Pope Francis as a Global Actor Where Politics and Theology Meet

Pope Francis confuses many observers because his papacy does not fit neatly into any pre-established classificatory schemes. To gain a deeper appreciation of Francis’s complicated papacy, this volume proposes that an interdisciplinary approach, fusing concepts derived from moral theology and the social sciences, may properly situate Pope Francis as a global political entrepreneur. The chapters in this volume ask what difference it makes that he is the first pope from Latin America, how and why different countries in the world respond to him, how his understanding of scripture informs his ideas on economic, social, and environmental policy, and where politics meets theology under Francis. In the end, this volume seeks to provide a more robust understanding of the enigmatic papacy of Francis.

1. Eluding Established Categories: Toward an Understanding of Pope Francis

2. How the Theological Priorities of Pope Francis Inform His Policy Goals

3. The First Jesuit Pope: The Contribution of His Jesuit Charism to His Political Views

4. Eternal Law and Environmental Policy: Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, and a Thomistic Approach to Climate Change

5. Love the Prisoner, Ban the Substance: Pope Francis and the War on Drugs

6. “To Show Concern”: Early Coverage of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis in the American National News Media

Part II The Global Politics of Pope Francis

7. Pope Francis as a Global Policy Entrepreneur:  Moral Authority and Climate Change

8. The Pope and the United States: Faith as Dialogue

9. The Pope and Europe:  Sign o’ the Times: Does Francis’s Papacy Represent a New Era for Western Europe?

10. The Pope and Latin America: Mission from the Periphery

11. The Pope and Asia: Building Bridges—Reconciliation with the People’s Republic of China

12. Pope Francis and India: Mutual Enrichment and Challenges

13. “You Are Instead a Gift”: Pope Francis’s Response to Global Migration and the Refugee Crisis