The Reading Warehouse

In the year since he was elected, Pope Francis' simple message of mercy, service, and renewal has spread to every corner of the world. Through his gentle demeanor, selfless actions, and welcoming call for service to others, he has captured the attention of a world longing for an authentic message of hope-we want to hear what he has to say.

Collected from Pope Francis' speeches, homilies, and papers presented during the first year of his papacy, The Church of Mercy is the first Vatican-authorized book detailing his vision for the Catholic Church. From how to be citizens of the world to answering God's call for evangelization, Pope Francis' deep wisdom reminds us that the Church must move beyond its own walls and joyfully take God's mercy wherever suffering, division, or injustice exists.

Named Time magazine's 2013 Person of the Year, Pope Francis is helping the Church continue toward an authentic Christianity that is faithful to the Gospel and resonant with the world's greatest needs. The Church of Mercy encourages each of us to ignite the flame within to help share the light of Christ and revitalize the Church.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, is the 266th and current pope of the Catholic Church, having been elected bishop of Rome and absolute sovereign of Vatican City. Born in Buenos Aires as the son of Italian parents, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained a priest in 1969. From 1973 to 1979 he was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, on March 13, 2013, the papal conclave elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the papal name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, the first from the southern hemisphere, and the first non-European pope since Pope Gregory III, 1,272 years earlier. Throughout his life, both as an individual and as a religious leader, Pope Francis has been noted for his humility, his concern for the poor, and his commitment to dialogue as a way to build bridges between people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths. Pope Francis has published a compilation of his teachings in two volumes, entitled The Simple Wisdom of Pope Francis: Hold On to Hope, Volume 1, and The Simple Wisdom of Pope Francis: The Joy of Evangelization. He also published his first encyclical entitled The Light of Faith: Lumen Fidei, which is available in English and Spanish. Pope Francis has captured the attention of the world with his simple ways, humbleness, and love for the poor and sick.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, is the 266th and current pope of the Catholic Church, having been elected bishop of Rome and absolute sovereign of Vatican City. Born in Buenos Aires as the son of Italian parents, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained a priest in 1969. From 1973 to 1979 he was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, on March 13, 2013, the papal conclave elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the papal name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, the first from the southern hemisphere, and the first non-European pope since Pope Gregory III, 1,272 years earlier. Throughout his life, both as an individual and as a religious leader, Pope Francis has been noted for his humility, his concern for the poor, and his commitment to dialogue as a way to build bridges between people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths. Pope Francis has published a compilation of his teachings in two volumes, entitled The Simple Wisdom of Pope Francis: Hold On to Hope, Volume 1, and The Simple Wisdom of Pope Francis: The Joy of Evangelization. He also published his first encyclical entitled The Light of Faith: Lumen Fidei, which is available in English and Spanish. Pope Francis has captured the attention of the world with his simple ways, humbleness, and love for the poor and sick.

Paul Michael, winner of several Earphones Awards, has also won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has acted on stage, radio, television, and in feature films in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. He has had leading roles in series and made-for-television movies and has guest starred in such series as VIP and Alias. He has been nominated for a Canadian Emmy and has recorded over 150 audiobooks, including the international bestseller The Da Vinci Code.