Pope Francis: Untying the Knots

I found this biography both enjoyable and informative. The book title is taken from an eighteenth-century oil painting by Johann George Schmidtner: Mary Untier of Knots. Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) from Argentina came upon the original when he visited a church in Augsburg, Germany in 1986. It spoke so forcefully to him that he hung a copy of the painting in the suburban church of San José del Telar in Buenos Aires. “Untying the knots” of his life is the theme that biographer Paul Vallely, a journalist and activist on international development, has chosen as the backbone for his understanding of the interior life of Pope Francis. Indeed, Vallely successfully portrays Pope Francis to be a tough and complex person who has lived a turbulent life formed amidst the dictatorship of 1976-83 in Argentina. An understanding of the moral challenges that Father Bergoglio faced is essential to understanding the man. Vallely clearly describes the forces that polarized Argentine society during the Dirty War of the military’s anti-communist agenda: the Left that was secularist, anti-clerical, and anti-Church versus the Right that espoused Catholicism. To complicate matters Liberation Theology was emerging and the Vatican was imposing a crackdown upon empowerment of the poor. Father Bergoglio lived in the midst of all these forces. In addition to describing the forces that formed Father Bergoglio and how he responded to them, Vallely addresses the changes that occurred in Father Bergoglio after the dictatorship, which transformed the man from an unyielding, domineering leader during the dictatorship into a strong but tender Pope who demonstrates a good sense of the realities of power and the courage to act on that sense. As an added delight, Vallely supplies a timeline of Pope Francis’ life that gives a clear snapshot of the important events that formed and transformed him. I highly recommend this book, not only to Roman Catholics, but also to all who are interested in the biographies of the leaders in our contemporary world.

of the life and growth-through-stress and new insight into the person he shows to us now. As I read of his early years of administrative duties in the terribly complex social/political situation in his country, I was surprised that the author did not suggest that the authoritarianism, which the Pope readily admits to now, was due to lack of mentoring and support for him as a young and new administrator in a local religious (Jesuit)community that was interacting with a national situation which would befuddle a most experienced leader. When you are trying to manage in a highly chaotic situation, options often seem to narrow. To react quickly enough, a person can choose something that seems to work, insist on it and move on to the next problem, just to keep up with the demand. His personal and spiritual growth in his time as bishop and then Archbishop iw wonderful to see, discerning a path that would best serve the variety of people in his flock, with special concern for the poor whose presence and needs became so very evident to him. He is much like the founder of his order, Ignatius of Loyola, who went through a conversion experience from a very different kind of earlier life (as a courtier in a royal household) to a life of prayer and service, again, with special attention to the poor, whether spiritually or economically. The research in the book is highly interesting. The story moves along well. The book needs an editor because the same passages and word-for-word descriptions occur several times. Maybe it was gotten out in too much of a hurry. But it is still most worthwhile reading and a joy to see such a good, humble and concerned man expand his role in our society today where there is so much suffering, but still so much hope. As I read the news, his work and story are truly good news when that is rare enough to find.

Paul Vallely manages to hold your attention as he traces the unusual career of our recently elected Pope. This is certainly a sympathetic biography while it explains some of the contradictions evident in the off the cuff comments of Pope Francis. Vallely clearly did extensive research with an understanding of both church doctrine and the players in Rome and elsewhere. Along with both a good ear for gleaning information from extensive interviews and an engaging and clear writing style the book prepares the reader to follow the Pope's exploits with deeper understanding.

I found this book extremely helpful in getting to know our new Pope Francis. Paul Valley is honest, fair, and objective in his assessment of Francis. He helps me to understand that people, even bishops can change and reminds me that we should never give up on anyone, even a provincial or a bishop. Francis brings new life and much hope to our Catholic Church. May God give him good health and many years so he can be the instrument of change that the Church and the world so desperately need.

Using the metaphor of the "Madonna of the Knots", the author vividly describes the complexities of experiences that contributed to the thinking, actions, and philosophy of Jorge Bergoglio before he was elected as leader of the global Catholic Church. Now known as Pope Francis, he has earned recognition for his humility, joy, and concern for the whole human family on this endangered planet. I recommend this book for providing relevant family, education, and leadership challenges, interesting development context for the post-election actions (2013+) of his reign. I'm glad that I read this before the more recent publication of "The Great Reformer" which is the only English language bio of Pope Francis (that I could find) that describes his emphasis on redirecting the institutional Church during his first 15 months of his tenure..

Vallely writes an even narrative. He is a compelling storyteller creating a clear picture of the sequence of historical events followed by either contrasting evidence or probing questions. The reader is pulled into the narrative to "sit with" the varied perspectives or choose to make a judgment. UNTYING THE KNOTS tells the story a young Jesuit marked early in life for leadership before he understood the complexity of his own humanity and that of others. May lead the reader to some soul searching.

I found it to be well written, the facts clearly presented a true picture of pope Francis before and after his transformation he realized that his Jesuits were really living the Gospel message. That the dignity of all persons must be recognized. it was through his personal reflections, prayer on the Gospel and seeing his fellow Jesuits working for Justice that helped to bring him to the place where he is today.

This book has some weaknesses - it seems to have been hastily written and sloppily edited - but it is the best biography of this great new pope that I've read, and I've read all that I can find in English. The best part of this biography is the author's willingness to show the Holy Father's past "sins" as well as his many strong virtues. This Pope has touched me deeply, and I revere him, as does the author. But he is for all the virtues and great personality a human being, one still, as Mr. Valley writes, "a work in progress." Good book!

The positive and negative of Liberation Theology in his view is revealed and his deep change of heart. Also the process and practice of Liberation Theology is present in real terms - not text book jargon.

This is a book that unravels the complexity of Pope Francis. It is almost like reading two books about the one man: Jorge Bergoglio pre vatican and Jorge Bergoglio post vatican. Both are one and the same but very different. Yet with a thread that runs through his nature that is true and steadfast. For those who wish to understand what lies behind the radical changes taking place in the Vatican under Pope Francis’ reign, and why, then this book may assist in that quest. Definitely a book worth reading.

As an Anglican agnostic, who has spent a lifetime "wrestling with God" and trying to navigate a path between Christianity and Churchianity, it is a joy to find that Pope Francis has taken as a mantra, "A poor church for poor people." Clearly a man who not only understands human nature, but loves all, with an all-embracing love. The early personal and historical context are fascinating and illuminating. His plans for his papacy, singularly refreshing. The book is meticulously researched, and its style non-partisan, and readily accessible to a wide audience.

Excellent-- surtout sur la période de la dictature en Argentine. Antidote à tout la tra-la-la médiatique. Intéressant pour non-Catholiques. Very well written. To bear in mind going forward.

The book, a biography of Pope Francis, brings out succinctly the tremendous personality of Cardinal Bergoglio. Among other things, it is a fairly objective analysis of the cardinal's involvement in the so called dirty war in Argentina. Vallely's account of the Pope assures us the world that Francis is the best person to lead the church in this difficult time. His simplicity, honesty coupled with strong faith is indeed a model for all of us. Vallely has succeeded in clarifying some doubts which the media had unleashed on the Pope Thanks to Paul Vallely for this most delightful account of this great man of God. I have no hesitation in recommending this title to anyone. Sunil Mani Trivandrum, Kerala, India