Pope Francis: Our Brother, Our Friend

by Alejandro Bermúdez

Before becoming Pope Francis, Fr. Jorge Bergoglio, as a Jesuit priest in Argentina, served the Jesuit order and the Church in a variety of professor, spiritual director, master of novices, provincial, and eventually Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires. This fascinating new look at Pope Francis presents the personal insights of ten Jesuits, many who have known him since his first days as a Jesuit, and were interviewed for this book shortly after he was elected the Pope. Some were his professors, some his peers, and some younger Jesuits who were his students. Also interviewed for this book are non-Jesuits, including an Argentine senator, a prominent rabbi, a priest working in the slums of Buenos Aires that Bergoglio often visited.
Their remarks are focused on different aspects of the man, including his family background, his abilities, and his personality as administrator, as friend, as teacher, as a guide, etc. Some of the predominant aspects of his personality to emerge are his longstanding simplicity and authentic spirituality; his concern for the individual and the poor; his desire for the Church to go out to the street to meet the needs of the people. More controversial issues discussed include his dealing with the issue of "Liberation Theology" and his relationship with the military regime in Argentina. These interviews essentially transmit a mosaic that reveals little-known insights of the pontiff's personality, of his interior world, his human abilities, his work habits, his devotions, his concerns, and his friendships. Thus, they open a fascinating door to a better understanding of the man whom the Holy Spirit has elected to lead the Church at this time. Alejandro Bermúdez , born in Lima, Perú, is the Director of the largest Catholic news Agency in Spanish, ACI-Prensa, and the Executive Director of the Catholic News Agency. He is the host of the show "Cara a Cara" on EWTN in Spanish, and has been a guest commentator on religious issues for the New York Times. He translated Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio's book, On Heaven and Earth , into English.

175 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2013

Reviews

[Fr. Peter Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updating my previous review I repeat what I said. The first interviews recounted are puff pieces, endure them if they bore you. As oyu get further in you get more insight into the spirituality, personality and pastoral approach of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio who is now Pope Francis. The book tries to show the continuity of his work as a Jesuit, a priest, a bishop and a cardinal to what he has manifested to us as Pope thus far.


A good introduction to the Holy Father that makes me want to read more of his works and works about him.

[Gerri Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essayists in this book knew Pope Francis before he was Pope and they wrote their insights at the very start of his pontificate. The essays provide observations that - in 2013 - helped readers understand what his pontificate might be like based on how he conducted himself in previous Vatican and Jesuit roles of responsibility. They also offered a look at his personality, which the world came to know after he stepped onto the global stage.

Looking back, from a 2025 perspective, the most striking thing for me is how the essays reveal how authentic Pope Francis was. He didn't change when he became Pope; the seeds of his approach to the papacy can be found within the reminiscences of those who knew him. The so-called "catholics" who vilified him during his Papacy (as no true Catholic ever does to their Pope) might gain a different perspective on him by reading these essays.

I have to say, many of the essays are laudatory. As noted, they were from 2013 and who's going to pan a newly elected Pope? But the writers were frank and some noted when their and the Pope's opinions differed. Also very enlightening was the backstory regarding the kidnapping of two Jesuit priests in Argentina when Francis was head of the Jesuits.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kiss the Holy behind, and maybe your life will improve at the office.

[Nathan Siudak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly took me awhile to get through this. Interesting points on the pope but it was often repetitive.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. Mostly it says, what you see with Pope Francis is who he really is and who he has been. Some of the questions were a bit tiresome to hear different but very similar answers from various people, but it's easy to skim or skip those parts given the format.