, not just geographically but to the existential peripheries where the people grappled with sin, pain, injustice, ignorance and indifference to religion." Said Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina during the conclave.
After reading the book, I now see the Pope to be more human, more fragile, but more endearing.... I now hope for change.
After reading the book, I now see the Pope to be more human, more fragile, but more endearing.... I now hope for change.
September 13, 2013
(Taken from my review on the Thinking Faith website)
Benedict XVI’s decision to resign the papacy in February 2013 meant that the world’s introduction to Pope Francis took place in rather unusual circumstances. There was none of the respectful mourning that accompanies the death of a preceding pope to temper the frenzied speculation when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped out onto the balcony. News organisations immediately began scrambling to get up to speed on the Argentinian Jesuit, and there has since been a rush by publishing houses to release books about this formerly unknown cardinal (at least outside of South American circles) who was called to Rome from ‘the ends of the earth’.
Of the new literature rushed out to capitalise on the great interest and the extraordinarily long honeymoon period that Francis is experiencing, Paul Vallely’s Pope Francis: Untying the Knots is perhaps the best in the English language. The only biographical account of Bergoglio published before the election, in any language, was El Jesuita by Sergio Rubin. This Spanish-language biography has the advantage over Vallely’s book because its source material is firsthand, acquired through conversation with the then-Cardinal Bergoglio. Vallely’s sources are secondary; the book was produced after a whistle-stop tour of Argentina, and perhaps is too reliant on a limited set of interviews with Jesuits and other companions of Bergoglio. Given the pressures of time, it is only to be expected that this would be a small pool, perhaps lacking the more prudent or cautious voices. However, working under considerable constraints, Vallely has done an impressive job.
The second part of the book’s title – ‘Untying the Knots’ – is a stroke of genius. It expresses succinctly but also with a certain profundity the challenge at hand. It refers to an image of Our Lady that Jorge Bergoglio SJ brought back to Argentina from Germany, where he had been sent for further studies after his controversial stint as Provincial of the Argentinian Jesuits. According to Vallely, Bergoglio’s time in Germany was unhappy; he missed his beloved country, especially his hometown of Buenos Aires. During this period of exile, he was struck by a painting of Our Lady Untier of Knots that he stumbled upon in Bavaria. The concept of Mary untying knots is derived from St. Irenaeus of Lyons, who presents a parallel between Eve and Mary, describing how, ‘The knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.’ This would have resonated with Bergoglio, reflecting on his bruising time as a young provincial in a country divided by a brutal military regime and a murderous communist insurgency. Vallely, with great insight, posits that this painting in some way represents the enigma of Bergoglio: a former provincial with a complicated legacy, but also a man spiritual and humble enough to recognise his mistakes and learn from them.
So the book is divided into two main ‘acts’ of Bergoglio’s life thus far: before and after Argentina’s Dirty War. It is rather cursory about his childhood, and there is little discussion about the future of Pope Francis. The focus is on Bergoglio the Jesuit provincial, and then Bergoglio as bishop and cardinal. It is both challenging and illuminating. Perhaps with one eye on the commercial advantages of releasing instalments in other publications, Vallely has already allowed excerpts to appear in The Tablet and The Times. Instalments demand headlines and a certain polemical tone, and I think Vallely may have sacrificed some impartiality to this requirement. The book perhaps is guilty of being overly critical of Bergoglio’s behaviour in the Dirty War period, which is grist for the mill of The Times, who were ungenerous with their reporting at the time of the papal election. It is easy to paint the young provincial as out-of-step with the other Latin American provinces in the heady post-Vatican II days, but that does not fit comfortably with a fascinating detail which Vallely, to his credit, also includes. The iconic Jesuit General Pedro Arrupe trusted and sent Bergoglio to intercept an ultra-conservative Spanish splinter-group of Jesuits who were coming to Rome to make demands that could have given rise to a schism. They were persuaded by Bergoglio to turn around and go back to Spain, thus preserving the integrity of the order, which is a source of pride to many Jesuits.
Towards the end of the first part of the book, the author starts to bring out many of the quiet, courageous and heroic acts of Bergoglio the provincial. They do appear as an afterthought, though, which gives some sense of the book being unbalanced. Perhaps this is a result of the inevitable temptation – particularly when trying to exploit a timely and possibly fleeting gap in the market – to write a contemporary biography with the cadences of a film script, appealing to the modern attention span with crises and cliff-hangers. However, I may be being too sensitive – as a Jesuit, I have become quite protective of the first Jesuit pope and maybe I lack a certain objectivity.
The second part of the book turns the corner and launches ‘the people’s bishop’: he leads a life of simplicity, poverty and integrity, and has the remorse and compassion of a humble man who is anchored in a daily rhythm of prayer. Now the dramatic arc of the screenplay of Bergoglio’s life takes an upswing, and there are faint whiffs of hagiography as the saint-in-the-making begins his ascent through the ranks of the hierarchy. A favourite moment for me is the account of the general congregation that preceded the conclave at which Bergoglio was elected and his influential intervention there.
Vallely is an excellent, well-connected writer, and Pope Francis: Untying the Knots is an engaging and thoughtful read throughout. He turns out to be a good ‘untier’ of the knots – or at least what seem, at a rushed first glance, to be knots. However, I also look forward to a second edition in a few years’ time, with a more nuanced tone at times and an updating of Pope Francis’ legacy – which will, I hope, include accounts of deep reforms in the Church.
Benedict XVI’s decision to resign the papacy in February 2013 meant that the world’s introduction to Pope Francis took place in rather unusual circumstances. There was none of the respectful mourning that accompanies the death of a preceding pope to temper the frenzied speculation when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped out onto the balcony. News organisations immediately began scrambling to get up to speed on the Argentinian Jesuit, and there has since been a rush by publishing houses to release books about this formerly unknown cardinal (at least outside of South American circles) who was called to Rome from ‘the ends of the earth’.
Of the new literature rushed out to capitalise on the great interest and the extraordinarily long honeymoon period that Francis is experiencing, Paul Vallely’s Pope Francis: Untying the Knots is perhaps the best in the English language. The only biographical account of Bergoglio published before the election, in any language, was El Jesuita by Sergio Rubin. This Spanish-language biography has the advantage over Vallely’s book because its source material is firsthand, acquired through conversation with the then-Cardinal Bergoglio. Vallely’s sources are secondary; the book was produced after a whistle-stop tour of Argentina, and perhaps is too reliant on a limited set of interviews with Jesuits and other companions of Bergoglio. Given the pressures of time, it is only to be expected that this would be a small pool, perhaps lacking the more prudent or cautious voices. However, working under considerable constraints, Vallely has done an impressive job.
