Untying the knots in the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio

The current issue of The Tablet carries extracts from a new book by Paul Vallely on Pope Francis. The article is titled "He's a person who's caused a lot of problems'. It is written by the author of the book, Paul Vallely.

The future Pope Francis was perceived by some Jesuits as divisive when he was their provincial in Argentina. The book argues how Jorge Mario Bergoglio alienated many of his confreres with his conservatism and hostility to liberation theology.

Vallely quotes a serving Jesuit provincial: "He is well-trained and very capable, but is surrounded by this personality cult which is extremely divisive. He has an aura of spirituality which he uses to obtain power. It will be a catastrophe for the church to have someone like him in the Apostolic See."

The article concludes explaining how Bergoglio was moved to Cordoba.

"But there a remarkable transformation occurred, which was the beginning of the long transition from conservative authoritarian to humble pope of the poor."

Elsewhere it is alleged that within hours of Bergoglio's election as pope an instruction went out from Jesuit curia in Rome ordering Jesuits around the world to be prudent in their recollections and keep to themselves any unhappy memories they had of the new pope.

Next week in The Tablet: what changed Bergoglio.

'Pope Francis: untying the knots' by Paul Vallely, published by Bloomsbury, £12.99.