Austen IvereighCritiques

Several problematic (to Pope Francis) issues discussed in this first edition were removed in later editions. I was only able to obtain this first edition as a used book. As a faithful Catholic, I am not a fan of many of Pope Francis statements and decisions.

I am really glad I read this book. Although Ivereigh's pro-Francis bias comes out strongly in the last chapter or two of the book, his overall treatment of Francis's papacy and how his pastoral and magisterial history shaped him and his approach to the various controversies which face the Catholic Church today. I have a better understanding of Francis's approach and his goals for the church he leads after reading this book.

Summary: An account of the papacy of Francis into 2019, focusing on his efforts to convert the Catholic Church to a church with Christ at the center showing compassion for those on the margins from one focused more on preservation of an institution, law, and doctrine.

The first pope to come from Latin America has been both a breath of fresh air, and a lightning rod for controversy. This biography focuses on Pope Francis, and how he handles controversy. Ivereigh presents a pope utterly at peace with himself, shaped by Ignatian practices that center around the life and ministry of Christ. Francis understands that controversy is necessary if he is to bring Christ to the center of a church that too often has been more concerned about self-protection--of the Vatican, of abusing priests, of law and theology.

A frugal man, he cleans up the finances of the Vatican, turning a middleman appropriating funds for itself to a mediator, using the church's resources for the poor. He instills serving into a clerical church, modeling it in the washing of a Muslim woman prisoner's feet. Rather that fire people, he seeks their conversion, if possible (although resistant bishops are retired at 75). He releases a blockbuster encyclical, Laudato Si, connecting environmental concerns with justice for the poor.

As he wades into the sexual abuse scandals, he meets with the victims. In a meeting with three Chileans, he begins, "I was part of the problem! I caused this. I am very sorry, and I ask your forgiveness." One of the victims, a gay man, Juan Carlos Cruz described a lengthy meeting discussing his life, with Francis telling him, "Juan Carlos, it doesn't matter that you are gay. God made you that way, and I'm fine with it. The Pope loves you as you are, you have to be happy with who you are."

At the heart of all this is a passion for evangelization, recognizing that the Church is no longer in an era where it enjoys the support of law and culture. Ivereigh helps us understand the roots of this vision at the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) at Aparecida. "Aparecida" becomes synonymous with the humble, loving, serving approach that enters the barrios. It is not merely the conversions of the poor but the conversion of an institutional church into a priesthood of missionary disciples.

One can see how controversy can swirl around such actions and how the pope's compassion toward Muslims, gays, and the divorced (for whom he provided ways to take communion) would arouse the ire of many. What was striking in this account was how much of the opposition came from the church in the United States. I found this a surprising turn, having often thought the church in US progressive in comparison with that in other parts of the world. But this has changed. Ivereigh chronicle the opposition faced from American cardinal Raymond Burke, among others, and the conservative Catholic movement in the US.

It is clear that Ivereigh loves this pope, recounting numerous instances where he extends deep mercy and understanding to people. He describes a pope who understands that to follow Christ is to share the wounds of Christ. Living in the U.S., I've seen more critique than praise of Francis. This book redresses that balances and helps the reader understand the wellsprings of Francis's actions, particularly in his missionary efforts in Argentinian barrios. Whether the reader agrees or not with the policies and programs of Francis, understanding his passion to put Christ at the heart of the Church stands as a challenge for us all. Has something other than Christ been the focus of the lives of our churches, whether money, sex, or power? Francis's papacy has addressed all three. Little wonder that "wounded shepherd" describes him.

Highly readable account of Pope Francis' papacy, each chapter focusing on a major issue impacting the Catholic Church.

Since it was first released, How to Defend the Faith has given Catholics worldwide a new way of talking about their faith around the dinner table or at the office, getting across the Church's positions on contentious issues without losing their cool.

It's about learning the principles that allow you to step outside the negative frames imposed by the news media and being well briefed on what the Church actually thinks about politics, gay people, marriage, women, sex abuse, and other key topics

I greatly admire Pope Francis (though I am not Catholic) for his priority on the poor, and for putting the mercy of Jesus front and centre of his teachings and actions. This biography gives a comprehensive look at his life, including his time as a priest, then bishop, then cardinal in Argentina. The author shows how Francis worked in the political atmosphere of his time...a time of government-caused "disappearances", high inflation, guerrilla war fare and other major upheavals. It shows how he reached out to the poor, and to those of other faiths. It also provides a glimpse into Vatican politics and how popes are chosen. Very interesting, lots of context, and lots of Pope Francis's own words and deeds to give us a better understanding of this man.½

5260. The Great Reformer Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope, by Austen Ivereigh (read 2 Apr 2015) This is a 2014 biography of Pope Francis. I was quite surprised to learn that he had quite a stressful time when he was Jesuit provincial in Argentina and that he was estranged from the Jesuit community while he was bishop and archbishop. But the account of his election and his time as Pope is a joy to read and makes the entire book worthwhile. The book makes me very hopeful for the future of the Church. Ths only sad part is that Francis is not younger but he certainly has conducted himself as a true shepherd and we can all hope that he will continue in good health.

The American media thinks it understands the papacy. John Paul II and Benedict XVI seemed to fit easily into existing media-driven metanarratives centered on American political categories: liberal, conservative, reactionary, Cold Warrior, intellectual, patriarchal, and so on. These categories didn't always fit, but neither of the last two popes troubled the media's characterization nearly as often as Francis has in just the first two years of his papacy. Into that mix comes Ivereigh's biography, which should go a long way toward giving pundits and commentators more to work with. Discussing Bergoglio's life in Argentina and his attempts to reform his Jesuit province, the book offers a great deal of detail designed to make sense of Francis' approaches to social, economic, moral, and liturgical issues. That combination has already had the media tripping over itself to explain his "liberal agenda," his comments on marriage and sexuality, his support of environmental conservation, and his embrace of a more populist spirituality that makes room for the reality of the devil (in ways that make a wide swatch of Western liberal and conservative Catholics cringe).

Any book on a pope that can boast blurbs from Cardinal Chaput and George Weigel, David Gibson and John Allen, Jr., clearly has demonstrated the ways in which Francis cuts across entrenched divisions within the Catholic Church (particularly, but not exclusively, the North American church). One might object to the title, throwing out "reformer" and "radical" for readers to map their hopes and fears onto the new pope. But the title seems little more than bait to reel in the audience Ivereigh intends to challenge. Much has been made of the "first pope from Latin America," but indeed the unique history of the church not just in Latin America broadly, but Buenos Aires in particular, has decisively shaped Francis' priorities and leadership. Here's hoping this book can contribute to the reeducation of a popular press that desperately needs to find a new story to tell. It should also satisfy any other readers who seek to understand Francis/Bergoglio a bit better.

Engaging and well-written biography of the new pope. Was pleasantly surprised by the Ivereigh's deft touch for detail while not getting bogged down, as so many modern biographers do, in minutiae. I especially appreciated the scope not being limited to merely church politics but to Francis's country of birth, his ancestral heritage and his religious order. The author manages to do a lot with admirable succinctness. This is the best biography I've seen of Pope Francis to date and certainly helps us to better understand where Pope Francis has come from and where he wants to lead the Catholic church.

[book:The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope|21531406] by [author:Austen Ivereigh|2073503] is a highly readable and informative biography of Jorge Mario Bergoglio-the Jesuit priest who is now Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic church. Bergoglio, an Argentinian priest born to Italian immigrants, has impressed the world with his insistence on simplicity, poverty and a focus on a theology "shaped by the periphery, not the center," the church's obligation to a radical commitment to the poor. Ivereigh provides not only insight into the formation of this remarkable Jesuit but also a history of the country he comes from and the order which has shaped his religious life. Great detail is provided about the history of Argentina, the struggles of the Jesuit order, Vatican II, and the political/social climates that shaped the present pope (sometimes the background is a bit overwhelming and makes for slow albeit fascinating reading) and Ivereigh is clearly a fan of Francis and has nothing but praise so that the book becomes something of a hagiography. However, on the whole (and as a Catholic), I found the book inspirational and fascinating. I learned a great deal about the Church, Argentine history, and Jesuit values as well learning about a man who seems to be destined to become a powerful player in world politics. The book might provide more information than a non-Catholic is interested in learning about the present pope but the lucid prose and clear organization makes for easy comprehension.

(Full disclosure: I won this book through LibraryThing. The review reflects my opinions of and responses to the book.)