Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was chosen as the next Pope in one of the shortest conclaves in history. He is the first Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope to come from Latin America. Who is this man, and how did he come to such high position?
This book begins with the arrival of Bergoglio's family in Buenos Aires in 1929, travelling from Italy, explores his childhood as one of a family of five, his first job as a factory cleaner and the bout of pneumonia which forced him to reassess his life completely. Then from his early days as a seminarian through his experience as a teacher of psychology and literature, through to his consecration as a cardinal by Pope John Paul II, Bergoglio shares his experiences of faith and life.
The difficult subjects are met head on, from the declining numbers of priests to celibacy and even the sex abuse scandals that have rocked the church - and through it all, Bergoglio's humble approach and desire to live an austere and faithful life shine through.
This is a Pope who will not allow himself to be fitted to a traditional mould - and the world waits with bated breath to see what his time as leader of the world's largest church will bring.
- ISBN10 1444752499
- ISBN13 9781444752496
- Publish Date 6 June 2013
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 5 March 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher John Murray Press
- Imprint Hodder Faith
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 192
- Language English