The second part of the book’s title – ‘Untying the Knots’ – is a stroke of genius. It expresses succinctly but also with a certain profundity the challenge at hand. It refers to an image of Our Lady that Jorge Bergoglio SJ brought back to Argentina from Germany, where he had been sent for further studies after his controversial stint as Provincial of the Argentinian Jesuits. According to Vallely, Bergoglio’s time in Germany was unhappy; he missed his beloved country, especially his hometown of Buenos Aires. During this period of exile, he was struck by a painting of Our Lady Untier of Knots that he stumbled upon in Bavaria. The concept of Mary untying knots is derived from St. Irenaeus of Lyons, who presents a parallel between Eve and Mary, describing how, ‘The knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.’ This would have resonated with Bergoglio, reflecting on his bruising time as a young provincial in a country divided by a brutal military regime and a murderous communist insurgency. Vallely, with great insight, posits that this painting in some way represents the enigma of Bergoglio: a former provincial with a complicated legacy, but also a man spiritual and humble enough to recognise his mistakes and learn from them.
So the book is divided into two main ‘acts’ of Bergoglio’s life thus far: before and after Argentina’s Dirty War. It is rather cursory about his childhood, and there is little discussion about the future of Pope Francis. The focus is on Bergoglio the Jesuit provincial, and then Bergoglio as bishop and cardinal. It is both challenging and illuminating. Perhaps with one eye on the commercial advantages of releasing instalments in other publications, Vallely has already allowed excerpts to appear in The Tablet and The Times. Instalments demand headlines and a certain polemical tone, and I think Vallely may have sacrificed some impartiality to this requirement. The book perhaps is guilty of being overly critical of Bergoglio’s behaviour in the Dirty War period, which is grist for the mill of The Times, who were ungenerous with their reporting at the time of the papal election. It is easy to paint the young provincial as out-of-step with the other Latin American provinces in the heady post-Vatican II days, but that does not fit comfortably with a fascinating detail which Vallely, to his credit, also includes. The iconic Jesuit General Pedro Arrupe trusted and sent Bergoglio to intercept an ultra-conservative Spanish splinter-group of Jesuits who were coming to Rome to make demands that could have given rise to a schism. They were persuaded by Bergoglio to turn around and go back to Spain, thus preserving the integrity of the order, which is a source of pride to many Jesuits.
Towards the end of the first part of the book, the author starts to bring out many of the quiet, courageous and heroic acts of Bergoglio the provincial. They do appear as an afterthought, though, which gives some sense of the book being unbalanced. Perhaps this is a result of the inevitable temptation – particularly when trying to exploit a timely and possibly fleeting gap in the market – to write a contemporary biography with the cadences of a film script, appealing to the modern attention span with crises and cliff-hangers. However, I may be being too sensitive – as a Jesuit, I have become quite protective of the first Jesuit pope and maybe I lack a certain objectivity.
The second part of the book turns the corner and launches ‘the people’s bishop’: he leads a life of simplicity, poverty and integrity, and has the remorse and compassion of a humble man who is anchored in a daily rhythm of prayer. Now the dramatic arc of the screenplay of Bergoglio’s life takes an upswing, and there are faint whiffs of hagiography as the saint-in-the-making begins his ascent through the ranks of the hierarchy. A favourite moment for me is the account of the general congregation that preceded the conclave at which Bergoglio was elected and his influential intervention there.
Vallely is an excellent, well-connected writer, and Pope Francis: Untying the Knots is an engaging and thoughtful read throughout. He turns out to be a good ‘untier’ of the knots – or at least what seem, at a rushed first glance, to be knots. However, I also look forward to a second edition in a few years’ time, with a more nuanced tone at times and an updating of Pope Francis’ legacy – which will, I hope, include accounts of deep reforms in the Church.
December 15, 2015
http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/...
I recently heard journalist Paul Vallely at the Search for Meaning Book Festival in Seattle; he gave the keynote address. Pope Francis: Untying the Knots is the first in-depth book on Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Vallely wrote it after traveling to Argentina to interview those who knew him well and investigate the claims that the Pope did nothing to prevent the kidnapping and torture of two priests during the Dirty War.
I'm fascinated with Pope Francis' transformation as a young man: he began as an arrogant, dictatorial leader who was also extremely conservative.
Vallely gives great background and insights into the politics of Argentina and the Vatican. In his younger days, he spurned liberation theology (the attempt to interpret Scripture through the plight of the poor) and did indeed prevent the eventually kidnapped priests (who were working in the ghetto) from delivering communion. His detractors say this opened the door for the military junta to kidnap the priests. Vallely discovered that Francis worked valiantly to get them freed after they were kidnapped, and it seems that Francis now has regrets about what he did or did not do. And now not only has he embraced and celebrated liberation theology, but he has also made a huge step toward transparency: he's asked the Vatican to open up its archives on the Dirty War.
The key reason that Pope Francis is the first Jesuit to become Pope is that Jesuits are called to be servants, not leaders. The founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyala, didn't even want them to be bishops. So that explains why Pope Francis is tackling the job in such an unusual, servant-like way. Being the Pope is like being royalty!
He has spurned most of the trappings of Pope royalty, as we've heard since the Council of Cardinals elected him. From paying his own hotel, thinking that his Vatican apartments were way too big, and refusing to wear the fancy robes or read shoes, to washing the feet of the poor, female, and underprivileged, he prefers to be a servant rather than a Catholic king.
Francis views God in a clearly different way than previous popes and many priests...that God is grounded in mercy:
"Mercy, this word changes everything. It is the best word we can hear: it changes the world. A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just... The Lord never gets tired of forgiving; it is we that get tired of asking forgiveness."
Vallely explores why Bergoglio chose the papal name of Francis.
"Francis is more than a name--it's a plan," said Leonardo Boff, founding father of liberation theology. "It's a plan for a poor Church, one that is close to the people, gospel-centred, loving and protective towards nature which is being devastated today. Saint Francis is the archetype of that type of Church."
In recent days, Pope Francis continues to promote justice, make waves, and anger conservatives by declaring the gender age gap "a scandal" and preparing to release an encyclical on climate change. Although today Frank Bruni wrote about the absurdity of the Pope's statement in the New York Times that the Vatican's "own kitchen is much too messy for them to call out the ketchup smudges in anybody else’s."
Bruni went on, "He left out the part about women in the Roman Catholic Church not even getting a shot at equal work. Pay isn’t the primary issue when you’re barred from certain positions and profoundly underrepresented in others...For all the remarkable service that the Catholic Church performs, it is one of the world’s dominant and most unshakable patriarchies, with tenets that don’t abet equality."
But still, it's progress given the glacial pace of the Catholic church, and it's angering conservatives who would vastly prefer the church to remain frozen to any kind of progression.
Human rights lawyer Alicia Oliveira, Pope Francis' close friend for 40 years (who died in 2014), said about the Pope:
"He tells me he's having a great time. Every time I speak to him I tell him, 'Be careful Jorge, because the Borgias are still there in the Vatican.' He laughs and says he knows. But he's very, very, very happy. He's having fun with all the people in the Vatican telling him he can't do things--and then doing them."
I recently heard journalist Paul Vallely at the Search for Meaning Book Festival in Seattle; he gave the keynote address. Pope Francis: Untying the Knots is the first in-depth book on Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Vallely wrote it after traveling to Argentina to interview those who knew him well and investigate the claims that the Pope did nothing to prevent the kidnapping and torture of two priests during the Dirty War.
I'm fascinated with Pope Francis' transformation as a young man: he began as an arrogant, dictatorial leader who was also extremely conservative.
Vallely gives great background and insights into the politics of Argentina and the Vatican. In his younger days, he spurned liberation theology (the attempt to interpret Scripture through the plight of the poor) and did indeed prevent the eventually kidnapped priests (who were working in the ghetto) from delivering communion. His detractors say this opened the door for the military junta to kidnap the priests. Vallely discovered that Francis worked valiantly to get them freed after they were kidnapped, and it seems that Francis now has regrets about what he did or did not do. And now not only has he embraced and celebrated liberation theology, but he has also made a huge step toward transparency: he's asked the Vatican to open up its archives on the Dirty War.
The key reason that Pope Francis is the first Jesuit to become Pope is that Jesuits are called to be servants, not leaders. The founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyala, didn't even want them to be bishops. So that explains why Pope Francis is tackling the job in such an unusual, servant-like way. Being the Pope is like being royalty!
He has spurned most of the trappings of Pope royalty, as we've heard since the Council of Cardinals elected him. From paying his own hotel, thinking that his Vatican apartments were way too big, and refusing to wear the fancy robes or read shoes, to washing the feet of the poor, female, and underprivileged, he prefers to be a servant rather than a Catholic king.
Francis views God in a clearly different way than previous popes and many priests...that God is grounded in mercy:
"Mercy, this word changes everything. It is the best word we can hear: it changes the world. A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just... The Lord never gets tired of forgiving; it is we that get tired of asking forgiveness."
Vallely explores why Bergoglio chose the papal name of Francis.
"Francis is more than a name--it's a plan," said Leonardo Boff, founding father of liberation theology. "It's a plan for a poor Church, one that is close to the people, gospel-centred, loving and protective towards nature which is being devastated today. Saint Francis is the archetype of that type of Church."
In recent days, Pope Francis continues to promote justice, make waves, and anger conservatives by declaring the gender age gap "a scandal" and preparing to release an encyclical on climate change. Although today Frank Bruni wrote about the absurdity of the Pope's statement in the New York Times that the Vatican's "own kitchen is much too messy for them to call out the ketchup smudges in anybody else’s."
Bruni went on, "He left out the part about women in the Roman Catholic Church not even getting a shot at equal work. Pay isn’t the primary issue when you’re barred from certain positions and profoundly underrepresented in others...For all the remarkable service that the Catholic Church performs, it is one of the world’s dominant and most unshakable patriarchies, with tenets that don’t abet equality."
But still, it's progress given the glacial pace of the Catholic church, and it's angering conservatives who would vastly prefer the church to remain frozen to any kind of progression.
Human rights lawyer Alicia Oliveira, Pope Francis' close friend for 40 years (who died in 2014), said about the Pope:
"He tells me he's having a great time. Every time I speak to him I tell him, 'Be careful Jorge, because the Borgias are still there in the Vatican.' He laughs and says he knows. But he's very, very, very happy. He's having fun with all the people in the Vatican telling him he can't do things--and then doing them."
January 14, 2014
This was a well-researched, balanced look at Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the man who we all now know as Pope Francis. Rumors about Bergoglio's behavior during the brutal Argentinian dictatorship and his troubled relationships with his fellow Jesuits have made some question the character of this charismatic new leader. Vallely sheds light on this morally ambiguous time of Bergoglio's life. Basically, what one learns is that this Pope is a man who has changed over the years and who has learned from his mistakes. Perhaps most importantly, he has learned that humility is more of a discipline than an innate personality trait. He is a Pope of contradictions, with an authoritarian streak which accounts for some of his questionable behavior as head of the Jesuits in Argentina. As Archbishop of Buenos Ares he proved that he was capable of change and the man who once radically opposed Liberation Theology became known as 'the bishop of the slums,' preaching a gospel inspired by the needs of the poor. The most important lesson one learns from Francis is to put the PERSON before anything else. Although Pope Francis is traditional in his views - he does not support gay marriage (although he has petitioned for gay civil unions and equal gay rights) - he is able to befriend and earn the respect of homosexuals, atheists, and many others who have felt alienated and condemned by the Catholic Church in the past (a gay advocacy magazine named the Pope 'person of the year' for his tolerant and compassionate attitude). He befriended the widow of an excommunicated priest when no one else in the Church would acknowledge her. He counts atheists, human rights lawyers, rabbis, and protestants among his close friends. He does not support abortion but has admitted that when it comes to women who are victims of rape or incest, the decision is understandably difficult. His advice is simply to be with other people, to listen to their stories and to feel empathy for their struggles.. A theology based on compassion does not condemn anybody. I especially appreciated Bergoglio's consistent insistence on dialogue between Catholics and people of other faiths. He is quoted as saying, "Dialogue is born from a respectful attitude toward the other person, from a conviction that the other person has something good to say. It supposes that we can make room in our hear for their point of view." A first rate biography - my only complaint being that the chapters are not very connected and can practically be read on their own (he repeats many facts and quotations numerous time, perhaps for emphasis, it's not clear). All in all though, this was a balanced, respectful analysis of one of today's most influential leaders. An important, engaging read for people from all walks of life.
July 4, 2014
This was a quick, insightful read that provided a solid background on the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio before he assumed his position as Pope Francis. While I knew of the scandals associated with his younger days as the head Jesuit in Argentina, I wasn't aware of the details. This book does a good job filling in those blanks. A chapter at the end also does a solid job of discussing the ways in which Francis has broken with Vatican convention since becoming Pope.
My problem with the book is that it is too repetitive, with certain passages appearing nearly verbatim 3-4 times or more in different chapters. For a book this short, repetition doesn't seem necessary.
If you're looking for a quick bio covering Francis, this one will serve you well.
My problem with the book is that it is too repetitive, with certain passages appearing nearly verbatim 3-4 times or more in different chapters. For a book this short, repetition doesn't seem necessary.
If you're looking for a quick bio covering Francis, this one will serve you well.
November 23, 2024
A very disorganized and repetitive book that made it not enjoyable at all to read. Mr. Vallely wrote this book in the style that made it seem like this was a screenplay for a 17 part documentary or podcast rather than a history on Pope Francis. A lot of the characters he reintroduces to us over and over again, and the chapters jump all over the place. It kinda has a linear path, but there it goes back and forth to his history and Francis in the beginning stages of his Papacy. Overall, jumpy and disorganized. Maybe there is a better biography of the current Pope.
October 30, 2023
Vallely provides some fascinating stories about the innerworkings of the Vatican while sharing the developments of the life of Pope Frances. While much of this book weighed evidence on the behavior of Pope Frances while he was dealing with a dictatorship in Argentenia, what was most interesting to me was reading about the internal politics at the Vatican. The book carefully covered the election of Pope Benedict where Bishop Bergoglio was a surprise contender and then, again, when Pope Benedict decided to retire for the first time a Pope retired in 598 years – since Pope Gregory the 12th in 1415.
