“The Name of God is Mercy”, the first book by the pontiff since he became pope, recounts a conversation between Vatican reporter Andrea Tornielli and Pope Francis on mercy.
Michiko Kakutani is positive in her review for the New York Times, noting that the Pope seems to live in accordance with the principles of mercy, humility, and love expressed in the book. Peter Stanford, former editor of the Catholic Herald, is less laudatory in his review for the Guardian, noting that the Pope’s views on mercy and sin, in the context of Catholic history, excludes some people who have been historically marginalized by the Church and who may have good reason for not accepting the label of sinner, as it’s been used to persecute and harm.
The two don’t necessarily disagree about the content of the work or the Pope’s character; Stanford instead focuses his critique on the practical outcomes that may arise from Catholic doctrine on sexuality contrasted with Pope Francis’s seemingly orthodox and progressive view on sin.
Are you looking forward to reading “The Name of God is Mercy”? It will be available on January 12th, Tuesday and can be preordered on Amazon or at your local book store.