May 15, 2014
Many books are designated "definitive" by reviewers or scholars; this labels itself as such in its very title. It is not. The authors, both Argentine journalists, have a solid grasp of the political situation in Argentina during Pope Francis's life there, but they are considerably less adept at explaining the Catholic Church. Several mistakes in the text and in the notes should have been caught prior to publication. In the view of the authors, the Catholic Church had for many years abandoned the essence of Christ's teaching and path, to which, the authors hold, Francis is returning the Church. The book is written in two parts. The first, by Olivera, is the stronger of the two, although some of it borders on hagiography, with "miraculous" occurrences happening before Francis's birth that herald his saintly life. The second part, by Rosales, seems more to emphasize his view of where the Church should be heading. VERDICT While the authors offer an insider's view of the political situation in Argentina, Paul Vallely's Pope Francis: Untying the Knots also considers the Argentine situation but does a better job of presenting the Catholic Church.--Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, NJ
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