The book spoke about how the Cardinals from throughout the world gathered in their own grouping of friends. They had strategies discussions around dinners, and those who did not have networks left out all reminded me of junior high your high school politics in the cafeteria. One cardinal elector said that the church to say the most important affairs at the dinner table ever since the last supper. Pope John Paul, the second had internationalized the Cardinals bringing in church leaders from throughout the world. Many of them are not even invited to these cliquish dinners.
Whether for political reasons or truly because Bergoglio is modest, he proved that when he went to the Vatican for the vote where he was elected Pope. While the Vatican sent a first-class ticket for Bergoglio’s 13-hour flight to Rome, he changed it to a coach ticket. He did seek a seat by the exit row to lower more legroom since he had a bad knee and hip. He also reserved a room at a clergy hostel, again saving money.
Going into the election, the general assumption was that Pope Benedict had wanted one of two cardinals to take his position as Pope. He had recently promoted both of these Bishops. They were the front runners. While Bergoglio was listed as one of the potential contenders, many thought that he was too old at 76, especially with the current Pope being the first to retire in 600 years. The general assumption was that bishops didn’t get a second chance for the election of being Pope.
It was eye-opening to read how different this vote was in the vote for Pope during the past 600 years. The bishops did not come in early for a funeral, so they didn’t have a chance to get to know one another. According to the author, some Cardinals are googling one another to learn more about the competition. The fact the Pope Benedict had resigned, changed how some bishops might view a future pope since one potential would be that the pope could resign in a sense that health started to decline. The mood of the 115 Cardinals who would vote plus some who are over 80 and did not have the ability to cast a ballot was different since there was no grief of a leader, who had just passed away.
Like most political campaigns, the Cardinals split among the insiders and outsiders. Someone to change, and others wanted to grasp what they had and keep it going. The 11 Cardinals from the United States evidently had a big role since he was a single biggest block outside of the Italian delegation. Unlike the Italians, they were united. They also held daily media briefings until they were stopped by the Vatican. But, again, like political campaigns it was a speech of Bishop Bergoglio that moved his fellow bishops. He did not use the full five minutes. Instead, he spoke for 3 1/2 minutes and moved the crowd in a way that others didn’t. It was also reported that Bergoglio as nervous as the bishops prepared to enter the con clave in the Sistine chapel, a place of secrecy. The Italian front runner had secured only 35 votes and Bergoglio earned 20 votes. A major surprise from when the bishops purse gathered to consider who will take over for a retiring pope. It took five ballots until he won with 90 of the 115 possible votes. The American bishops had switch sides to him after the first vote, when one of their own was taken out of consideration. When 77 votes were cast for Bergoglio, the others broke out in applause. Evidently it helped in his confidence during this tough struggle. In his acceptance, he said “I am a great Center, trusting an emergency and patience of God in suffering, I accept.” he then took on the name, Francis, the first time for any pope. It is interesting that the author includes popular names for popes. John was chosen 23 times. Gregory and Benedict 16 times each Leo 13 times. Pias, 12 times. The new pope later explain that he took Francis for the saint of the Poor, Francis of Assisi. And when he made his introductory speech to drenched Catholics outside the Vatican, he had turned down the jewel, studded, gold cross, the traditional cufflinks of the pope, and continue to wear his cheap comfortable shoes. He quickly showed the simple life that he had maintained as archbishop.
Before going out to speak to 15,000 rain drenched Italians, he called the outgoing pope. At first, he did not reach him. Pope Benedict has stayed away from the phone and was with his advisers watching television like so many other Catholics around the world. They had a brief conversation, and the new pope was quick to give prayers to the man who called himself pope emeritus before continuing his brief remarks. unlike pope Benedict, he did not put his hands in victory over him instead, speaking and pause tone and again, briefly. After speaking to the crowd, he started to make many phone calls back home to share the good news with people who have been watching on television in the middle of the night.
Once elected as pope, he continues to demonstrate in more modest approach. This includes little things like paying his hotel room, personally, putting a bald head and burnt out into his room as he departed the hostile. His opponents in his home country content his change was just part of his image making.
He also changed the approach in preaching with prayers for all journalist he addressed, rather than just Catholics, and maintaining his modest approach in dress. He also, again, refused the ornate living quarters reserved for Popes that Bergoglio said could fit 300. The new Pope was thrilled the Chief Rabbi and the Patriarch of Constantinople participated in his installation for the first time.
The author brought light to the politics of the Vatican. When he recounted Pope John XXIII’s answer to how many people work at the Vatican (“About half of them.”) it produced a belly laugh from this former Catholic. Bergoglio instantly cancelled some special payments to Vatican workers and well-placed Bishops and put everyone’s jobs that were appointed in hold for him to consider. He then selected eight Bishops from throughout the world to be his supreme counselors. It produced much media coverage.
I could have done without the afterword. In it, the author restates what he wrote earlier in the book, and he completely sides with Bergoglio in his earlier decisions. It was especially irritating to read justification of why Bergoglio did not testify as a witness before the Argentina crimes against humanity trial in 2010. His decision certainly hurt other Catholics who had suffered so much and could’ve used the timing of a top Catholic leader of those days. And he claimed he did not know about the stealing of babies from women who were executed he went out of his way. Not sure what he did know about those harmful years.
The Pope speaks against gay adoption and claims he believes in equal rights for homosexuals. His strong, inhumane views of requiring women who are raped, become pregnant to continue with those pregnancies. He deposed his country from having free contraceptive distribution to a very poor society. And when he had an opportunity to speak up for the poor in those of his church, who were serving the poor, he did the opposite. Reading this book gives a fuller view of this controversial pope.
The book also exposes the tentacles of Rome throughout the world. For example, there is dissenters per investigation in social action that keeps track of right-wing military, and how it impacts the church. This includes countries like chili, Brazil and Argentina.
Much of this book prosecutes then raises questions about the behavior of the future Pope when he was in Argentina during the dirty war. The author didn’t fully bring me into the debate but did make me realize I know far too little about this sad period for Argentina- and the Catholic Church. Reading this book will cause me to read more about the dirty war and the church’s involvement. The few pages the author devoted to speaking about the tragedy of this period was riveting. And overpowering.
In 1976, the democratic government in Argentina was overthrown by military coup. Instantly they set up a draconian government, the kidnapped, tortured, killed, and placed people in one of 340 hidden concentration camps, many of those who went to these camps were never seen again. Later, document showed that the bishops of the Catholic Church voted 38 to 19 against issuing a public condemnation of the dictator ship. Only four of the 57 bishops stood up against the military onslaught of the citizens. Many believed that the attack on the communists was a way to keep religion alive in the country. Many priests and nuns participated in the torturous system to kill people. Those who are targets continue to increase beyond the people who were communist or “leftist troublemakers “. It included, like other attacks on freedom, trade union as students, artists, writers, journalist, and academics. The author said it seemed helpless, and who was being attacked and killed.
