Spirit of St Francis

Pope Francis is the first Latin American to be elected to the chair of St Peter. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was ordained as a priest in 1969. He served as head of the Society of Jesus in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. In 1998 he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and in 2001 a cardinal. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, Bergoglio was elected as his successor. He chose the papal name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In his commitment to the poor, to peace, and to creation care Pope Francis is changing the status quo; challenging institutions of wealth and power, while inspiring the vulnerable and faithful around the world. I recommend this book to anyone looking for inspiration, vision, and spiritual guidance. These words of Pope Francis demonstrate why he is becoming such a life-changing, church-changing, and world changing leader—and a delightfully surprising gift from God.