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Church, Interrupted: Havoc Hope: The Tender Revolt of Pope Francis
Church, Interrupted: Havoc & Hope: The Tender Revolt of Pope Francis is a revealing portrait of Pope Francis's hopeful yet controversial efforts to recreate the Catholic Church to become, once again, a welcoming place of empathy, love, and inclusiveness.
Bestselling author, Vanity Fair contributor, and papal biographer John Cornwell tells the gripping insider story of Pope Francis's bid to bring renewal and hope to a crisis-plagued Church and the world at large.
With unique insights and original reporting, Cornwell reveals how Francis has persistently provoked and disrupted his stubbornly unchanging Church, purging clerical corruption and reforming entrenched institutions, while calling for action against global poverty, climate change, and racism.
Cornwell argues that despite fierce opposition from traditionalist clergy and right-wing media, the pope has radically widened Catholic moral priorities, calling for mercy and compassion over rigid dogmatism. Francis, according to Cornwell, has transformed the Vatican from being a top-down centralized authority to being a spiritual service for a global Church. He has welcomed the rejected, abused, and disheartened; reached out to people of other faiths and those of none; and proved a providential spiritual leader for future generations.
Highly acclaimed author John Cornwell's riveting account of the hopeful—and contentious—efforts undertaken by Pope Francis to rebuild the Catholic Church.
• Well researched and brilliantly written, readers, scholars, and fans of John Cornwell will want to read his most controversial and compelling work yet.
• More than a third of America's 74 million Catholics said they were contemplating departure in 2018. It is estimated that over the past twenty years, the Catholic Church has been losing $2.5 billion dollars annually in revenues, legal fees, and damages due to clerical abuse cases. The decline in church attendance, marriages, and vocations to the priesthood and sisterhood tell a story of major decline and disillusion. Cornwell showcases Pope Francis's way forward, a hopeful message that gives reinvigorated reasons to stay with the church and help be the change the new generation would like to see.
• For readers within and outside Catholicism fascinated by the future and restructuring of the church, this will be a book they want to read again and again as the church continues to change and grow.
Bestselling author, Vanity Fair contributor, and papal biographer John Cornwell tells the gripping insider story of Pope Francis's bid to bring renewal and hope to a crisis-plagued Church and the world at large.
With unique insights and original reporting, Cornwell reveals how Francis has persistently provoked and disrupted his stubbornly unchanging Church, purging clerical corruption and reforming entrenched institutions, while calling for action against global poverty, climate change, and racism.
Cornwell argues that despite fierce opposition from traditionalist clergy and right-wing media, the pope has radically widened Catholic moral priorities, calling for mercy and compassion over rigid dogmatism. Francis, according to Cornwell, has transformed the Vatican from being a top-down centralized authority to being a spiritual service for a global Church. He has welcomed the rejected, abused, and disheartened; reached out to people of other faiths and those of none; and proved a providential spiritual leader for future generations.
Highly acclaimed author John Cornwell's riveting account of the hopeful—and contentious—efforts undertaken by Pope Francis to rebuild the Catholic Church.
• Well researched and brilliantly written, readers, scholars, and fans of John Cornwell will want to read his most controversial and compelling work yet.
• More than a third of America's 74 million Catholics said they were contemplating departure in 2018. It is estimated that over the past twenty years, the Catholic Church has been losing $2.5 billion dollars annually in revenues, legal fees, and damages due to clerical abuse cases. The decline in church attendance, marriages, and vocations to the priesthood and sisterhood tell a story of major decline and disillusion. Cornwell showcases Pope Francis's way forward, a hopeful message that gives reinvigorated reasons to stay with the church and help be the change the new generation would like to see.
• For readers within and outside Catholicism fascinated by the future and restructuring of the church, this will be a book they want to read again and again as the church continues to change and grow.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 9, 2021
About the author
John Cornwell
58 books50 followersJohn Cornwell is a British journalist, author, and academic. Since 1990 he has directed the Science and Human Dimension Project at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he is also, since 2009, Founder and Director of the Rustat Conferences. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (University of Leicester) in 2011. He was nominated for the PEN/Ackerley Prize for best UK memoir 2007 (Seminary Boy) and shortlisted Specialist Journalist of the Year (science, medicine in Sunday Times Magazine), British Press Awards 2006. He won the Scientific and Medical Network Book of the Year Award for Hitler's Scientists, 2005; and received the Independent Television Authority - Tablet Award for contributions to religious journalism (1994). In 1982 he won the Gold Dagger Award Non-Fiction (1982) for Earth to Earth. He is best known for his investigative journalism; memoir; and his work in public understanding of science. In addition to his books on the relationship between science, ethics and the humanities, he has written widely on the Catholic Church and the modern papacy.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 27, 2022
A Throw Away Catholic
It is truly amazing for me to read this book. It is as if the author has been reading my journals. Surprisingly, for me, Pope Francis and I practice the same mercy, inclusiveness, unity and non-dual, paradoxical, and Life behind beyond the cross in resurrection and glory, living daily in the Kingdom within; all the while experiencing the ebb and flow of the world in chaos.
"I'm A Throw Away Catholic" deacon, at almost 80 years old. Five years ago I was told my my pastor, "I don't need you, I have two other deacons..." I told him that I understood perfectly. I openly spoke of the paradoxical, unity, non-dual, and full inclusiveness of feminine and masculine, as image and likeness of God'dess.
I fully choose each morning to reawaken and listen to my Inner Voice and to follow the guidance of Christo Sophia, Third Way, tension of the opposites in this case the feminine and masculine. I see myself a Contemplative Universal catholic, in union with contemplatives of all world religions. Daily contemplative prarer, reading, journaling, meditation, are my daily middle way intersecting and union with One human - Divine consciousness. I often tell people I meet that looking into their eyes and heart, I see mirrored back to me the Goddess who dwells within me. I love myself, I love you, I love Goddess. In this way I practice forgiveness, oneness, otherness, peaceful presence. These are my graces and gifts of being "thrown away" as an Elder and a deacon. Reading this book affirmed within me, who I truly am. That Pope Francis is affirming me and others along this tortuous way. We are truly united with one another and Holy One, uniquely and marvelously consubstantial with.
Thank you,
With love and great peace,
Dave Schutt
It is truly amazing for me to read this book. It is as if the author has been reading my journals. Surprisingly, for me, Pope Francis and I practice the same mercy, inclusiveness, unity and non-dual, paradoxical, and Life behind beyond the cross in resurrection and glory, living daily in the Kingdom within; all the while experiencing the ebb and flow of the world in chaos.
"I'm A Throw Away Catholic" deacon, at almost 80 years old. Five years ago I was told my my pastor, "I don't need you, I have two other deacons..." I told him that I understood perfectly. I openly spoke of the paradoxical, unity, non-dual, and full inclusiveness of feminine and masculine, as image and likeness of God'dess.
I fully choose each morning to reawaken and listen to my Inner Voice and to follow the guidance of Christo Sophia, Third Way, tension of the opposites in this case the feminine and masculine. I see myself a Contemplative Universal catholic, in union with contemplatives of all world religions. Daily contemplative prarer, reading, journaling, meditation, are my daily middle way intersecting and union with One human - Divine consciousness. I often tell people I meet that looking into their eyes and heart, I see mirrored back to me the Goddess who dwells within me. I love myself, I love you, I love Goddess. In this way I practice forgiveness, oneness, otherness, peaceful presence. These are my graces and gifts of being "thrown away" as an Elder and a deacon. Reading this book affirmed within me, who I truly am. That Pope Francis is affirming me and others along this tortuous way. We are truly united with one another and Holy One, uniquely and marvelously consubstantial with.
Thank you,
With love and great peace,
Dave Schutt
May 6, 2025
Church, Interrupted: Havoc & Hope: The Tender Revolt of Pope Francis is a vivid, personal, and incisive account of how Pope Francis has disrupted and reoriented the Catholic Church in the face of crisis and decline. Drawing on original reporting and decades of experience as a leading commentator on Catholicism, Cornwell presents Francis as a providential “interruption”-a leader whose radical openness and compassion have challenged the Church’s entrenched culture and priorities.
Cornwell’s narrative is shaped by his own complicated relationship with Catholicism. Disillusioned by the abuse scandals and the rigid, punitive atmosphere of the John Paul II and Benedict XVI years, he found in Francis’s election a 'moment of grace' and the possibility of a new beginning for both the Church and those alienated from it. The book’s structure-twenty-four concise, essay-like chapters-allows Cornwell to probe key moments and initiatives of the Francis papacy, from the Amazon Synod to the Church’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, always with an eye to the broader significance of Francis’s “tender revolt”.
Cornwell argues that Francis has persistently provoked the Church to change, purging clerical corruption, reforming institutions, and shifting the Church’s moral priorities toward mercy, inclusion, and social justice. He highlights the pope’s outreach to the marginalised, his condemnation of capital punishment and nuclear weapons, and his willingness to address global issues like poverty, climate change, and racism. In doing so, Francis has faced fierce opposition from traditionalist clergy and right-wing media, who see his widening of Catholic priorities as a threat to established doctrine and authority.
Yet, Cornwell’s tone is not one of uncritical adulation. He acknowledges the havoc and resistance that Francis’s reforms have stirred, but sees in them a necessary hope-a way forward for a Church battered by scandal, declining attendance, and disillusionment. Cornwell’s admiration for Francis is clear, especially in contrast to his earlier, more critical works on previous popes. He defends Francis against his harshest critics, noting the irony that the pope’s extension of moral concern is often twisted by opponents as evidence of doctrinal weakness.
Church, Interrupted is both an accessible introduction to the Francis Effect and a passionate argument for a Church that is more welcoming, compassionate, and relevant to today’s world. Cornwell’s blend of personal reflection, sharp analysis, and storytelling makes this book a compelling read for both Catholics and outsiders interested in the future of the Church.
