First published 2024
Pope Francis opens his memoir in 1939 as World War II erupts around his childhood in Argentina. He traces his journey through decades of witness to humanity's greatest trials and triumphs. The future pontiff observes the Holocaust's horror, celebrates the moon landing, watches the Berlin Wall crumble, and experiences Videla's military coup in his homeland. He recalls Maradona's controversial World Cup goal and mourns the Twin Towers collapse. The narrative follows his path from young priest to "pope callejero" as he grapples with the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID pandemic, and Pope Benedict's unexpected resignation. Francis examines each era with pastoral insight, connecting personal memory to historical moment. His reflections reveal how global events shaped his understanding of social justice, environmental stewardship, and human dignity. The memoir closes with his urgent concerns about inequality, climate change, warfare, and cultural divisions that define our current age.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-events, personal-journey
Setting: Argentina, Berlin, Twin Towers
Period: 1939, 2008, COVID Pandemic
234 pages · Hardcover · HarperOne