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The initial silence of the new pope struck all who saw him.
During those moments, as Pope Francis stood there smiling, seeming
almost awkward, the world formed its first, and inevitably lasting,
impression of the new bishop of Rome.
It was a good impression. In his silence, Francis seemed to express a
modesty, a humility, that the crowd below appreciated. Still, they
desired to know him better, to understand who he was and
what he intended to do.
But, for a moment, that desire was frustrated by the new pope's
evident desire to remain "hidden" for just a little while longer.
In his silence, in his modesty, in what appeared
to be even a certain clumsiness, he was revealing, it seemed, his
humanity, his sensitivity, and so spontaneous cries sprang up:
"Viva il Papa!" "Long live the pope!"
* * *
So begins Pray for Me, a beautifully written book that chronicles and narrates the events of Pope Francis's tumultuous first days.
In these pages, author Robert Moynihan takes you on a journey alongside our new Holy Father as he visits with the Cardinals who had just elected him, speaks with journalists, meets with world leaders—including Argentina's president Kirchner—and explains his own personal vocation.
Robert Moynihan is the founder and editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, the world's most well-informed comprehensive monthly on the Roman Catholic Church. And now he has written an enlightening introduction to the life and spiritual teachings of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas.
You'll learn amazing—and true—stories that help you to see more clearly the humility, patience, and love of our new spiritual leader.
In Pray for Me, you will also explore Pope Francis's early life in Buenos Aires, and you'll meet the five spiritual guides who influenced his life and shaped his ideas.
This remarkable book will be appreciated by anyone who wants to accompany Pope Francis on his journey of faith in the months and years ahead.
Recent scandals have led many to claim that the Catholic Church is inherently flawed and that to save it, the Pope and bishops must yield its decision-making authority to the laity.
With clarity and verve, Ronald Knox here shows that by the very terms of its commission from Christ, the Catholic Church cannot become a democracy. Unlike Protestant congregations, the Church on earth is not just an assembly of Christians, pledged to keep intact a set of dogmatic truths and moral principles. It is directly God’s handiwork, deliberately designed by Him as a hierarchical institution headed by the Pope.
Knox explains that although the Church is not inerrant in its policies, it is infallible in its doctrines; and it rightly serves as the living interpreter of Scripture and of its own teachings. He shows that despite the faults of its members (and even the faults of many of its leaders), the Church on earth has a higher claim on our loyalty than country, party, or even family.
Indeed, argues Knox, when Catholics obey the Church, they obey the voice of God.
These pages offer a bracing counterpoint to the recent popular rush to democracy in the Church. They are essential reading for all who genuinely desire to understand the Church as Christ established it for us, and who seek to ensure that in our day the Church will remain faithful to the holy mission He entrusted to it.
Order online above, or call
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