Post-Easter, Can Pope Francis Resurrect the Catholic Church?

ST. LOUIS, March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As Pope Francis transitions from style to substance, many question what plans and changes for the Church he might be contemplating.  To understand his next moves, one only needs to look into the attributes and values he has exhibited before and after his election, according to John L. Allen, Jr., senior Vatican analyst for CNN and senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. Allen has authored an insightful introduction to the values, vision, and messages of Pope Francis in 10 Things Pope Francis Wants You to Know (Liguori, April 10, 2013).

Writing from Rome as he covered the election and first days of the new papacy, Allen observed Pope Francis firsthand and heard Catholics gathered there talk about change within the Church. Yet what will that change look like? Allen's new work gives readers insight into what is coming.

"When they think about 'the Church,' Catholics typically see two faces," writes Allen in 10 Things Pope Francis Wants You to Know. "There's the face of the institution...Then there's the Church of the spirit, a humble and simple community of equals..."  Allen argues that Pope Francis has essentially said that "what Francis of Assisi represents is no longer the property of a particular religious congregation or a particular spiritual school in Catholicism. Instead, it's the exemplar for Christian life at all levels, including the very top of the hierarchy."

After outlining biographical details preceding the pope's election, Allen describes ten significant and consistent themes that have marked Pope Francis' actions and communications before and after his election, including humility, never giving up on God's mercy, the importance of seeking unity, and more. As much as Pope Francis has captured the world's heart with his own humanity, he will capture minds with his plans for a Church that acts in accordance with the values outlined in this new title, available from bookstores, Liguori.org, and Amazon, in English and Spanish (Diez cosas que el Papa Francisco quiere que sepas), as both print and eBooks. Sample pages are available at Liguori.org.

John L. Allen, Jr., is the senior Vatican analyst for CNN and the senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. He has reported on the Vatican since the papacy of John Paul II and his work has appeared in a variety of media. He is the author of "All Things Catholic," a weekly Internet column, as well as 10 Things Pope Francis Wants You to Know and 10 Things Pope Benedict Wants You to Know (Liguori, 2007).

Liguori Publications is a collaborative ministry of Redemptorist priests and brothers and lay staff whose mission is to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world through its publications. Liguorian magazine, which is 100 years old in 2013, is one of the nation's leading Catholic periodicals.  Liguori also produces print and digital trade books, youth and catechetical materials for parishes and religious education programs, parish bulletins, and devotional and educational pamphlets. Learn more at Liguori.org or by calling 800-325-9521. 

SOURCE Liguori Publications