The Pope of Making Things Happen:

When Francis cares about something – as [pseudonymous author Marcantonio] Colonna shows – he makes it happen, whatever the opposition (at the Synods, it was considerable).

There’s a clear pattern of behavior, whatever uncertainties remain. On the divorced and remarried, the environment, immigrants, “Islamophobia,” the poor, the pope is relentless.

But he was not elected to revolutionize marital doctrine or “discipline.” Nor was he chosen to be a player in international politics.

He was elected to be a “reformer” who would mainly clean up Vatican finances and deal with the gay lobby, two things that played a role in Benedict’s resignation.

This is from author-commentator Robert Royal’s assessment of the newly released in English The Dictator Pope, which Royal encapsulates and praises.

via The Catholic Thing

“Largely convincing” pseudonymous treatment of incumbent pontiff. 

The title above is the name of a book that appeared Monday in English (after earlier publication in Italian) by a writer who has assumed a grand Renaissance pseudonym: Marcantonio Colonna (an admiral at Lepanto).

He evidently could not publish under his real name, for fear of reprisals.

But the case he lays out is largely convincing: that Pope Francis has carefully cultivated an image in public as the apostle of mercy, kindness, and openness; in private, he’s authoritarian, given to profanity-laced outbursts of anger, and manipulative in pursuing his agenda.

Lifetime appointment, yes (or was before Benedict chose not to serve, in a move that had then Archbp Bergoglio dancing for joy, as the book relates.

Amazon has Kindle-ized book at $9.50.

via The Catholic Thing