Despite being from one of the most famous Catholic families in the United States and immersed in the Church all his life, Mark Shriver experienced reservations about an institution that has struggled with scandal and controversy. But the election of Jorge Bergoglio as pope in March 2013 seized Shriver's attention and fascination. When the opportunity arose for him to write about this unusual man causing so much fuss in the Vatican, he knew he would do it. He just didn't have any idea what an effect it would have on him.
Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network and a former Maryland politician, blends historical research with interviews with family, friends and colleagues of the pontiff. From Bergoglio's childhood schools to the confessional in the modest basilica where he made his decision to enter the priesthood to the dangerous barrios where he worked, Shriver takes his readers on a tour of Bergoglio's world. He carefully reveals the unusual character of the Catholic Church's leader: his understanding and love of science, his embrace of other religions, his famous phrase, "Who am I to judge?"--even his disdain for the flashy ornamentation of his position. Shriver's own experiences with the Church in the much wealthier United States allow him to interject his personal reactions, as well as questions and realizations about himself. The juxtaposition of Shriver's revelations about Bergoglio beside his own self-discoveries make Pilgrimage more than a simple biography of Pope Francis, it's a mission of faith that transcends denomination and even religion. --Jen Forbus, freelancer