Book details

Saint Francis, Pope Francis: A Common Vision

Gina Loehr

9781616367473

1/03/2014

The first major decision of our new Holy Father's pontificate was choosing his papacy's patron. In taking the name of Francis, the pope indicated his desire to imitate the holy man from Assisi. But who was St. Francis, and what does his patronage mean for the newest successor of St. Peter?

St. Francis was uniquely dedicated to being an authentic image of Christ to the world. The choice to follow Francis is ultimately a choice to follow Christ. Our Holy Father’s decision to align himself with St. Francis therefore implies a desire to keep himself and his authority rooted in Christ. In this book, Gina Loehr examines five "loves" that characterized St. Francis’s relationship with Christ:

Love of the Church
Love of the Cross
Love of peace
Love of the poor
Love of humility

Each chapter will begin with a scriptural reflection on one of these five loves in the life of Christ, followed by examples from the life of St. Francis, and finally with an examination of how Pope Francis has demonstrated his commitment to that particular Gospel value. Relevant Church teaching as well as questions for reflection will help readers discern how to incorporate these loves into their own lives.