Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future

Regardless of your political or spiritual views, and although you may not agree with everything, this is such an important book to read today. For such a short read, (about 3 hours) it is so content heavy. It is a book about truths, challenges and solutions. Touching on everything from politics to racism, immigration and the environment, he calls us to come together but allows the space for disagreement “Sometimes walking together means continuing to endure the disagreements”. It gives hope...something we all need more of these days.

He’s a communist!

This is a book of hope. Pope Francis describes a better world that could emerge after the Pandemic. He concentrates on the core Catholic Social Teaching principles of solidarity, the preferential option for the poor, and the right (and duty) of all to contribute to the common good. To these core principles, the Holy Father adds his own emphases on the importance of dialogue and the necessity to get beyond the incendiary rhetoric of populist politics. The Holy Father points to recent synods as a very helpful example of dialogue that can lead to consensus on controversial issues. Pope Francis emphasizes that we need to focus on the example of Jesus in our politics and economics. We must start by standing in solidarity with those at the periphery of society. Indeed, the Holy Father states that the health of a society can be measured by how it treats those on the margins. I want to emphasize--this is very important--that this book is not a compilation of impossible goals that humans can never achieve. On the contrary, Pope Francis' blueprint for a just society and sane politics is well within our power to achieve; in fact, we have no choice but to embrace the Holy Father's vision of the future. If we refuse to embrace the compassionate vision that Pope Francis offers us, we will emerge from the pandemic no wiser. We need to learn from the current crisis, and Pope Francis has shown us the way. Let's take it.

I think Francis cares about people. I don’t think he abuses power. Power can corrupt. “We are all children of God”. I believe we are on this planet to help one another rather than hurt one another, put one another down or look down on one another. My two main daily prayers are “God help me help other people”, and “God help people help other people”. I believe in the Trinity and using the Trinity to help people be better kinder people.

One of the most important books you will read in your life! Pope Francis has a most critical view of mankind, regardless of your faith. God speaks through him in this writing.

What were the main principles of French Revolution?Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.This is what the pope says we must now move ahead to create.The Catholic faith is supposed to be universal and unchanging. Truth is true, yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Catholic Church was founded on the Apostle Peter when Jesus said, "You are the Rock, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."Pope Francis is motivated by a combination of the French Revolution principles and today's globalism. He wants the great Reset. He calls the creation of weapons evil, yet he and others in the Vatican are protected by guards with weapons. He wants open borders, but has not invited the homeless refuges to live in the Vatican.

Historian Austen Ivereigh has written a brief exposition of Pope Francis's understanding of what Christians in today's world must prioritize. The book is divided into three major parts: To See, To Choose, and To Act. It will come as no surprise to those who follow Francis's papacy that to promote life and to respect creation that Christians must look beyond personal salvation alone and work for a social transformation that brings the Kingdom of God closer to fulfillment on earth. If readers have struggled to read through Francis's encyclicals, they will be delighted with the accessible presentation by Ivereigh, which is based on his conversations with the pope. This book is highly recommended and I have gifted copies to friends and family who used the book for their Lenten spiritual reading.

Very thought provoking and inspiring, as one would expect. It paves the way for conversations about a better future with a perspective of the past.

