From Ignatius to Francis - by Michael Walsh (Paperback)

About the Book

"Pope Francis is the first member of the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Church's largest religious order of men, to be elected to the papacy in its nearly five-hundred-year existence, even though the Society is known for the special vow of obedience to the papacy taken by its leading members. Yet despite that oath of loyalty, Jesuits and popes have frequently been at loggerheads, eventually leading to one pope imprisoning the Jesuit superior general and entirely abolishing the Society. While recounting the more significant events in the history of the Jesuit order, this book pays particular attention to the controversies that have surrounded it, especially those concerning human freedom"--

Book Synopsis

2023 Catholic Media Association Honorable Mention, History

Pope Francis is the first member of the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Church's largest religious order of men, to be elected to the papacy in its nearly five-hundred-year existence, even though the Society is known for the special vow of obedience to the papacy taken by its leading members. Yet despite that oath of loyalty, Jesuits and popes have frequently been at loggerheads, eventually leading to one pope imprisoning the Jesuit superior general and entirely abolishing the Society. While recounting the more significant events in the history of the Jesuit order, this book pays particular attention to the controversies that have surrounded it, especially those concerning human freedom.

Review Quotes

"Strongly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the Jesuits in history."
Horizons-- (1/1/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"This book is strongly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the Jesuits in history."
Horizons-- (7/1/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Beautifully written, expertly researched and masterfully presented, a lively and accessible history of the Society of Jesus, from St. Ignatius to Pope Francis."
James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything

"This is a welcome summary of the voluminous literature on the Society and suggests that the Jesuit history of ideas offers an avenue for understanding the direction of Catholicism under Pope Francis."
Catholic Books Review

About the Author

Michael Walsh has been associated with the Society of Jesus for over fifty years, for part of that time as a member. He has been a frequent contributor to The Tablet as well as a regular broadcaster for the BBC and other, including North American, television and radio channels. He has written, edited, or translated two dozen books, including histories of the papacy.