Ebook: A big heart open to God: a conversation with Pope Francis

An interview with Pope Francis reveals his thoughts on personal and controversial topics, including his vision of the church, stance on gays and lesbians, and his own humanity. The world was shocked when Jesuit magazines across the globe simultaneously released an exclusive interview with Pope Francis, just six months into his historic papacy. Within minutes of its release, the interview dominated the worldwide media. In a wide-ranging conversation, Pope Francis spoke movingly about his spiritual life, his hopes for church reform, his open-minded stance toward gays and lesbians, his views on women, and even his favorite movies. This book includes an introduction by the editor in chief of America magazine, Matt Malone, SJ, describing the genesis of the interview, a series of responses by a diverse range of Catholic voices, and a spiritual refection on the interview by James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. In his refection, Father Martin helps readers use the Pope's powerful comments as a foundation for personal prayer. In this historic interview, Pope Francis's vision for the church and humanity itself is delivered through a warm and intimate conversation, and he shows us all how to have a big heart open to God.;The Exclusive Interview with Pope Francis. Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio? ; Why did you become a Jesuit? ; What does it mean for a Jesuit to be BIshop of Rome? ; The Society of Jesus ; The model: Peter Faber, "reformed priest" ; Experience in Church government ; Thinking with the Church ; Young churches and ancient churches ; The Church as field hospital ; A religious order Pope ; The Roman Curia, collegiality, ecumenism ; Women in the life of the Church ; The second Vatican Council ; To seek and find God in all things ; Certitude and mistakes ; Must we be optimistic? ; Art and creativity ; Frontiers and laboratories ; Human self-understanding ; Prayer. -- Responses. A new way of being Church / by Timothy Radcliffe, OP ; A Pope engaged with the world / by Karen Sue Smith ; Francis the witness / by Bishop Blase J. Cupich ; Alleluia! / by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan ; The call of the Spirit / by James Harvey, SJ ; The work of a Christian lifetime / by Richard Rohr, OFM ; An ongoing conversation / by Rev. Robert P. Imbelli ; One human family / by Meghan J. Clark ; Mercy-ing / by Kerry Weber ; The accessible Pope / by Margot Patterson ; The Pope's interview and the Bible / by John W. Martens ; The people of God, at long last / by Drew Christiansen, SJ. -- Praying With a Big Heart. Spiritual reflections on the Papal interview / by James Martin, SJ.