"... A sound book which helps to put Francis' present papal practice in clear preceding context..." -David Carter, Churches Together in England, Summer 2014 "Aguilar does a great service in articulating the hermeneutic of continuity between his [Pope Francis] pastoral ministry at home and his papal mission." -Kevin O'Gorman, The Furrow, vol.LXVI no.3, March 2015 "Aguilar shows us ... Read morenot an extraordinary and audacious pope, but a singular priest who encountered many obstacles in his long career until he achieved the rank of cardinal during the last years of John Paul II's pontificate ... Aguilar accurately details this ambiguous picture." -Miranda Lida, Catholic Historical Review, vol 101 issue 2, 2015 "Aguilar has labored successfully to offer readers a resource through which to gain deeper insights into the unique style of Francis's pontificate. ...A's work was built on primary and secondary Spanish sources. More importantly, these sources were studied and analyzed by a theologian who shares the pope's Latin American background and whose academic career and profession are devoted to the history of the very faith community that challenged and moulded Bergoglio's theological thought. The author's unique perspective makes this work a rich and exciting read. ...A's exceptional care in studying Bergoglio's writings and homilies is impressive and commendable." -Hung T. Pham, S.J., Theological Studies, Vol. 76 (4), 2015 "This volume reveals Pope Francis as an exceptionally humble and altruistic man, doctrinally conservative, and engaged less in politics than in the struggle to bring the Church to the margins of society. It will be of great interest to any reader who wishes to know more about this inspiring individual." -Theological Book Review, Vol. 26 No. 2, 2015 'In this well-written, well-documented, and quite revealing book, biographer Mario Aguilar provides an analysis of Jorge Bergoglio.... before becoming pope in 2013.... The author masterfully weaves together [his childhood and professional] influences so that the reader comes to understand Pope Francis in light of this theological and historical framework.... Pope Francis: His Life and Thought is highly recommended.' -Clifford Chalmers Cain, Reviews in Religion and Theology, Volume 25, Issue 1, January 2018 Show Less