The military dictatorship took people down to the basement to roll of cells, were prisoners or tortured and killed. On the wall on the sign Happiness Avenue. Two of the future, popes’ friends, and fellow Bishops were made to wear hoods and then tortured for five days, including having electricity placed on their bodies. They had nothing to confess.
Children were killed in front of their parents and parents were killed in front of their children. Pregnant women replacing isolation until they had her babies and nuns took the babies away from them and had secret adoptions from others who believed and watch the dictator ship wanted. The military dictatorship took whatever was in someone’s home after they were killed.
The story of how Bergoglio was appointed coadjutor, the position that automatically became the Archbishop of Buenos was captivating. The current bishop had asked his higher-ups to appoint his friend, the future pope. When they refused, he found a friend at the Vatican, who is going to see the pope, wrote a letter, including a copy of the appointment for the pope’s signature. The pope instantly signed it and gave it back. The bureaucrats in the Vatican for furious. But eight months later, and the current Archbishop died in a heart attack Bergoglio became the archbishop.
Once Bergoglio was in charge, his leadership style changed. He stood up for the poor, and then his silent approach stood behind priests, who were being threatened by those who were selling drugs. He held mass with giant participation in the open air. As archbishop, he turned down the elegant home in an exclusive neighborhood just stay in a four-room apartment downtown. He rejected the chauffeur and cook and took public transportation and cooked his own meals. He didn’t participate in the fancy meals with the upper class. He changes the way he managed. He sought advice from his top brass, had an hour every day that any priest could call him and speak about issues, or give advice or seek advice. He soon had to resolve a messy financial scandal. He did in an open effective way. And he also seemed more open to listening to people who challenged the Catholic churches, belief and homosexuals and same-sex marriage.
Bergoglio I also change how he interacted with the fragile government. And the author states that the economic and political leadership crisis struck 2001 was a major changing point for the Archbishop. In December of that year, the country announced it would halt paying any interest 94 billion it owed. When the police started to beat the Argentines, who marched in the street and went to the bank to recover their savings, he called the government and registered his protests. He spoke about structural changes in the way he condemned in the past.
Bergoglio was in unity with the other bishops in Argentina with the opposed the government, allowing abortion in the case of rape of mentally disabled women. It was a large scale scandal for two mentally disabled women had been denied, abortions under pressure for religious organizations. The health authorities pushed for change the law were upwards to 76% of Argentines supported the change. But the archbishop in unity with the Catholic leadership opposed to change. It went to the supreme court of that country, where they determine that abortion would be legal in the case of rape, where a woman’s life was threatened. Bergoglio condemned the decision as a quote back door” attempt to bring abortions to Argentina. He said, “abortion is never a solution.”
Bergoglio took a much more moderate position and same-sex marriage. He tried to broker a deal with the bishops conference as its president to support same-sex unions, but not same-sex marriage. In order to move his compromise forward, he spoke about allowing same-sex marriage as a way to “destroy God‘s plan“ he lost a vote among the bishops in the six years as president of the bishops conference, was the only time he was unable to get all the bishops on the same page.
The author did a splendid job on explaining the transformation of Bergoglio in terms of his view of the poor. Vallely quotes Rabbi Abraham Skorka saying that “he’s a very dynamic person. He’s a person who route is learning from life. He’s very sensitive. It has great empathy. He’s changed according to his life‘s experience.“ The author explains that external events had a major change in how he viewed the pores of the poor.
The author also quotes, father Juan Isasmendi, saying “when you’re working, the shantytown 90% of your congregation or single, or divorced. You have to learn to deal with that. Communion for divorce and remarry. Does not an issue there. Everyone takes communion.” The father said that Bergoglio “was never Richard about the small and stupid stuff.” The future pope learn much from simply walking through the slums and listening to people. The author points out that the young priest, who happen to be in a powerful leadership position did not have the background he needed to cope with the ruthless military dictatorship to control their government. The author also points out that Bergoglio’s change had been an understanding that the poor did not need handouts, but justice, and a change in the way government worked.
According to the author, the 2001 economic crisis fueled Bergoglio’s growth and change the way he spoke. He attacked the root of the crisis and spoke about changes in the economic system that would allow for a better life of the poor in his country. He worked with government authorities and community organizations to change the way the poor were institutional he treated. He joined in with the workers to help them form unions.
The future pope also started to embrace the theology that he had earlier criticize. The author predicted that the fall of the Berlin wall, and moving away from the cold war, allowed the anti-communist to speak out about social causes for the poor. Invited people from the slums to the cathedral in allowed the children to sit in the chairs they were usually reserved for the wealthy. he spoke – in general terms – about the silence of the church during the military control. He held up one of the priests who had been murdered, be recognized as a saint, despite the opposition from conservative Argentina bishops, who oppose canonizing kris, who were murdered for “social “causes.
Some critics viewed Bergoglio’s transformation his way to clean up his image after documents, released that damaged his chance of becoming pope. They believed that the politically smart archbishop made the changes after he lost election to become pope. The author argues that many of these changes have taken place earlier in his life, and we’re due to learning and maturing. The author points out that his long sessions of daily prayer, amount of time he had to himself in almost a monkish way of lifestyle, and having his main relationship with God, all helped him to change.
This book was not what I expected. Based on what my friend told me when he handed it to me, I thought he was sharing an uplifting, spiritual experience. It wasn’t that journey. It also exposed a different Pope than I thought had been elected, at least with his own dark journey. But, it was a good learning experience and sharing an inside view of the politics of Vatican. This short book was worth the read.
The book spoke about how the Cardinals from throughout the world gathered in their own grouping of friends. They had strategies discussions around dinners, and those who did not have networks left out all reminded me of junior high your high school politics in the cafeteria. One cardinal elector said that the church to say the most important affairs at the dinner table ever since the last supper. Pope John Paul, the second had internationalized the Cardinals bringing in church leaders from throughout the world. Many of them are not even invited to these cliquish dinners.
Whether for political reasons or truly because Bergoglio is modest, he proved that when he went to the Vatican for the vote where he was elected Pope. While the Vatican sent a first-class ticket for Bergoglio’s 13-hour flight to Rome, he changed it to a coach ticket. He did seek a seat by the exit row to lower more legroom since he had a bad knee and hip. He also reserved a room at a clergy hostel, again saving money.
Going into the election, the general assumption was that Pope Benedict had wanted one of two cardinals to take his position as Pope. He had recently promoted both of these Bishops. They were the front runners. While Bergoglio was listed as one of the potential contenders, many thought that he was too old at 76, especially with the current Pope being the first to retire in 600 years. The general assumption was that bishops didn’t get a second chance for the election of being Pope.
It was eye-opening to read how different this vote was in the vote for Pope during the past 600 years. The bishops did not come in early for a funeral, so they didn’t have a chance to get to know one another. According to the author, some Cardinals are googling one another to learn more about the competition. The fact the Pope Benedict had resigned, changed how some bishops might view a future pope since one potential would be that the pope could resign in a sense that health started to decline. The mood of the 115 Cardinals who would vote plus some who are over 80 and did not have the ability to cast a ballot was different since there was no grief of a leader, who had just passed away.
Like most political campaigns, the Cardinals split among the insiders and outsiders. Someone to change, and others wanted to grasp what they had and keep it going. The 11 Cardinals from the United States evidently had a big role since he was a single biggest block outside of the Italian delegation. Unlike the Italians, they were united. They also held daily media briefings until they were stopped by the Vatican. But, again, like political campaigns it was a speech of Bishop Bergoglio that moved his fellow bishops. He did not use the full five minutes. Instead, he spoke for 3 1/2 minutes and moved the crowd in a way that others didn’t. It was also reported that Bergoglio as nervous as the bishops prepared to enter the con clave in the Sistine chapel, a place of secrecy. The Italian front runner had secured only 35 votes and Bergoglio earned 20 votes. A major surprise from when the bishops purse gathered to consider who will take over for a retiring pope. It took five ballots until he won with 90 of the 115 possible votes. The American bishops had switch sides to him after the first vote, when one of their own was taken out of consideration. When 77 votes were cast for Bergoglio, the others broke out in applause. Evidently it helped in his confidence during this tough struggle. In his acceptance, he said “I am a great Center, trusting an emergency and patience of God in suffering, I accept.” he then took on the name, Francis, the first time for any pope. It is interesting that the author includes popular names for popes. John was chosen 23 times. Gregory and Benedict 16 times each Leo 13 times. Pias, 12 times. The new pope later explain that he took Francis for the saint of the Poor, Francis of Assisi. And when he made his introductory speech to drenched Catholics outside the Vatican, he had turned down the jewel, studded, gold cross, the traditional cufflinks of the pope, and continue to wear his cheap comfortable shoes. He quickly showed the simple life that he had maintained as archbishop.
Before going out to speak to 15,000 rain drenched Italians, he called the outgoing pope. At first, he did not reach him. Pope Benedict has stayed away from the phone and was with his advisers watching television like so many other Catholics around the world. They had a brief conversation, and the new pope was quick to give prayers to the man who called himself pope emeritus before continuing his brief remarks. unlike pope Benedict, he did not put his hands in victory over him instead, speaking and pause tone and again, briefly. After speaking to the crowd, he started to make many phone calls back home to share the good news with people who have been watching on television in the middle of the night.
Once elected as pope, he continues to demonstrate in more modest approach. This includes little things like paying his hotel room, personally, putting a bald head and burnt out into his room as he departed the hostile. His opponents in his home country content his change was just part of his image making.
He also changed the approach in preaching with prayers for all journalist he addressed, rather than just Catholics, and maintaining his modest approach in dress. He also, again, refused the ornate living quarters reserved for Popes that Bergoglio said could fit 300. The new Pope was thrilled the Chief Rabbi and the Patriarch of Constantinople participated in his installation for the first time.
The author brought light to the politics of the Vatican. When he recounted Pope John XXIII’s answer to how many people work at the Vatican (“About half of them.”) it produced a belly laugh from this former Catholic. Bergoglio instantly cancelled some special payments to Vatican workers and well-placed Bishops and put everyone’s jobs that were appointed in hold for him to consider. He then selected eight Bishops from throughout the world to be his supreme counselors. It produced much media coverage.
I could have done without the afterword. In it, the author restates what he wrote earlier in the book, and he completely sides with Bergoglio in his earlier decisions. It was especially irritating to read justification of why Bergoglio did not testify as a witness before the Argentina crimes against humanity trial in 2010. His decision certainly hurt other Catholics who had suffered so much and could’ve used the timing of a top Catholic leader of those days. And he claimed he did not know about the stealing of babies from women who were executed he went out of his way. Not sure what he did know about those harmful years.
The Pope speaks against gay adoption and claims he believes in equal rights for homosexuals. His strong, inhumane views of requiring women who are raped, become pregnant to continue with those pregnancies. He deposed his country from having free contraceptive distribution to a very poor society. And when he had an opportunity to speak up for the poor in those of his church, who were serving the poor, he did the opposite. Reading this book gives a fuller view of this controversial pope.
The book also exposes the tentacles of Rome throughout the world. For example, there is dissenters per investigation in social action that keeps track of right-wing military, and how it impacts the church. This includes countries like chili, Brazil and Argentina.
Much of this book prosecutes then raises questions about the behavior of the future Pope when he was in Argentina during the dirty war. The author didn’t fully bring me into the debate but did make me realize I know far too little about this sad period for Argentina- and the Catholic Church. Reading this book will cause me to read more about the dirty war and the church’s involvement. The few pages the author devoted to speaking about the tragedy of this period was riveting. And overpowering.
In 1976, the democratic government in Argentina was overthrown by military coup. Instantly they set up a draconian government, the kidnapped, tortured, killed, and placed people in one of 340 hidden concentration camps, many of those who went to these camps were never seen again. Later, document showed that the bishops of the Catholic Church voted 38 to 19 against issuing a public condemnation of the dictator ship. Only four of the 57 bishops stood up against the military onslaught of the citizens. Many believed that the attack on the communists was a way to keep religion alive in the country. Many priests and nuns participated in the torturous system to kill people. Those who are targets continue to increase beyond the people who were communist or “leftist troublemakers “. It included, like other attacks on freedom, trade union as students, artists, writers, journalist, and academics. The author said it seemed helpless, and who was being attacked and killed.
The military dictatorship took people down to the basement to roll of cells, were prisoners or tortured and killed. On the wall on the sign Happiness Avenue. Two of the future, popes’ friends, and fellow Bishops were made to wear hoods and then tortured for five days, including having electricity placed on their bodies. They had nothing to confess.
Children were killed in front of their parents and parents were killed in front of their children. Pregnant women replacing isolation until they had her babies and nuns took the babies away from them and had secret adoptions from others who believed and watch the dictator ship wanted. The military dictatorship took whatever was in someone’s home after they were killed.
The story of how Bergoglio was appointed coadjutor, the position that automatically became the Archbishop of Buenos was captivating. The current bishop had asked his higher-ups to appoint his friend, the future pope. When they refused, he found a friend at the Vatican, who is going to see the pope, wrote a letter, including a copy of the appointment for the pope’s signature. The pope instantly signed it and gave it back. The bureaucrats in the Vatican for furious. But eight months later, and the current Archbishop died in a heart attack Bergoglio became the archbishop.
Once Bergoglio was in charge, his leadership style changed. He stood up for the poor, and then his silent approach stood behind priests, who were being threatened by those who were selling drugs. He held mass with giant participation in the open air. As archbishop, he turned down the elegant home in an exclusive neighborhood just stay in a four-room apartment downtown. He rejected the chauffeur and cook and took public transportation and cooked his own meals. He didn’t participate in the fancy meals with the upper class. He changes the way he managed. He sought advice from his top brass, had an hour every day that any priest could call him and speak about issues, or give advice or seek advice. He soon had to resolve a messy financial scandal. He did in an open effective way. And he also seemed more open to listening to people who challenged the Catholic churches, belief and homosexuals and same-sex marriage.
Bergoglio I also change how he interacted with the fragile government. And the author states that the economic and political leadership crisis struck 2001 was a major changing point for the Archbishop. In December of that year, the country announced it would halt paying any interest 94 billion it owed. When the police started to beat the Argentines, who marched in the street and went to the bank to recover their savings, he called the government and registered his protests. He spoke about structural changes in the way he condemned in the past.
Bergoglio was in unity with the other bishops in Argentina with the opposed the government, allowing abortion in the case of rape of mentally disabled women. It was a large scale scandal for two mentally disabled women had been denied, abortions under pressure for religious organizations. The health authorities pushed for change the law were upwards to 76% of Argentines supported the change. But the archbishop in unity with the Catholic leadership opposed to change. It went to the supreme court of that country, where they determine that abortion would be legal in the case of rape, where a woman’s life was threatened. Bergoglio condemned the decision as a quote back door” attempt to bring abortions to Argentina. He said, “abortion is never a solution.”
Bergoglio took a much more moderate position and same-sex marriage. He tried to broker a deal with the bishops conference as its president to support same-sex unions, but not same-sex marriage. In order to move his compromise forward, he spoke about allowing same-sex marriage as a way to “destroy God‘s plan“ he lost a vote among the bishops in the six years as president of the bishops conference, was the only time he was unable to get all the bishops on the same page.
The author did a splendid job on explaining the transformation of Bergoglio in terms of his view of the poor. Vallely quotes Rabbi Abraham Skorka saying that “he’s a very dynamic person. He’s a person who route is learning from life. He’s very sensitive. It has great empathy. He’s changed according to his life‘s experience.“ The author explains that external events had a major change in how he viewed the pores of the poor.
The author also quotes, father Juan Isasmendi, saying “when you’re working, the shantytown 90% of your congregation or single, or divorced. You have to learn to deal with that. Communion for divorce and remarry. Does not an issue there. Everyone takes communion.” The father said that Bergoglio “was never Richard about the small and stupid stuff.” The future pope learn much from simply walking through the slums and listening to people. The author points out that the young priest, who happen to be in a powerful leadership position did not have the background he needed to cope with the ruthless military dictatorship to control their government. The author also points out that Bergoglio’s change had been an understanding that the poor did not need handouts, but justice, and a change in the way government worked.
According to the author, the 2001 economic crisis fueled Bergoglio’s growth and change the way he spoke. He attacked the root of the crisis and spoke about changes in the economic system that would allow for a better life of the poor in his country. He worked with government authorities and community organizations to change the way the poor were institutional he treated. He joined in with the workers to help them form unions.
The future pope also started to embrace the theology that he had earlier criticize. The author predicted that the fall of the Berlin wall, and moving away from the cold war, allowed the anti-communist to speak out about social causes for the poor. Invited people from the slums to the cathedral in allowed the children to sit in the chairs they were usually reserved for the wealthy. he spoke – in general terms – about the silence of the church during the military control. He held up one of the priests who had been murdered, be recognized as a saint, despite the opposition from conservative Argentina bishops, who oppose canonizing kris, who were murdered for “social “causes.
Some critics viewed Bergoglio’s transformation his way to clean up his image after documents, released that damaged his chance of becoming pope. They believed that the politically smart archbishop made the changes after he lost election to become pope. The author argues that many of these changes have taken place earlier in his life, and we’re due to learning and maturing. The author points out that his long sessions of daily prayer, amount of time he had to himself in almost a monkish way of lifestyle, and having his main relationship with God, all helped him to change.
This book was not what I expected. Based on what my friend told me when he handed it to me, I thought he was sharing an uplifting, spiritual experience. It wasn’t that journey. It also exposed a different Pope than I thought had been elected, at least with his own dark journey. But, it was a good learning experience and sharing an inside view of the politics of Vatican. This short book was worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
Pope francis will forever be the reason I stay a catholic.
September 30, 2015
A must-read for anyone who wishes to understand Pope Francis and what he is about.
April 19, 2022
This excellent biography describes a man who underwent a deep inner transformation between his early priesthood and his midlife as a Catholic bishop in Argentina. Caught between the conservative Catholic military junta and liberationists in the Dirty War, he expelled priests from the Jesuit order and turned his eye from other atrocities committed by the junta. A life-changing turning point came for him when he reconciled with one of the Jesuits he had removed. He described the experience as one of relief, remorse, and repentance. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, bears numerous traits that distinguish his revolutionary papacy: mercy, humility, compassion, repentance, simplicity, service to others, dislike of clericalism, and emphasis on the role of the laity in church life. Most of the book deals with his life before becoming pope but lays the foundation for his remarkable tenure that we now witness.
April 13, 2018
I loved this book. This biography of Pope Francis shows how the arc of a man's life can be permanently changed by the power of the gospel of Christ and sincere repentance. Vallely unsparingly examines the young Jorge Mario Bergoglio, his call to the priesthood, his early rise in the Jesuit order, his rigid and authoritarian manner, and the catastrophic mistakes he made during Argentina's Dirty War. But Vallely also traces Bergoglio's spiritual journey of prayer, self-reflection, personal change, and a profound, all-encompassing devotion to God and the poorest of his children. This book is a fascinating read for anyone, but particularly for Christians who see Pope Francis's call to serve the poor as a Christian imperative. On the downside, the writing is a bit stiff and doesn't always flow well, but the book is still a good read.
October 29, 2025
This biography of Pope Francis takes us up to when he had just begun his papacy. I know the author has added a significant number of chapters following Pope Francis' death, and I would like to read them as a lot happened from 2013 to this year.
I admire Pope Francis, but the author points out that he has many contradictions, so I am left feeling confused by him.
What is certain is that he become greatly loved by the people and he has left his mark on the Catholic church, and he made many enemies within the Vatican's walls. He was undeniably a man of God first, and although it is said the pope is infallible, his life has shown he was a sinner, recognised it, and he showed the way for others to ask for forgiveness.
I admire Pope Francis, but the author points out that he has many contradictions, so I am left feeling confused by him.
What is certain is that he become greatly loved by the people and he has left his mark on the Catholic church, and he made many enemies within the Vatican's walls. He was undeniably a man of God first, and although it is said the pope is infallible, his life has shown he was a sinner, recognised it, and he showed the way for others to ask for forgiveness.
March 25, 2018
And now I want the sequel. How has he done in the five years since ? This book was published in 2013, soon after Jorge mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis. I find it very readable, and it has an overview at the back and direct thanks to the people who helped the author. Very well researched. Not like all the crap you get when you search online for "Pope Francis", as there seems to be a big propaganda machine trying to paint him as the devil's servant. I get the opposite impression. A good man worthy of the position, and bringing back the holy spirit into the church, hopefully.
March 17, 2018
This book was recommended by a visiting preacher to our church. I don't know very much about Catholicism or Argentina and I found this riveting - I read it in 2 days. It seems the jury is still out on if he is a very humble servant of God whose main aim is to help the poor but he seems to be a very different Pope to those before him
May 27, 2018
This biography of the pope looks at his career as a priest and bishop, archbishop, and cardinal in Argentina. It is a good introduction for someone who doesn't know much about Pope Francis before he became the pope, but the author doesn't provide a lot of insight into why his views changes on various topics, which weakens the author's overall argument.
March 25, 2020
I picked this up after watching the Netflix show: The Two Popes. I found it a great companion to the show, offering more details and digging a little deeper, but basically affirming the portrayal offered there. If you have the time and inclination to learn more about the Pope, I'd recommend this. If you're looking for a quicker glimpse, I'd go with the show and call it good.
May 7, 2020
A not-so-basic reading on Pope Francis and how he was brought to the Saint Peter's Basilica. I believe this is one of the recent works that are rather balanced to the papacy and to the Church as a whole.
July 3, 2018
Very interesting to learn about this pope.
September 29, 2020
A useful summary of a long and complex life.
May 3, 2022
Excellent book..
May 5, 2025
A powerful and thought provoking book about Pope Francis's past and his transformation into the Bishop of the Slums
May 29, 2025
Siiii I loved to learn about papa francesco (had minor fixation on the papacy during the conclave (it’s over now dw))
March 13, 2017
The subject was fascinating, but I feel like corrections and editing were expedited to allow the book to be published as soon as possible after the election of Pope Francis. Were it not for all the mistakes, repetitions and other problems of editing, this book would get 4 stars.
March 4, 2017
A small insight into the mind of the Pope. Became slightly heavy going in the middle of the book but concluded with some sense of where this Pope is heading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2014
Paul Vallely has an international reputation as a commentator on religion, society and ethical issues. As a journalist he has produced award-winning reporting from 30 countries over three decades. He continues to write and is Visiting Professor of Public Ethics and Media at the University of Chester in Great Britain. He has been an adviser to the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. He lives in Manchester, England with his wife and son.
As Pope Francis takes the world by compassionate storm and becomes Time Magazine’s Man of the Year for 2013, I want to know more about him. Reading the interview he gave last summer to America magazine and other Jesuit publications, and then falling in love with him as I read Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), I am tempted to put him on some pedestal he does not seek.
This book sought to describe his life with both candor and sympathy. The world events that swirled around Jorge Bergoglio in Argentina, at a time when he was unready for the authority vested in him, seem to have the beginning of a Godly humiliation that over time have changed the man who is now Pope Francis.
Franciscan teacher Father Richard Rohr says that he has often prayed to be shown “one good humiliation a day” to slow down his ego and open his eyes to the self-inflicted sabotage of God’s good work in his life. Pope Francis seems to be cut from that same cloth.
Vallely’s book is a best-seller. On the cover is a quote from The Tablet: “Read this book - forget the rest.” I found it fascinating.
As Pope Francis takes the world by compassionate storm and becomes Time Magazine’s Man of the Year for 2013, I want to know more about him. Reading the interview he gave last summer to America magazine and other Jesuit publications, and then falling in love with him as I read Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), I am tempted to put him on some pedestal he does not seek.
This book sought to describe his life with both candor and sympathy. The world events that swirled around Jorge Bergoglio in Argentina, at a time when he was unready for the authority vested in him, seem to have the beginning of a Godly humiliation that over time have changed the man who is now Pope Francis.
Franciscan teacher Father Richard Rohr says that he has often prayed to be shown “one good humiliation a day” to slow down his ego and open his eyes to the self-inflicted sabotage of God’s good work in his life. Pope Francis seems to be cut from that same cloth.
Vallely’s book is a best-seller. On the cover is a quote from The Tablet: “Read this book - forget the rest.” I found it fascinating.
May 7, 2016
Book Level: 8.7
Book Summary: Pope Francis Untying the Knots tells the untold stories, and tries to answer the questions (though may leave more questions in its wake) of where this forgiving,inviting, understanding, and loving man came from. It is revealed that he has not always been this way and that he too had a "switch" that he changed his whole way of thinking. Pope Francis went from a conservative dictator within his standings, to a liberal understanding, compassionate leader.
Characteristics that Support the Genre: this book is told by someone else from accounts of other people's writings, and with his own encounters, of someone else's life.
Organization- though this text has a great deal of information about Pope Francis; specifically the beginning and the middle, there is not a sense of resolution that the author was hoping for, rather than a to be continued
Classroom Integration- This book would be important to integrate to a class that was being taught at a Catholic school (it would be important to have an idea of who was leading the Church {just as it is important to know who will be or who is leading the country}) It would also be a good text to read parts to the class (depending on the grade level and the content) but giving them a connection to this leader that is a part of the media.
Book Summary: Pope Francis Untying the Knots tells the untold stories, and tries to answer the questions (though may leave more questions in its wake) of where this forgiving,inviting, understanding, and loving man came from. It is revealed that he has not always been this way and that he too had a "switch" that he changed his whole way of thinking. Pope Francis went from a conservative dictator within his standings, to a liberal understanding, compassionate leader.
Characteristics that Support the Genre: this book is told by someone else from accounts of other people's writings, and with his own encounters, of someone else's life.
Organization- though this text has a great deal of information about Pope Francis; specifically the beginning and the middle, there is not a sense of resolution that the author was hoping for, rather than a to be continued
Classroom Integration- This book would be important to integrate to a class that was being taught at a Catholic school (it would be important to have an idea of who was leading the Church {just as it is important to know who will be or who is leading the country}) It would also be a good text to read parts to the class (depending on the grade level and the content) but giving them a connection to this leader that is a part of the media.
December 20, 2013
Excellent introduction to life of Pope Francis so far - especially good on the influences which go to shape the man and help explain him and the emphases in his present stage of the journey. An atheist friend (former Catholic) summed him up: "He may just be someone who is trying to be a Christian". Good to realise his stress on the mercy of God springs from his own experience of the need for forgiveness. That his journey from authoritarian decision-maker to collegiate dialoguer has taught him a deal of political wisdom; that affirmation of cultural realities can go hand in hand with the need to critique the structures of economic injustices. Vallely covers all this ground with a nuanced and sure touch. Let's hope a second volume can tell how Francis broke clericalism, tamed the Curia, established a one tier Church and above all placed the poor at the centre of the Church's mission. Not a hagiography in any sense. Balanced, judicious and affirming the good and the faults of the Church. Gives reasons for hoping Francis is given time to reform the Church.
September 18, 2014
This was a quick read, published within the first year of Pope Francis's election. Although it traces Francis's life from childhood through the first months of his papacy, it centers on his work as the superior of all Jesuits in Argentina during the "Dirty War" and as Archbishop of Buenos Aires several years later. He was clearly a changed man from one period to the other, and although the author has no way of knowing "what changed Bergoglio" he reflects thoughtfully on the sources available that shed light on that question. He also treats the questions surrounding his actions and inactions in the Dirty War fairly and even-handedly.
Short as the book was, it could have been shorter; some of the repetition could have been cut with no loss to the reader's understanding.
Short as the book was, it could have been shorter; some of the repetition could have been cut with no loss to the reader's understanding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews