HUNTINGTON, Indiana, March 22, 2013 – Our Sunday Visitor Publishing confirmed a new release date of April 10 and an updated cover for the much-anticipated first English-language biography of the new pontiff, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires — now Pope Francis.

Written by the renowned author of the first English-language biography of Benedict XVI, Dr. Matthew Bunson – senior correspondent for Our Sunday Visitor, acclaimed church historian, and author of over 45 books – Pope Francis
(Our Sunday Visitor, 2013, $16.95, 224 pages) is based on years of Bunson’s research and observation of Cardinal Bergoglio among the College of Cardinals, as well as of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

The 224-page book is split into three parts to get a sense of what led to the selection of Pope Francis, and what it means regarding where Pope Francis goes from there. First, Bunson puts forth a comprehensive analysis of the unprecedented final days of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. Next the book features an enlightening perspective on the interregnum and the biggest issues facing the Cardinals as they headed into the conclave. Finally, more than 150 pages are devoted to Pope Francis himself including:

• His family history as son of an immigrant railway worker;
• His active, social youth where he experienced firsthand the challenges of a society ravaged by war, economic despair and cultural unrest;
• A Jesuit priest, trained as a chemist, who even as a cardinal was referred to as Father Jorge;
• His work as a priest, bishop and Cardinal in the very unique setting of Buenos Aires where he navigated politics, extreme poverty and high culture;
• His reputation as a man of the people who lived simply, cooked his own meals, and rode the bus.

With its research conducted in five different languages into the lives and ministries of the world’s leading Cardinals, their backgrounds, writings and homilies, Pope Francis not only shows why Cardinal Bergoglio was ultimately elected as the Church’s 266th pope, but what lies ahead for this servant of the Church.

As the world’s largest English language Catholic publisher, working closely with the Vatican as its North American distributor of the official Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, as well as over a dozen books from Pope Benedict XVI, Our Sunday Visitor is uniquely suited to publish the premier papal biography by supporting Bunson’s efforts with additional resources, key contacts, and vast institutional knowledge. For Our Sunday Visitor, Pope Francis is seen as a service to Catholics and non-Catholics across the globe for getting to know their new leader and inspiring everyone to follow his lead in bringing the light of hope to all.

Bunson is also a professor of Church History and a consultant to news organizations all over the world, including USA Today and ABC News, and has appeared on countless radio and television programs, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, EWTN, Relevant Radio, the BBC, NPR and France 24.

He has also written The Pope Encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, and the soon-to-be-released Encyclopedia of U.S. Catholic History.

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For an interview with Dr. Matthew Bunson, please contact Christine Valentine-Owsik at: (215) 230-8095 or [email protected]

ABOUT OUR SUNDAY VISITOR

The world’s largest English-language Catholic publisher, Our Sunday Visitor serves millions of Catholics globally through its publishing, offertory, and communication services. Established in 1912, Our Sunday Visitor publishes a wide range of books including Bibles, biographies of the saints, books by Pope Benedict XVI, children’s books, devotionals, bible studies, inspirational works, and curriculum. Our Sunday Visitor is a not-for-profit organization, returning a portion of net earnings back to the Catholic community through the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.  For more information, visit www.osv.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For the last 20 years, Dr. Matthew E. Bunson has been active in Catholic Social Communications, including writing, editing, and lecturing on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, and Catholic culture.

Senior Correspondent for Our Sunday Visitor and a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, he is the author or co-author of over  45 books including: The Pope Encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Encyclopedia of Saints, John Paul II’s Book of Saints, Papal Wisdom and The Angelic Doctor:The Life and World of St. Thomas Aquinas.

In 2005, Dr. Bunson  authored the first biography of Pope Benedict XVI in English . He is also the co-author of the upcoming Encyclopedia of the U.S. Catholic History. Since 1997, he has served as general editor of Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Almanac. In addition, he has been editor of The Catholic Answer Magazine since 2010 and is a professor of History and Church History for the Catholic Distance University in Virginia.

During both the 2005 papal interregnum and conclave, as well as the 2013 papal transition, Bunson served as a special consultant to USA Today and has appeared as a guest on many television and radio programs. Aside from his Doctor of Ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation, Bunson holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, and two Master’s degrees in Theology. He is currently engaged in doctoral studies for a Ph.D. in Church History.