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The Path to Change: Thoughts on Politics and Society [Paperback] Pope Francis and Dominique Wolton
Pope Francis has thoroughly re-engaged the Catholic Church with the Modern world, by tackling the difficult & urgent questions that we face as a civilization, in order to illuminate the path to change. The Pope's clarity, humility & humanity are brought to the fore by Dominique Wolton's engaging & relevant questions. As well as revealing fascinating insights into his early life, Pope Francis freely addresses the major issues of our time. A detailed picture of how Pope Francis became the most popular leader the Catholic Church has ever seen is built through their open, warm dialogue.
- GenresReligion
313 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2018
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17 people want to read
About the author
Pope Francis
1,328 books999 followersPope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 20, 2019
A book of interviews between Pope Frances and Dominique Wolton that focuses mostly on globalization, refugees, and the Church's place in the world. I had some problems with how the book comes off - I think it is because the Pope is speaking Spanish, Wolton is speaking French, they are both speaking through translators, the dialogue is transcribed into a book form, and then I am reading it in English. I am sure a lot is lost in that process. That being said, at times the Pope seems to ramble quite a bit and to avoid answering direct questions. I don't know if that is really the case or if there was just so much miscommunication that the question was unclear to him, yet since Wolton put the book together he is making his questions seem clearer than they really were.
The Pope says some great things but when pressed on action by Wolton, he mostly talks about dialogue and "building bridges" between people. He has certainly built many bridges in his time, but as usual many people are worried that it is going too slowly. I liked that he said politics is the greatest form of charity when done for others and not for one's own ego, because I have devoted much of my time to politics and it is nice to hear a great religious leader justifying that position. He says we should welcome refugees and build bridges, not walls, which is a strong statement, but as Wolton points out, not many people seem to be listening. I have a lot of respect for the Pope but I also feel that the Catholic Church needs to step up more. After all, it is responsible for much of the colonization which has led to much of the world being decimated.
This was an interesting book but I think the Pope expresses himself much better in speeches and in his own writing than in this too-translated dialogue. The book does include a lot of the Pope's addresses and written statements on these issues, and I thought those were the most coherent and clear parts of the book. I would not really suggest this book because the interview parts are very rambling and confusing. Instead, I would highly recommend Pope Francis's Encyclical on the Environment and Inequality, "Laudato Si," which is very well-written and clear.
The Pope says some great things but when pressed on action by Wolton, he mostly talks about dialogue and "building bridges" between people. He has certainly built many bridges in his time, but as usual many people are worried that it is going too slowly. I liked that he said politics is the greatest form of charity when done for others and not for one's own ego, because I have devoted much of my time to politics and it is nice to hear a great religious leader justifying that position. He says we should welcome refugees and build bridges, not walls, which is a strong statement, but as Wolton points out, not many people seem to be listening. I have a lot of respect for the Pope but I also feel that the Catholic Church needs to step up more. After all, it is responsible for much of the colonization which has led to much of the world being decimated.
This was an interesting book but I think the Pope expresses himself much better in speeches and in his own writing than in this too-translated dialogue. The book does include a lot of the Pope's addresses and written statements on these issues, and I thought those were the most coherent and clear parts of the book. I would not really suggest this book because the interview parts are very rambling and confusing. Instead, I would highly recommend Pope Francis's Encyclical on the Environment and Inequality, "Laudato Si," which is very well-written and clear.
May 22, 2019
Last month, Pope Francis astonished the world with a simple, yet powerful gesture. During a talk with the leaders of war-torn South Sudan, he suddenly stooped and kissed the feet of the awed leader, imploring him to keep peace at all costs. Francis is a man who lives up to his own ideal that humility is the key that opens the door of communication and also of Christ’s teaching that those who humble himself will be exalted (Matt 23:12). Jorge Mario Bergoglio, then Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina, became Pope in March 2013 when Benedict XVI abdicated. He was the first Jesuit and non-European pope of the Catholic Church, though he is of Italian ethnicity. He is said to be socially a bit of a Franciscan, intellectually a bit of a Dominican and politically a bit of a Jesuit. With his deep and gentle gaze and benevolent demeanour, believers accepted him as their High Pontiff at first sight when he appeared on the balcony of Saint Peter's. Here, he is in conversation with Dominique Wolton, who is a French academician who specialises in media, public space and political communication. His research contributes to promoting a conception of communication that privileges man and democracy rather than technique and economics.
This book is based on a few interviews conducted in 2016. What appeals most to readers in this exercise is Francis’ candidness. A pope who can laugh at his childhood misbelief that all Protestants went to hell is sure to contribute his strong influence in recognising ecumenical diversity. To engage in an inter-religious dialogue, one must be sure of his own identity as a starting point. He displays his firm roots of belief with this caveat. He is firm when the need arises as seen by his stopping the habit of watching television in the 1990s as a vow to the Virgin. Francis’ immense knowledge of Church literature and ancient fathers is more than amply proven by the many references he makes about them in conversations. And no, this is not something we can naturally assume in an elected leader. In politics, this is comparable to the case of having a prime minister who is also a constitutional expert.
