Audiobook read by Stephen Colbert and Father John Quigley
For the first time, Pope Francis tells the story of his life as he looks back on the momentous world events that have changed history—from his earliest years during the outbreak of World War II in 1939 to the turmoil of today.
An extraordinary personal and historical journey, Life is the story of a man and a world in dramatic change. Pope Francis recalls his life through memories and observations of the most significant occurrences of the past eight decades. The book opens with three-year-old Jorge in the kitchen with his mother in Argentina as World War II breaks out, and he goes on to witness several historic events:
Here are the frank assessments and intimate insights of a pastor reflecting on the Nazi extermination of the Jews, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the 2001 terrorist attack on America and the collapse of the Twin Towers, the great economic recession of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, and the subsequent conclave that elected him Pontiff.
The “pope callejero” recounts these world-changing moments with the candor and compassion that distinguishes him, and offers important messages on major crises confronting us now, including social inequalities, climate change, international war, atomic weapons, racial discrimination, and the battles over social and cultural issues.
Translated from the Italian by Aubrey Botsford
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“Stephen Colbert…has a flair for creating warm vignettes from Pope Francis’s happy childhood and journey to his priestly vocation. Father Quigley presents the strong sentiments and words of Pope Francis as he talks about humanity and our responsibility to preserve this planet. Together, author and narrators give listeners an intimate portrait of a holy man who keeps his eyes straight ahead and his ears open to heaven.”
— AudioFile
“Pope Francis’ life story is a moving and urgent call to action…As a leader for environmental, social and economic ideals, Pope Francis is more and more a beacon for meaningful change.”
— Barens&Noble.com“Readers will often find that this work is more of a colorful outline than a complete autobiography…A worthwhile read for Christians that whets the appetite for further details about the pope’s past.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Provides a plainspoken overview of how some of the most significant events of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries shaped his life and morals.”
— Publishers WeeklyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Pope Francis is the 266th pope of the Catholic Church, elected in 2013. Throughout his life, he has been noted for his humility, concern for the poor, and commitment to dialogue as a way to build bridges between people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths. The son of Italian immigrants, he was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936. He was ordained a priest in the Society of Jesus in 1969 and was made a bishop in 1992. He became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was named a cardinal in 2001. He is the author of many books.
Jon Stewart is a comedian, writer, actor, producer, director, bestselling author, and former host of The Daily Show.