The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope

A biography of Pope Francis that examines how he became a leader who used his position to challenge and reshape the Catholic Church. Based on extensive interviews in Argentina and years of study of the Catholic Church, the book traces Francis's formative years in Buenos Aires, the events during the Perón era that influenced his beliefs, and his conflicts with Argentina's authoritarian and militaristic government in the 1970s. The biography explores how his Jesuit training in Argentina and Chile shaped his advocacy for a "Church of the Poor," and follows his path from cardinal to the papacy. It addresses controversies alongside his rise, providing context on how his ambitious program began and its likely trajectory.