FREE POPE FRANCIS: UNTYING THE KNOTS PDF Paul Vallely | 240 pages | 24 Sep 2013 | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC | 9781472903709 | English | London, United Kingdom Pope Francis: Untying the Knots by Paul Vallely – review | Biography books | The Guardian Not much in the extraordinary history of the Church has been weirder than the election of Pope Francis six months ago. For a start, it followed in the wake of Pope Benedict's all-but-unheard-of abdication. Then we were greeted with the spectacle of an Argentinian who not only liked jumping on buses and paying hotel bills in person Pope Francis: Untying the Knots someone who was also an improvised baby-kissing up-close-and- personal type who had taken the unprecedented step of adopting the name of arguably the greatest saint in the history of Christendom, the guy who talked to the birds and embraced Lady Pope Francis: Untying the Knots. He was also the first pope from the Americas. No sooner was Francis elected than there were accusations he had been tainted by the regime. It does seem true, in fact, going on Paul Vallely's admirably organised quickie of a biography, that as head of the Argentinian Jesuits, Francis had censured two Jesuits, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics, and told them they had to stop their liberation theology style work in the slums of Buenos Aires. They defied him and they were subsequently in arbitrarily arrested by military Pope Francis: Untying the Knots and tortured. Francis did not, of course, instigate this but his authoritarian opposition to these priests of the left would not have helped and may have influenced the thugs. It is also true, however that Francis - who had been close to the Iron Band faction of Peronism - and who as a high-flying Jesuit was not sympathetic to the preferred option for the poor, has changed his tune entirely. He became a prelate for Pope Francis: Untying the Knots poor. He went into the slums he forbade his priests to work in. He has kissed the feet of people in jail with AIDS, he has divested himself of every trapping of pomp and glory. At the beginning of Pope Francis: Untying the Knots we hear the title comes from Our Lady of Augsburg, the figure of the Virgin Mary who could solve the insoluble and who has become the favourite icon of Francis. It seems clear already he is one of the more radical and populist figures ever to occupy the chair of St Peter. He doesn't, to begin with, give much Pope Francis: Untying the Knots a damn about sexual irregularities; he's orthodox theologically but says things like who's he to judge the gays? And he seems to have internalised as his deepest intimation of the face of Christ the holiness of poverty. There was a reunion, late in the piece, between Francis and one of the men who may have been imprisoned and tortured because of him. The two priests embraced, they seem to have broken down and wept. Still, he seems to represent the point where the ghost of the spirit of poverty the liberation dream goes mainstream. It could be no small Pope Francis: Untying the Knots for a pope to have suffered his own Gethsemane and recognition in the slime and quicksand of third world iniquity. He is said to be a brilliant administrator so he is liable to clean up the Vatican male prostitution and the - rather more disturbing - nepotism that sent poor Benedict reeling. This is as good a preview as we're likely to get because of its compassionate and sensitive attention to the shades and spectres of the past. Pope Francis: Untying the Knots. The Sydney Morning Herald. License this article. Pope Francis: Untying the Knots by Paul Vallely Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Pope Francis by Paul Vallely. He declared it should be 'a poor Church, for the poo From his first appearance on a Vatican balcony Pope Francis proved himself a Pope Francis: Untying the Knots of Surprises. He declared it should be 'a poor Church, for the poor'. But there is a hidden past to this modest man with the winning smile. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was previously a bitterly divisive figure. Yet something dramatic then happened to Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He underwent an extraordinary transformation. His book charts a remarkable journey. In this perceptive portrait Paul Vallely offers both new evidence and penetrating insights into the kind of pope Pope Francis: Untying the Knots could become. Get A Copy. Paperbackpages. Published September 24th by Bloomsbury first published January 1st More Details Other Editions 9. Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Pope Francisplease sign up. What is the difference between the first and second edition? See 1 question about Pope Francis…. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. Pope Francis: Untying the Knots filters. Sort order. Start your review of Pope Francis: Untying the Knots. Nov 25, Tom rated it it was amazing. Since the 's I have grown increasingly upset with the Catholic Church's distancing itself from Christ's teachings and the reforms of Vatican II This book gives a good account of Pope Francis' life and his plans for a return to reform and change. Elected Pope in he has already eliminated most, if not all, of the corruption with the Vatican Bank and has drastically reined in the controlling and corrupt practices of the Roman Curia and many Italian bishops. He would encourage t Since the 's I have grown increasingly upset with the Catholic Church's distancing itself from Christ's teachings and the reforms of Vatican II He would encourage the clergy to move from ambition and isolation to a more simple lifestyle that includes joining people in their communities. With respect to the laity he has begun to institute an "all are welcome response" that calls for ordinary people's participation. Francis would adopt a structure and authority that would be less vertical and more horizontal. He encourages discussion on issues related to women's roles in the Church, the divorced receiving Communion, remarriage, openness to homosexuals, inclusion of non believers, Jews, Moslems, Hindi, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Buddhist et. As with Vatican II, Francis would support a return to discussions on right to life to include war, reform of economic systems that create inequality of income and living standards, capital punishment, euthanasia and abortion. Francis seems to be a very intelligent, humble and loving individual who, by his own admission, recognizes that he's also made many mistakes. He asks for prayers and forgiveness. His executive skills, leadership, openness, shared decision making and humility are a rare combination. I was inspired by the book. I was inspired by Francis and I like his understanding of Christ's message. Jul 09, Dianne Landry rated it really liked it. I have often said that if popes had been like this when I was younger I would still be Catholic. I found this a very interesting look at the life of Pope Francis and the influences that made him the ma he is. I did not know that he came second to Pope Benedict in the last conclave and might have won had it not been for dirty tricks pulled by the Jesuits Pope Francis: Untying the Knots own order but then again they have always had the reputation of being the s. Learning about the things he did for the p I have often said that if popes had been like this when I was younger I would still be Catholic. Learning about the things he did for the poor and weak in Argentina was really interesting. I hope that the College of Cardinals is learning and the from now on popes will all be in his image and not that of previous popes. Pope Francis: Untying the Knots 2 comments. Feb 07, Edwin Cacayorin rated it it was amazing. It needs to surge forth to the peripheries, not just geographically but to the existential peripheries where the people grappled with sin, pain, injustice, ignorance and indifference to religion. After reading the book, I now see the Pope to be more human, more fragile, but more endearing I now hope for change. View 1 comment. Sep 13, Tim Byron rated it really liked it Shelves: jesuitreligious. There was none of the respectful mourning that accompanies Pope Francis: Untying the Knots death of a preceding pope to temper the frenzied speculation when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped out onto the balcony. The only biographical account of Bergoglio published before the election, in any language, was El Jesuita by Sergio Rubin. Given the pressures of time, it is only to be expected that this would be a small pool, perhaps lacking the more prudent or cautious voices. However, working under considerable constraints, Vallely has done an impressive job. It expresses succinctly but also with a certain profundity the challenge at hand. It refers to an image of Our Lady that Jorge Bergoglio SJ brought back to Argentina from Germany, where he had been sent for further studies after his controversial stint as Provincial of the Argentinian Jesuits.