The Great Reformer

Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope

By: Austen Ivereigh

Narrated by: Austen Ivereigh

A biography of Pope Francis that will describe how this revolutionary thinker will use the power of his position to challenge and redirect one of the world's most formidable religions

An expansive and deeply contextual work, at its heart The Great Reformer is about the intersection of faith and politics—the tension between the pope's innovative vision for the Church and the obstacles he faces in an institution still strongly defined by its conservative past. Based on extensive interviews in Argentina and years of study of the Catholic Church, Ivereigh tells the story not only of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the remarkable man whose background and total commitment to the discernment of God's will transformed him into Pope Francis—but the story of why the Catholic Church chose him as their leader.

With the Francis Revolution just beginning, this biography will provide never-before-explained context on how one man's ambitious program began—and how it will likely end—through an investigation of Francis's youth growing up in Buenos Aires and the dramatic events during the Perón era that shaped his beliefs; his ongoing conflicts and disillusionment with the ensuing doctrines of an authoritarian and militaristic government in the 1970s; how his Jesuit training in Argentina and Chile gave him a unique understanding and advocacy for a "Church of the Poor"; and his rise from Cardinal to the papacy.

©2014 Austen Ivereigh (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“In Austen Ivereigh's engaging work, we come to more fully learn and appreciate the circumstances and influences that shaped Jorge Bergoglio's journey: first as a young Jesuit leader, then as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and now as shepherd of over one billion Catholics. The many fascinating events and challenges recounted in The Great Reformer demonstrate that the key to understanding Pope Francis and his vision for the Church begins above all by recognizing his unfailing faith in the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.” —Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York and author of Praying in Rome: Reflections on the Conclave and Electing Pope Francis

“‘You have to be normal,' Pope Francis told the Jesuit Antonio Spadaro, setting the tone for their long interview last summer. ‘Life is normal.' This is what's especially remarkable about Austen Ivereigh's biography of Francis: Ivereigh depicts Jorge Mario Bergoglio as an extraordinary figure by showing him in the settings of his ‘normal' life, from the Jesuit Colegio Maximo to the bus shelters of Buenos Aires bus to the Casa Santa Marta in Rome. No recent pope has gotten a biography as sensible, as culturally adept, and as attuned to the ongoing moment as this one.” —Paul Elie, author of The Life You Save May Be Your Own and Reinventing Bach

“Easily the best treatment of Pope Francis' Argentine background in English, written by someone who knows Catholicism inside and out. Masterful, indispensible, and gripping.” —John L. Allen Jr., Associate Editor, Crux and The Boston Globe

Holy s**t! (sorry)

Absolutely surprising yet at the same time he's just Peter I guess. Loved the author's Argentinian accent by the way.

Wonderful intimate view of a complex simple man

Well structured and presented story of the most influential man in the faithful world. I will be recommending this book to others both Catholic and not.

I highly recommend this:) and I'm not catholic!

I have been so interested in Pope Francis since day one! I enjoyed getting to know him better and love the man of God he is committed to being!!

A great key to understanding Pope Francis

The author takes a unique approach in this biography of Pope Francis. Significant events since he has become the Bishop of Rome are analyzed by looking back at his past and leading up the current event.

Because Francis' papacy is quite new the book has a bit of an unfinished feel; that the chapters could be essays themselves and they don't quite fit together in a logical order: sort of what would happen if James Burke's Connections would be if all the different histories didn't fit together to build a single invention. I look forward when to this author's revision to this after the end Francis' papacy.

However, this book is invaluable in understanding how this pontiff will change the Church in becoming more ecumenical, collegial, mission focused, and emphasizing individual spiritual discernment more than ever. Pope Francis is not some South American Pope Paul II or a secret marxist/secularist/liberal/neoliberal/conservative/fascist. He truly is our first Jesuit pope and will hopefully bring all Christians together with the Church a new age of renewal and evangelization.

A must read!

What did you love best about The Great Reformer?

Tells the story of a great man who stands by his principle and has make a difference everywhere he goes

What did you like best about this story?

Tells the story in the historical context of Pope Francis life. This helps the reader have a better understanding of how Jorge Mario now Pope Francis, come to be where he is in the present - A great reformer within the ill Catholic church

What about Austen Ivereigh’s performance did you like?

Clear, soft spoken and convincing narrator

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All the book has been an eye opening experience. I listened to it twice and now I'm reading it!

Any additional comments?

Love it! And it seems to me that after listening to this book (and now reading it) I understand better a great man, and I'm eager to follow more closely his work as Pope Francis and see where he takes the Church.

Stunningly Beautiful!

Listening to this only confirms the impressions made by a two hour meeting with this remarkable truly Christlike man! I will now read the book! A future classic!

excellent and in depth biography

thorough and full of new incite into the Pope! Well worth your time in helping to explain this complex and brilliant man.

Great prospective on the Pope.

This book opens the door to understanding the leadership of the Church and what great visions it takes to reform the divisions in in the church and reunite all of Christianity under the one Church established by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

This book will challenge everyone!

This helped me see Pope Francis and all the events of his life that formed him. It is about a man who rises early to pray for hours so as to be open to the Holy Spirit. His true love of the poor and The throwaways is challenging to anyone who listens to this book.His vision is to first be a friend then as friends share our differences.He is not a liberal ,he is not a conservative , he is not any political group. He just lives every moment making a great effort to be in God's will. He will stretch all to be open to the Surprise able . We can be sure he is going to challenge every one of us to expand our hearts and attempt to hear what is God saying in this moment. I highly recommend this book.

Best biography yet

I enjoyed this tremendously. I have a much better appreciation of Pope Francis. It's all God's grace and he came along at exactly the right time. May God give him good health and energy to get the job of reforming the Church done.