Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona collaborated with Pope Francis in writing one of his most comprehensive autobiographies, Life: My Story Throughout History (HarperCollins, 2024), which the two men wrote together after a year of in-depth conversations about the memories of the Argentine pontiff, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. In an interview with Le Monde, the Vatican expert shares his perspective on the actions and life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Francis's civil name), whose pontificate can only be understood by shedding light on his past.
What do you take away from the 12 years of Pope Francis?
I find this pontificate revolutionary, centered on what I call a "revolution of tenderness." Bergoglio's Church is not one that judges you from above and tells you if you are right or wrong. He advocated for a Church that is at the level of the faithful, reaching out to geographic and existential peripheries, with doors always open.
I would also highlight his personal closeness with the public and his way of communicating – frank, direct, and accessible to all. Many viewed it only as "marketing," but those who knew him privately can testify that he was indeed like that. All of this with a certain irony: With me, he never ended a meeting or phone call without a joke – he prayed every morning to Saint Thomas More [1478-1535] for the gift of good humor.
Finally, in terms of reforms, Bergoglio achieved what the general congregations of cardinals had requested of the future pope before the 2013 conclave, namely a structural reform of the Roman Curia, a streamlining and reorganization of all its offices, including an economic reform and a simplification of rules and administrative procedures.
On these fronts and others, such as the fight against pedophilia, the path is far from over. But in my opinion, he was a great pope because he managed to change things, at least a little. Even with the awareness of making many enemies, he always kept moving forward, fearlessly.
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