Several passages in the text indicate that Pope Francis expresses radically different opinions even on some ecclesiastical matters. But on closer inspection, they seem to be heavily qualified with a doctrinal disclaimer. For example, the Pope claims that when the church adopts an attitude that is not just, it proselytizes and proselytism is not very Catholic. Moreover, proselytism destroys unity. He adds that homogenisation is never fruitful and it always leads to sterility. This may seem like a turning away from the logic of operating mass conversion factories in Third World countries. But don't be misled by such lofty rhetoric! A few pages later, we see him claiming that evangelization is not the same as proselytising and that the Church grows through attraction. Further, he asserts that in paganism and its traditions, there is cruelty and an evil God (p. 211). The question on where God was in Auschwitz, he replies that it was the handiwork of a godless people. He extols the second century document Epistle to Diognetus as representing the spirit of modernity in Church. But this is in fact a letter from an anonymous Christian author to a high-ranking pagan named Diognetus. This letter is a clear case of proselytism in which pagan rituals like Idol worship are denounced in very harsh words. Francis appeals for building bridges across faiths and not to create walls. Interreligious dialogue does not mean making everyone agree to what you say. It means walking together. These dialogues are not to argue and win, but to learn and let learn from the Other.
Francis wants to engage the Church in vastly bigger issues than it traditionally used to. He was instrumental in the adoption of the Aparecida Document in 2007 which emphasized the power of prayer and concern for the environment. This socially committed Pope is looking forward to involve more in big politics and he has eminent company among his predecessors. Pope Paul VI and Pius XI once remarked that big politics is charity, because it is oriented towards the common good of all. However, he wants the Church not to intervene in party politics. Dialogue with Muslims and Jews are finding utmost interest in the Pope’s mind. A major problem associated with the interreligious dialogue with Muslims is that the Church is not getting reciprocity in Saudi Arabia and many Muslim countries where Christians are still subjected to large-scale violence. They should engage in a critical study of the Quran, like the Christians’ study of Scriptures, in order to have any chance of going forward. He recommends the historical and critical method of interpretation as helpful tools. Francis’ boldness in confessing previous errors of the Church is commendable. The death penalty and slavery were once acceptable to the Church, but not anymore. In the case of same sex marriages, he is not forthright. Marriage can be solemnized only between a man and a woman. Same sex marriages can only be termed civil unions.
The Pope somewhat boils over when the issue of the media is discussed. He accuses them of harbouring four cardinal vices – disinformation, slander, defamation and coprophilia. In fact, it makes him sad even to utter the fourth term. Having made his point, he compliments them for writing the first draft of history. A new beginning with the atheists is evident when the Pope comments on their lack of the gift of faith. Even then he concedes that if you don't have that gift, God will save you in a different way (p. 152). But on another occasion, he blurts out that a man without God is capable of doing monstrosities (p. 210). The sexual escapades of the clergy are not addressed in the book, but the Pope accepts that Catholic priests represent more or less two per cent of paedophiles (p. 158). The Pope’s opinions are tinged with inconsistency on occasions. This may be because the reform process could just be budding. This whole scene can also be compared to a book in which all objectionable terms are replaced from the table of contents with new ones, but the old material still remain in the body of the main text, which we find on opening that page. His style may also be thought a trifle formulaic, like endlessly repeating the need to build bridges and tear down walls.
The book is divided into eight chapters that are assembled from twelve conversations in 2016-17. It is complemented with extracts from sixteen speeches delivered at important gatherings since he assumed the papacy on March 13, 2013. Wolton appears to be starry-eyed at first as he wants to pinch himself to accept that he was having a conversation with the Pope (p. 119), but he recovers his composure towards the end. This book does not include any references to political and institutional conflicts within the Church. The author’s interview with Francis was a tedious affair as he spoke French and the Pope Spanish. The communication was made through a translator, but it was eminently enhanced by the priceless language of the eyes, of gestures and behaviour. Francis’ sense of humour is excellent as shown in the hilarious jokes he share about the pomposity of Argentines, his compatriots! One of them runs like this: “Look how humble the Pope is! Even though he is an Argentinian, he chose to call himself Francis and not Jesus II”
The book is highly recommended.
This book is based on a few interviews conducted in 2016. What appeals most to readers in this exercise is Francis’ candidness. A pope who can laugh at his childhood misbelief that all Protestants went to hell is sure to contribute his strong influence in recognising ecumenical diversity. To engage in an inter-religious dialogue, one must be sure of his own identity as a starting point. He displays his firm roots of belief with this caveat. He is firm when the need arises as seen by his stopping the habit of watching television in the 1990s as a vow to the Virgin. Francis’ immense knowledge of Church literature and ancient fathers is more than amply proven by the many references he makes about them in conversations. And no, this is not something we can naturally assume in an elected leader. In politics, this is comparable to the case of having a prime minister who is also a constitutional expert.
