Overview

Since his surprise appointment in March 2013, Pope Francis has emerged as the most talked-about and most revolutionary pope in living memory. He has become a subject of fascination, conversation, and headlines not only to the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world, but to virtually everyone. This biography of Pope Francis describes how this revolutionary thinker became who he is, and how he will use the power of his position to challenge and redirect one of the world's most formidable religions. Drawing on extensive interviews in Argentina and other countries and now featuring an updated epilogue, The Great Reformer traces the roots of his papacy in Francis's childhood in Buenos Aires, in his Jesuit training, and in the dramatic events during the Perón era and the military government in Argentina in the 1970s. It shows how these experiences have shaped his beliefs, and with his commitment to the discernment of God's will, enabled him to challenge and redirect the Church. Pope Francis was elected in the midst of one of the biggest crises in the Church in modern times. This is the story of a true radical who is transforming the Church by restoring what it has lost.

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9781760113483

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Reviews

Richly researched, artfully constructed and consistently compelling. * TLS * Invaluable new biography * Daily Telegraph * Invaluable... ought to be read by everyone who wishes to know more about this very singular Pope. * Irish Independent * A gracefully written and meticulously researched account of Francis' life... the best English-language biography of the pope to date. * New York Times Book Review * The most substantial biography by far * The Times * A fine new biography... Fair, judicious and compelling. * The New York Times * A fast-moving and colourful personal analysis of what drives the pontiff, and the many events that have formed his unique and gregarious personality. * The Universe * A must-read for all Pope Francis watchers. * The Tablet * The author has a deft way of mixing recent incidents with his subject's early life... [The pope's] idiosyncratic humanism, forged in a land of political and economic turmoil, seems infectious. This book explains where it comes from. * The Economist * Who is this larger-than-life man leading the charge? What are Francis's origins, how did he come to his beliefs and where is he taking his church? The Great Reformer, a new biography of the man born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, offers an illuminating guide. * Washington Post * Will be useful in understanding the actions of a man whose influence and international importance cannot but grow. * Observer * Shows why Pope Francis is not a silly old commie. The author's insights into his Argentine background and hard spiritual road make sense of his rejection of the trappings of power and intellectual elitism. * Spectator, Best Books of 2015 * As an English-language account of the Pope's Argentine heritage, this book will be hard to beat. * Catholic Herald *

Richly researched, artfully constructed and consistently compelling. TLS Invaluable new biography Daily Telegraph Invaluable... ought to be read by everyone who wishes to know more about this very singular Pope. Irish Independent A gracefully written and meticulously researched account of Francis' life... the best English-language biography of the pope to date. New York Times Book Review The most substantial biography by far The Times A fine new biography... Fair, judicious and compelling. The New York Times A fast-moving and colourful personal analysis of what drives the pontiff, and the many events that have formed his unique and gregarious personality. The Universe A must-read for all Pope Francis watchers. The Tablet The author has a deft way of mixing recent incidents with his subject's early life... [The pope's] idiosyncratic humanism, forged in a land of political and economic turmoil, seems infectious. This book explains where it comes from. The Economist Who is this larger-than-life man leading the charge? What are Francis's origins, how did he come to his beliefs and where is he taking his church? The Great Reformer, a new biography of the man born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, offers an illuminating guide. Washington Post Will be useful in understanding the actions of a man whose influence and international importance cannot but grow. Observer Shows why Pope Francis is not a silly old commie. The author's insights into his Argentine background and hard spiritual road make sense of his rejection of the trappings of power and intellectual elitism. Spectator, Best Books of 2015 As an English-language account of the Pope's Argentine heritage, this book will be hard to beat. Catholic Herald

Invaluable new biography --Daily Telegraph Invaluable... ought to be read by everyone who wishes to know more about this very singular Pope. --Irish Independent A gracefully written and meticulously researched account of Francis' life... the best English-language biography of the pope to date. --New York Times Book Review The most substantial biography by far --The Times A fine new biography... Fair, judicious and compelling. --The New York Times A fast-moving and colourful personal analysis of what drives the pontiff, and the many events that have formed his unique and gregarious personality. --The Universe A must-read for all Pope Francis watchers. --The Tablet The author has a deft way of mixing recent incidents with his subject's early life... [The pope's] idiosyncratic humanism, forged in a land of political and economic turmoil, seems infectious. This book explains where it comes from. --The Economist Who is this larger-than-life man leading the charge? What are Francis's origins, how did he come to his beliefs and where is he taking his church? The Great Reformer, a new biography of the man born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, offers an illuminating guide. --Washington Post As an English-language account of the Pope's Argentine heritage, this book will be hard to beat. --Catholic Herald Will be useful in understanding the actions of a man whose influence and international importance cannot but grow. --Observer A meticulous and lovingly written biography that will please both knowledgeable and amateur readers. --Library Journal

Author Information

Austen Ivereigh is a British writer, journalist, and commentator on religious and political affairs who holds a PhD from Oxford University. He is a former deputy editor of the influential Catholic journal The Tablet and his work appears regularly in the Jesuit magazine America and in many other periodicals. He is a founder of media group Catholic Voices. He frequently appears as a commentator on Catholic issues on the BBC, Sky, ITV and Al-Jazeera and writes regularly for The Guardian.

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