Antonio Gaspari

A Cyclone Named Francis: the Pope Who Came from the Ends of the Earth Antonio Gaspari

A German Pope who discovers that his personal butler betrayed him. High ranking prelates are accused of practicing pedophilia. Vocations in Old Europe are diminishing. There are more churches than priests. Secularization is rising and believers are less tolerated and more discriminated against. In this context, the unthinkable happens. On the morning of February 11th, Benedict XVI announces his renunciation. The Church and the world are shaken. If even the Pope resigns, we must be at the end of the world. The Cardinals arrive in Rome for one of the most complicated Conclaves in history. On March 13th, on the balcony of St. Peter?s Basilica, Jorge Mario Bergoglio appears on the balcony of St. Peter's. An Argentine, son of Italian immigrants, he is the first Pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope to choose the name Francis. He is humble, simple, spiritual. He speaks very little but his words and gestures touch the heart. He lives in a hotel room. He celebrates Mass with Vatican employees, gardeners, and officials. He eats breakfast, lunch and dinner at any table that is available. He wears a simple white habit. He caresses and consoles the disabled and those who suffer. To the world?s powerful leaders he explaines that ?true power is service.? To the Cardinals he specifies that the worst evil that could happen to the Church is spiritual worldliness, self-referentiality and theological narcissism. To the priests he says that a good shepherd wears the ?odor of his sheep.? To the Patriarchs of other Christian faiths, he has presented himself as the ?servant of the servants,? Bishop of Rome with the primacy of charity. People run towards him and come from every part of the world to listen to him and meet him. Like a cyclone he is making a mark in the history of the Church and of the world (...) The rest you will find in this book. Happy reading.