Cornwell’s narrative is shaped by his own complicated relationship with Catholicism. Disillusioned by the abuse scandals and the rigid, punitive atmosphere of the John Paul II and Benedict XVI years, he found in Francis’s election a 'moment of grace' and the possibility of a new beginning for both the Church and those alienated from it. The book’s structure-twenty-four concise, essay-like chapters-allows Cornwell to probe key moments and initiatives of the Francis papacy, from the Amazon Synod to the Church’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, always with an eye to the broader significance of Francis’s “tender revolt”.
Cornwell argues that Francis has persistently provoked the Church to change, purging clerical corruption, reforming institutions, and shifting the Church’s moral priorities toward mercy, inclusion, and social justice. He highlights the pope’s outreach to the marginalised, his condemnation of capital punishment and nuclear weapons, and his willingness to address global issues like poverty, climate change, and racism. In doing so, Francis has faced fierce opposition from traditionalist clergy and right-wing media, who see his widening of Catholic priorities as a threat to established doctrine and authority.
Yet, Cornwell’s tone is not one of uncritical adulation. He acknowledges the havoc and resistance that Francis’s reforms have stirred, but sees in them a necessary hope-a way forward for a Church battered by scandal, declining attendance, and disillusionment. Cornwell’s admiration for Francis is clear, especially in contrast to his earlier, more critical works on previous popes. He defends Francis against his harshest critics, noting the irony that the pope’s extension of moral concern is often twisted by opponents as evidence of doctrinal weakness.
Church, Interrupted is both an accessible introduction to the Francis Effect and a passionate argument for a Church that is more welcoming, compassionate, and relevant to today’s world. Cornwell’s blend of personal reflection, sharp analysis, and storytelling makes this book a compelling read for both Catholics and outsiders interested in the future of the Church.
March 20, 2021
I received a eBook copy of this book from the publisher/ author in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and the insights I received from it. The book presents a thoroughly researched and well-crafted narrative based on careful study of not only Pope Francis but all that he inherited as a result of the abdication of his predecessor, the many Catholic groups of differing opinions, and the rule of past Popes. As an ex-Catholic myself, I had many "ah-ha" moments from this book as it shined light on components of the religion that I did not know or understand as a child. I especially enjoyed that the book did not shy away from the nuances and gray areas of the Catholic faith that one cannot get from just reading news coverage about the church today. I recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about the Catholic faith both in the world today and historically. While the book certainly focuses on Pope Francis mainly, we are in good hands with the author as he gives us strong footing (context) to understanding the place in time he is addressing.
April 13, 2021
Probably a 3.5, really.
As a devout Catholic disenchanted with and discouraged by the church politics, scandals, and clericalism, I suppose I was looking for answers and reasons to hope. I do not think this book fully delivered on either. It is certainly well-researched, but there is so much Vatican drama that more than anything it reinforces how bad the politics and clericalism are. I don't think Campbell really explains how Pope Francis's "disruptions" disrupt anything for us on the ground so much as those within the ranks. That said, I think he does a nuanced job of getting into the stakes, the flaws and strengths of the last three popes, and their philosophies. I appreciate that he also uses examples of people in his own family to illustrate why so many of these issues are not abstractions and that he starts and ends with reference to James Joyce's quip that Catholic means "here comes everybody." I hope someday that's really true. I learned a lot, I think.
As a devout Catholic disenchanted with and discouraged by the church politics, scandals, and clericalism, I suppose I was looking for answers and reasons to hope. I do not think this book fully delivered on either. It is certainly well-researched, but there is so much Vatican drama that more than anything it reinforces how bad the politics and clericalism are. I don't think Campbell really explains how Pope Francis's "disruptions" disrupt anything for us on the ground so much as those within the ranks. That said, I think he does a nuanced job of getting into the stakes, the flaws and strengths of the last three popes, and their philosophies. I appreciate that he also uses examples of people in his own family to illustrate why so many of these issues are not abstractions and that he starts and ends with reference to James Joyce's quip that Catholic means "here comes everybody." I hope someday that's really true. I learned a lot, I think.
November 12, 2025
Just as he did for the papacy of John Paul II in “The Pontiff in Winter”, Cornwell deftly analyzes the impact and legacy of the papacy of Francis. He succinctly captures the promise and challenged faced by Francis and the (hopefully) positive upheaval he caused. Cornwell chooses a thematic rather than chronological structure to the book but manages nonetheless to capture the exuberant (irrational?) excitement elicited by his election as well as the more prosaic reality of the impactful changes in tone and approach (rather than changes in dogma) that he spearheaded. Along the way he gives the reader a detailed accounting of the stiff resistance faced by Francis, capturing the unheard-of opposition he faced (facilitated by the expediency of hiding behind the figure of Benedict XVI). An interesting and though-provoking read that catches the reader up to the current challenges faced by the church.
December 27, 2021
Educational. Insights into the Catholic Church and the various popes.
November 4, 2021
This was a very informative and enjoyable book. I recommend this well written book to all who want insite to Pope Francis and the Catholic Church.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews