What Pope Francis Really Said: Words of Comfort and Challenge

by Tom Hoopes

Overview

His likeable, spontaneous, unguarded manner has drawn both estranged Catholics and even non-Catholics to take a closer look at the Catholic Church. He has also puzzled and even outraged the faithful who listened uncritically to the media's interpretation of Pope Francis's off-the-cuff commentary on hot-button issues such as abortion, marriage, divorce, the environment, immigration, and a host of other issues. Meanwhile, younger Catholics aren't analyzing him. They are simply gazing with him at Jesus Christ. In What Pope Francis Really Said, nationally respected Catholic journalist Tom Hoopes explores how Pope Francis is bringing the Catholic Church to bear on a dramatically changing world, not by altering its teachings but by applying enduring truths to new realities in fresh ways. This book takes up the primary themes of the first three years of the pontificate and challenges American Catholics to see the pope and his teachings as a pathway to personal renewal.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635823073
Publisher:	Servant
Publication date:	02/01/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	597 KB

About the Author

Tom Hoopes is Writer in Residence and Vice President of College Relations at Benedictine College, where he teaches in the Journalism and Mass Communication Department. He writes weekly for the National Catholic Register and Aleteia, reaching a national and international audience. His work has also appeared in Catholic Digest, Columbia magazine, Crisis magazine and First Things online.

Table of Contents

Introduction Pope Francis: Up Close and Far Away ix

Chapter 1 The Francis Option 1

Chapter 2 The Golden Calf 11

Chapter 3 Who Am I to Judge? 24

Chapter 4 The Peacemaker 37

Chapter 5 Welcoming the Unborn 49

Chapter 6 Marriage, 2014-2015: Are Times a Changing 60

Chapter 7 The Unity of the Church of Martyrs and Refugees 79

Chapter 8 Big Green Problems 96

Chapter 9 Land of the Free 110

Chapter 10 Encounters with Francis 123

Acknowledgments 133

Notes 135

Editorial Reviews

It seems everyone has an opinion of Pope Francis — and then there are the facts. Tom Hoopes tracks down the facts, puts the pope’s words in context, and offers a fair and objective assessment that, like the pope himself, is full of surprises.” — Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC,author, 33 Days to Morning Glory; 33 Days to Merciful Love

“Pope Francis, like his namesake saint, is both loved and feared, despised and revered. Most of all, he is misunderstood and misinterpreted by conservatives and liberals alike. Tom Hoopes helps us see the Argentinian pope as he really is, and as we get to know him better we...see how Christ is working through one of his most powerful voices on earth.”    —Fr. Dwight Longenecker, author, Catholicism: Pure and Simple and The Romance of Religion
 
“If you have ever been confused by press reports of what Pope Francis said about a particular issue, then you need to read What Pope Francis Really Said. Tom Hoopes identifies some of the most controversial statements attributed to Pope Francis and concisely provides the context needed to understand the true meaning of the Holy Father’s remarks. 
“Part of the charm of Pope Francis is his openness to the media and his unguarded manner of expression. However, this style has sometimes left some committed Catholics scratching their heads. Tom Hoopes clears up much of the confusion caused by those seeking to twist the Holy Father’s words for their own agenda. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the teaching of Pope Francis.”  —The Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas
 
“Covering the inspired and at times confusing pronouncements of Pope Francis is not for the faint of heart. Tom Hoopes has boldly leapt into the fray placing the pope’s comments in context and attempting to discern the spiritual vision at play. This balanced, handy glimpse into the mind of Pope Francis is so needed.” —Raymond Arroyo, author and host of EWTN's The World Over
 
“Pope Francis likes to talk and teach, and he especially seems to like departing from the script when he feels led to, and when he does, a free-for-all ensues. Boisterous voices from all sides cherry-pick a phrase here, a word there to give you their spin, until we all end up dizzy. Because this is true, What Pope Francis Really Said: Words of Comfort and Challenge is a timely gift. Working toward no agenda other than clarity, Hoopes takes a look at Pope Francis’s biggest passions and most-quoted statements, and provides necessary context and light.”  —Elizabeth Scalia, author, Little Sins Mean a Lot
 
“Hoopes has gone behind the headlines and the spin to uncover the wisdom and spiritual power of the real Pope Francis. This is the best one-volume explainer of the pope’s sometimes disconcerting and surprising words, placing them in the contexts they so often lack in media reports. If you’ve ever wondered what Pope Francis really said, here is your go-to, one-stop source.” —Austen Ivereigh, author, The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope

From the Publisher