Several passages in the text indicate that Pope Francis expresses radically different opinions even on some ecclesiastical matters. But on closer inspection, they seem to be heavily qualified with a doctrinal disclaimer. For example, the Pope claims that when the church adopts an attitude that is not just, it proselytizes and proselytism is not very Catholic. Moreover, proselytism destroys unity. He adds that homogenisation is never fruitful and it always leads to sterility. This may seem like a turning away from the logic of operating mass conversion factories in Third World countries. But don't be misled by such lofty rhetoric! A few pages later, we see him claiming that evangelization is not the same as proselytising and that the Church grows through attraction. Further, he asserts that in paganism and its traditions, there is cruelty and an evil God (p. 211). The question on where God was in Auschwitz, he replies that it was the handiwork of a godless people. He extols the second century document Epistle to Diognetus as representing the spirit of modernity in Church. But this is in fact a letter from an anonymous Christian author to a high-ranking pagan named Diognetus. This letter is a clear case of proselytism in which pagan rituals like Idol worship are denounced in very harsh words. Francis appeals for building bridges across faiths and not to create walls. Interreligious dialogue does not mean making everyone agree to what you say. It means walking together. These dialogues are not to argue and win, but to learn and let learn from the Other.
Francis wants to engage the Church in vastly bigger issues than it traditionally used to. He was instrumental in the adoption of the Aparecida Document in 2007 which emphasized the power of prayer and concern for the environment. This socially committed Pope is looking forward to involve more in big politics and he has eminent company among his predecessors. Pope Paul VI and Pius XI once remarked that big politics is charity, because it is oriented towards the common good of all. However, he wants the Church not to intervene in party politics. Dialogue with Muslims and Jews are finding utmost interest in the Pope’s mind. A major problem associated with the interreligious dialogue with Muslims is that the Church is not getting reciprocity in Saudi Arabia and many Muslim countries where Christians are still subjected to large-scale violence. They should engage in a critical study of the Quran, like the Christians’ study of Scriptures, in order to have any chance of going forward. He recommends the historical and critical method of interpretation as helpful tools. Francis’ boldness in confessing previous errors of the Church is commendable. The death penalty and slavery were once acceptable to the Church, but not anymore. In the case of same sex marriages, he is not forthright. Marriage can be solemnized only between a man and a woman. Same sex marriages can only be termed civil unions.
The Pope somewhat boils over when the issue of the media is discussed. He accuses them of harbouring four cardinal vices – disinformation, slander, defamation and coprophilia. In fact, it makes him sad even to utter the fourth term. Having made his point, he compliments them for writing the first draft of history. A new beginning with the atheists is evident when the Pope comments on their lack of the gift of faith. Even then he concedes that if you don't have that gift, God will save you in a different way (p. 152). But on another occasion, he blurts out that a man without God is capable of doing monstrosities (p. 210). The sexual escapades of the clergy are not addressed in the book, but the Pope accepts that Catholic priests represent more or less two per cent of paedophiles (p. 158). The Pope’s opinions are tinged with inconsistency on occasions. This may be because the reform process could just be budding. This whole scene can also be compared to a book in which all objectionable terms are replaced from the table of contents with new ones, but the old material still remain in the body of the main text, which we find on opening that page. His style may also be thought a trifle formulaic, like endlessly repeating the need to build bridges and tear down walls.
The book is divided into eight chapters that are assembled from twelve conversations in 2016-17. It is complemented with extracts from sixteen speeches delivered at important gatherings since he assumed the papacy on March 13, 2013. Wolton appears to be starry-eyed at first as he wants to pinch himself to accept that he was having a conversation with the Pope (p. 119), but he recovers his composure towards the end. This book does not include any references to political and institutional conflicts within the Church. The author’s interview with Francis was a tedious affair as he spoke French and the Pope Spanish. The communication was made through a translator, but it was eminently enhanced by the priceless language of the eyes, of gestures and behaviour. Francis’ sense of humour is excellent as shown in the hilarious jokes he share about the pomposity of Argentines, his compatriots! One of them runs like this: “Look how humble the Pope is! Even though he is an Argentinian, he chose to call himself Francis and not Jesus II”
The book is highly recommended.
July 3, 2021
Pope Francis’ thoughts and views are inspiring. Unfortunately the interviewer is quite annoying and spends a lot of time showing off or seeming to interrupt rather than following what the Pope is saying and engaging with it. He got slightly less annoying towards the end of the book, or maybe I just got used to it. Worth reading though for the Pope’s views.
June 4, 2025
the last 2 chapters were incredibly convoluted & I wish the excerpts selected would've matched the topics better. or at least pick the ones you're actively referencing a bajilion times
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews