CBB Review: Pope Francis Takes the Bus

One thing can definitively be said about Pope Francis….he is the Pope of the unexpected. From the moment he became Pope he has repeatedly done things differently than his predecessors. From the night he was elected and returned to the hotel in his papal garments, on a bus, with the cardinals who had just elected him. That same day he went to the front desk of the hotel and tried to pay for his room. He decided to live among the workers in the Vatican instead of the apartments reserved for the pope. The list goes on and on, however these events occurred long before he became pope. In Pope Francis Takes the Bus, and Other Unexpected Stories we get a glimpse into the man we now call Papa.

Author Rosario Carello has compiled a volume of 80 short stories that will give readers a better understanding of how Pope Francis views his role as a priest, bishop, cardinal and now Pope. It shows a side of the pope we may not have known existed and shows that the way he approaches various situations is not new for him…..only  us.

The books eighty shorts chapters are only a few pages in length. They follow a unique A – Z format focusing on different topics relative to the faith. For example :

A is for Attentiveness

B is for Books

F is for Fasting

J is for Jesuit

M is for Mistake

S is for Sickness

V is for Vocation

Y is for Young People

The wide array of topics covered in the book allow us to see a Pope we have only seen filtered through the media’s perception. What you quickly discover is a book that highlights events in Jorge Bergoglio’s life. These events ultimately formed him as a priest, Bishop and Cardinal. Events that led to his eventual election as Pope.

If you are not the type to read a full-blown biography than this is an ideal book for you. The stories are personable and enjoyable. Easily consumed this books opens a window into the life of Pope Francis. A delight to read and one I would recommend that anyone take up to escape the media portrait of Pope Francis that is incorrectly painted at times.  ____________________________________________________________________________________