Wounded Shepherd: Pope Francis and His Struggle to Convert the Catholic Church

Description

This deeply contextual biography centers on the tensions generated by the popes attempt to turn the Church away from power and tradition and outwards to engage humanity with Gods mercy. Through battles with corrupt bankers and worldly cardinals, in turbulent meetings and on global trips, historys first Latin-American pope has attempted to reshape the Church to evangelize the contemporary age. At the same time, he has stirred other leaders deep-seated fear that the Church is capitulating to modernityleaders who have challenged his bid to create a more welcoming, attentive institution.

Facing rebellions over his allowing sacraments for the divorced and his attempt to create a more “ecological” Catholicism, as well as a firestorm of criticism for the Churchs record on sexual abuse, Francis emerges as a leader of remarkable vision and skill with a relentless spiritual focusa leader who is at peace in the turmoil surrounding him.

With entertaining anecdotes, insider accounts, and expert analysis, Ivereighs journey through the key episodes of Franciss reform in Rome and the wider Church brings into sharp focus the frustrations and fury, as well as the joys and successes, of one of the most remarkable pontificates of the contemporary age.

Author Information

Austen Ivereigh is a British writer, journalist, and commentator on religious and political affairs who holds a PhD from Oxford University. His work appears regularly in the Jesuit magazine America and in many other periodicals. He is well-known as a Catholic commentator for the BBC, Sky, ITV, and Al-Jazeera.