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Francis: Pope of a New World, by Andrea Tornielli. Ignatius Press, 2013.
This very human story of the present Pope Francis delves deeply into the life story of our Pope, a Pope for our day with his
strengths and his weaknesses, a Pope who came at the right time in an era which needed this kind of a Pope.
The smoke from the chimney was still black on the afternoon of March 13, 2013, but “we journalists were told to be prepared to go into high gear at a moment’s notice. There was great possibility that a man named Jorge was soon to be elected Pope.” Friends of
Jorge had passed on to this author, stories from Jorge about his ministry to serve as a true pastor, a man who would not “lord it over others.” Here was a man “ who came to facilitate folks’ encounter with Jesus, with nearness, mercy, gentleness, patience, a priest who sorrowed whenever he heard that any pastor would refuse baptism of the children of unwed mothers. “ Here is the Pope who before he would give his first blessing at 7:05 p.m. that same day he was elected Pope would beg
for the prayers of the faithful who had gathered to congratulate him. “Pray for me. I ask you to pray for me.”
The world was given the first Jesuit Pope, the first Latin American, the first to take the name of the great man from Assisi, Francis, giving a sign of change. Not everyone was pleased with the election; there were many who began finding fault with Pope
Francis’ service as a Jesuit superior. “ Hadn’t he dismissed two ordained young Jesuits who seemed to be siding with the anti-government element? “
Wasn’t Pope Francis too old? Don’t we need a younger man? Wasn’t he too strict while he served the Jesuits in a high position? Won’t we soon be looking for our
Pope to soon turn in his resignation like Benedict did?
Tornielli spent an entire chapter discussing the history of past resignations or near resignations of former Popes. More than Benedict’s name was on that long list. Another chapter was devoted to Pope Francis’ conclave, all those who made up the voting body. There is much information about the type of
life style Francis used both before and after his election to the Papacy. There is also a chapter devoted to “life as a priest under a dictatorship. “ There is another chapter on the reasons for his new name. Lastly the book closes with “What the Pope will be.” This is anyone’s guess but Tornielli makes a good try.
(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.) Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle
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St. John Neumann: (1811-60): January 5.
Perhaps because the United States got a later start in the history of the world, it has relatively few canonized saints, but their number is increasing.
John Neumann was born in what is now the Czech Republic. After studying in Prague, he came to New York at 25 and was ordained a priest. He did missionary work in New York until he was 29, when he joined the Redemptorists and became its first member to profess vows in the United States. He continued missionary work in Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, where he became popular with the Germans.
At 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, increasing the number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short time.
Gifted with outstanding organizing ability, he drew into the city many teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers. During his brief assignment as vice provincial for the Redemptorists, he placed them in the forefront of the parochial movement.
Well-known for his holiness and learning, spiritual writing and preaching, on October 13, 1963, John Neumann became the first American bishop to be beatified. Canonized in 1977, he is buried in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia.
Calendar of Saints
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