The Heart of Pope Francis: How a New Culture of Encounter is Changing the Church and the World

Fares, a Jesuit priest, seeks to give the reader an insight into the newest pontiff as a friend and close observer of over forty years. "For an interpersonal encounter to be authentic, freedom, respect, a proper perspective, esteem for the other, and dialogue must all come into play," he writes. There is a great thirst in our world to know this man who leads the Roman Catholic Church. Through Fares' eyes readers will come to know him as both Pope Francis and as Jorge Bergoglio, as he was known in his native Argentina. It is a very short treatise that includes long passages Francis's own speeches and sermons. Much of the second half of the book is based on a document called Aparecida Proposals for the Clergy of the Argentinian Church. While it might appear from its cover like a warm and intimate look at the life of the pontiff, this is some very deep theology that quotes more of the Holy Father and looks less at the relationship he had with the writer of the book. This will appeal more to Jesuit scholars who want to know the history of their faith. (Sept.)