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Collected from Pope Francis’s speeches, homilies, and papers presented during the first year of his papacy, The Church of Mercy is the first Vatican-authorized book detailing his vision for the Catholic Church. From how to be citizens of the world to answering God’s call for evangelization, Pope Francis's deep wisdom reminds us that the Church must move beyond its own walls and joyfully bring God's mercy wherever suffering, division, or injustice exists.

3.75 stars

I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaways, in exchange for an honest review.

I am so personally impressed with Pope Francis that I was thrilled to win this giveaway. I only wish time had allowed me to read it sooner.

My only wish for this book is that the excerpts were pulled more from his homilies to the common folk, & less from his addresses to other priests, bishops, & other religious leaders. While, as a Catholic, it is interesting to hear him speak of loftier ideas, it can lose the reader quickly. Some of this would have been fine; but it's my opinion that there is too much of it.

Make no mistake: while Pope Francis is calling for what seems like a less-stringent, less-dogmatic way forward for the Catholic Church, nothing about it is easy. He is challenging in every one of these excerpts: challenging both the clergy & the congregation to be better, to be more Christian, to be more responsible for themselves & to each other, to have faith & trust in God. There is nothing easy about what he's asking of us all. But it's also nothing new. It's what we're called to do & be by Jesus, the Apostles, & other early Christian leaders. It's clear that Pope Francis's moves to move past issues like divorced Catholics, gay Catholics, & other wedge issues that have politicized the Church are his way of saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff." There are bigger things at play: people freezing & starving to death right outside the Vatican walls, for instance. He calls on us to work to end injustices like this, & he's not kidding, or taking it lightly. This is a man who knows his theology, knows his role, & knows he has limited time to make an impact. I hope he's able to make the changes necessary in the time he has with us. ( )

A vision for the church. Jesus understands human sufferings. He has shown the face of God's mercy, and has bent down to heal body and soul. This is Jesus. This is His heart. ( )

Collection of letters and Homilies/other writings on theme of Mercy