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The Heart of Pope Francis: How a New Culture of Encounter Is Changing the Church and the World
A presentation of what lies at the heart of Pope Francis' pontificate, written by his friend and fellow Jesuit
At the heart of Pope Francis' vision lies a keen interest in people, and a passion for understanding the life experience of others. This book by a longtime friend of the Pope clarifies the underlying thoughts and choices Jorge Bergoglio has made throughout his life in developing a culture of encounter that he now proposes as the basis for the rebirth of the whole church, and the world. This little book is essential reading for anyone wanting to contribute to renewal in the Catholic Church.
At the heart of Pope Francis' vision lies a keen interest in people, and a passion for understanding the life experience of others. This book by a longtime friend of the Pope clarifies the underlying thoughts and choices Jorge Bergoglio has made throughout his life in developing a culture of encounter that he now proposes as the basis for the rebirth of the whole church, and the world. This little book is essential reading for anyone wanting to contribute to renewal in the Catholic Church.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 10, 2019
There are various avenues by which one can get to know the thoughts, the ideals, the dreams and the heart of a public person. One can go by way of popular reputation, what other people say and how the person is perceived by most. One can go by way of dwelling in depth into his or her writings, both published and unpublished. Or one can also learn about a public person by way of how his or her long-time friends have come to know the individual in question.
The intellectual value of Diego Fares, SJ's book, The Heart of Pope Francis, lies precisely on the third option. Although not exactly biographical in the fullest sense of the word, what Fares achieved, was create an intellectual portrait of Pope Francis even before he was known by that name. The Jesuit Argentinian priest has been with Jorge Bergoglio for a number of years, and have gained trust and friendship for over 40 years, giving authority to the book, not purely on the basis of scholarship, but on the intimate knowledge of the man who would later be called Pope Francis.
What Fares provides is a certain "apology", a defence of the "why" and "how come" that many people raise in both critique and appreciation of the pastoral leadership of the current pope. Pope Francis was raised to the seat of Peter from a land that is culturally remote from Rome and the whole of Europe. The breath of fresh air that Pope Francis brought to the church was a pastoral wisdom that proceeds from a Christian ministry practiced from the margins of the Church and the World. This undercuts the very theology that informs the pope's approach in servant-leadership, the thing that constitute his heart: the promotion of a culture of encounter that seeks to change the face of the Church in a constantly changing world.
This new culture of encounter is the incarnation of the very ministry of Jesus who went out of himself, in all senses, in order to meet, get to know, experience and call people around him, those he met along the way to Jerusalem, and those who intend to call in order to form his initial community of friends. Inasmuch as we now divide historical time by the person of Jesus, so Pope Francis invites everyone to embrace change in one's faith and love by an encounter with people to whom the Gospel is primarily intended, and from whom the Gospel is expected to grow and flourish: those in the margins.
This slim yet theologically informed intellectual map into the heart of the current earthly shepherd of the entire Roman Catholic Church is a must read to know not just from where Pope Francis is coming, but also in order to chart the directions to which he's leading the whole of Catholicism in order to achieve a greater manifestation of God's love and mercy in Jesus in our times.
The intellectual value of Diego Fares, SJ's book, The Heart of Pope Francis, lies precisely on the third option. Although not exactly biographical in the fullest sense of the word, what Fares achieved, was create an intellectual portrait of Pope Francis even before he was known by that name. The Jesuit Argentinian priest has been with Jorge Bergoglio for a number of years, and have gained trust and friendship for over 40 years, giving authority to the book, not purely on the basis of scholarship, but on the intimate knowledge of the man who would later be called Pope Francis.
What Fares provides is a certain "apology", a defence of the "why" and "how come" that many people raise in both critique and appreciation of the pastoral leadership of the current pope. Pope Francis was raised to the seat of Peter from a land that is culturally remote from Rome and the whole of Europe. The breath of fresh air that Pope Francis brought to the church was a pastoral wisdom that proceeds from a Christian ministry practiced from the margins of the Church and the World. This undercuts the very theology that informs the pope's approach in servant-leadership, the thing that constitute his heart: the promotion of a culture of encounter that seeks to change the face of the Church in a constantly changing world.
This new culture of encounter is the incarnation of the very ministry of Jesus who went out of himself, in all senses, in order to meet, get to know, experience and call people around him, those he met along the way to Jerusalem, and those who intend to call in order to form his initial community of friends. Inasmuch as we now divide historical time by the person of Jesus, so Pope Francis invites everyone to embrace change in one's faith and love by an encounter with people to whom the Gospel is primarily intended, and from whom the Gospel is expected to grow and flourish: those in the margins.
This slim yet theologically informed intellectual map into the heart of the current earthly shepherd of the entire Roman Catholic Church is a must read to know not just from where Pope Francis is coming, but also in order to chart the directions to which he's leading the whole of Catholicism in order to achieve a greater manifestation of God's love and mercy in Jesus in our times.
October 13, 2015
I enjoyed reading in a greater depth about our pope. However, I did have trouble following because the writing was very deep. Will def be on my re read list.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews