“An autobiography is not our private story, but rather the baggage we carry with us. And memory is not just what we recall, but what surrounds us. It speaks not only about what has been but about what will be.” (Pope Francis)
Considering the popularity of the recent film Conclave, the ongoing fascination with Pope Francis and with the current Jubilee Year of Hope it is no surprise that there is such interest in the much anticipated recently published Pope Francis, Hope, the Autobiography. There have been many different biographies done since Francis was elected in 2013 and a number of different conversation-type interviews issued by various authors, many to much acclaim. Austen Ivereigh, the British Journalist is generally regarded as the foremost authority on Francis with detailed research, namely The Great Reformer and the more recent Wounded Shepherd.
Even though this particular work is described as an autobiography, it is not that in the strict sense. It was done in collaboration with a publisher called Carlo Musso who had done some previous work with Pope Francis, the most popular being The Name of God is Mercy which was published in over one hundred countries and thirty different languages. Initially, Carol Muso informs us in a note at the end this book was to be published after the death of Pope Francis but “the new Jubilee of Hope and the circumstances of this moment have moved him to make this precious legacy available now.”
Another reason is it not an autobiography as some might expect is that it doesn’t take a chronological approach to the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, but rather selects a number of themes associated with the life and work of the pastor and ranges over and back to various examples of these themes as he recalls them.
The book is honest, open, personal and generously illustrated with many pictures, quite a number that we wouldn’t have seen before, especially images associated with his up-bringing, family and younger days. In terms of chronology and completeness I was a little disappointment that while there was a sizeable concentration on his youth, family life, formation and also on the times of his papacy, yet there was very little mention of the interesting and at times controversial years, as a young Jesuit, later Provincial and his multi-faceted work as a pastor in Argentina.
Nonetheless, this book is a huge help to get into the mind-set of the man who has continued to revolutionise the papacy, the Vatican, the Curia and the Church since 2013. It gives an insightful description into the world he grew up in, the various characters of his family, community, the culture of Italian emigrants to Argentina, the political, social and economic background of the time and we get a picture as to why so many of the issues are to the fore in his papacy.
These issues are well documented with many examples; the plight of the poor, the marginalised, the link between those who suffer from poverty and climate change, the horror of war, untiring promotion and prayer for peace, passion for evangelization, preaching the Good News, elimination of a culture of clericalism, the synodal way of doing business, concern, sadness and shame for the many atrocities committed in the areas of safeguarding of children, understanding and dialogue with the LGBTQ+ community, the emphasis on mercy and forgiveness, countering the pessimism of the traditionalist approach, the necessity of the outreach of the Church, making the most of the benefits but avoiding the downside of technology, his devotion to Our Lady, the Sacred Heart.
The book is interspersed with many interesting personal details,
early relationships, prospects of marriage, health difficulties and challenges, his attraction to the Jesuits emphasis on discernment, discipline, austerity, the depth of his personal faith, formation, vocation, mistakes he has made, humour, hobbies, recreation, intellectual interests, love of classical music.
The account of the 2013 Conclave is particularly interesting, documenting his serenity and calmness in accepting the onerous election and call to be Pontiff, how he felt during that time, the details of the initial ceremonies, rejecting the trappings of long established sartorial tradition, why he chose the name Francis, following an interaction with a colleague who reminded him to remember the central role of the poor. He speaks openly about his relationship with Benedict, why he refuses to use the many titles traditionally given to the Pope, plans for retirement, the simplification of his funeral ritual whenever it arises.
The whole book is couched in an atmosphere of Hope and the centrality of that during this Jubilee Year. Just some of the many highlights among many other interesting themes and reflections in this highly recommended book.
✠ Fintan Monahan is Bishop of Killaloe
Clare Champion Article, Friday, February 7th, 2025