It’s very welcome that a major religious leader enters the fray and addresses real political, social, ecological, and economic issues. This is incarnate Christianity. Pope Francis lifts hope for a post-Covid radical re-think of our shared way of life, following Heidegger in quoting Friedrich Hölderlin ‘where the danger is, also grows the saving power’, (p6). He targets poverty and oppression, inequality, climate change, discrimination and exclusion.His argument suffers from some inconsistencies. He welcomes dialogue, but often denounces others’ positions. He advocates women’s roles as economists and administrators, but not as priests (p62ff). He opposes abortion (p115), but doesn’t address the church’s own ruling against contraception, which condemns women in Latin America to multiple childbirth and poverty. He presents a dualism of oppressor and oppressed, where a closer truth is that everyone shows better and worse characteristics. He doesn’t consider whether the church’s ruling on celibacy contributes to sexual abuse. If the church won’t re-consider its own moral position, its call for others to do so is diminished.Francis critiques neoliberal economic policy, assumes industry and commerce are totally profit oriented (p108ff), paints a very negative picture of care homes (p58), etc. He assumes technology can be controlled without considering the extent to which, philosophically, it might be objective beyond human agency. These positions need deeper consideration. Industry and commerce also include worthy motivations and outcomes.He rightly says that ‘it is time to recover values’ (p52). But he doesn’t acknowledge the challenge in defining a value like justice (see Amartya Sen ‘The Idea of Justice’), and doesn’t expand on this core theme of virtue (see André Comte-Sponville ‘A Short Treatise on the Great Virtues’). Herein lies a major failure in the church’s contribution to social thinking. By focussing on creed and doctrine, charismatic experience, power structures, and ritual, the church has failed to prioritise virtue, and failed to make virtue accessible to non-believers. If contemporary post-modern society needs one focus, it is on widespread acknowledgement and embracing of virtue. The church could well lead the way.Francis’s main policy recommendation is for basic income (UBI) (p132). This is a hugely welcome endorsement. For more see ‘The Case for Basic Income’ at the ubi site, with an org suffix.

This is a book for our time. Simple and wise.Pope Francis encourages us not to resent the disruption brought about by COVID19 but to recognise it as a time of sifting and purification. Life brings to us all these necessary periods of “stoppage” (indeed the Pope shares three examples of his own) from which we should aspire to emerge improved after a period of reflection and discernment.Presented in three easy sections – A Time to See, A Time to Choose & A Time to Act – the book starts with a review of the pressing issues facing our world (climate change, pandemics, inequality, discrimination), continues with a discussion of the process of discernment the pandemic has allowed and finishes with some suggestions from the Pope about areas where the world might next choose to act.The simplicity and brevity (160 pages) of this book belies the wisdom of the author. It is a quick, refreshing and uplifting read. Pope Francis reminds us “Where the danger is, also grows the saving power” (Holderling)The Pope is obviously widely read and experienced. He uses passages of scripture and quotes from eminent philosophers and poets throughout the book and yet, his message has great humility. He walks alongside the reader sharing the experiences of our age, making sense of them and encouraging us to embrace the challenges that they present.If we had one criticism of the book it would be the naivety of a Pope Francis whose roots lie with the urban poor of Argentina. His confidence in man’s ultimate humanity might be more sorely tested in the West where apathy and complacency are much more deeply embedded. However, maybe it is we who should heed his message of hope!

A wonderful book, that would be valuable at any time but especially in the current pandemic. The Pope's ideas are conveyed with typical humility and insight, perception and wisdom. Very readable, and deceptively profound thanks to the clarity of the writing (one sometimes stops and realises what a deep insight has been shared). Credit, too, to Austen Ivereigh whose contribution as the Pope's biographer and English translate could be given more prominence. Highly recommended, for people of faith and those who are open to challenge.

5 star rating as it's an easy read and an honest account about humanity and challenges each and every one of us to be more caring and selfless for the good of all. Everyone should read it .

If ever a book could trigger a real, grassroots social revolution to set the world to rights, this is it. Pope Francis dares to see the world as it is. He then proposes to choose a path that is consistent with the message of the biblical Prophets and the Gospel. And finally he offers a way to act, with a view to turning on its head the indifferent, materialistic attitude to life that many of us in the West have hitherto nurtured. He dares to dream of a better future.Pope Francis is not only a learned and wise prelate with a huge following. In this book, he also emerges as a humble, broad-minded, canny observer of both current events and prevailing attitudes. His message is clear and relevant for all people who are concerned about social issues.Some quotes from the book bring out the message:Rich and powerful elites currently run our so-called democracies. Francis opens the possibility of true change by emphasizing the worth and power of marginalized people. They form caring social groups, not motivated by personal profit or luxury but concerned for each other and the environment. As such, they have the potential to introduce a vibrant new social order.Francis compares the current Covid crisis with the ongoing ‘pandemics of hunger, violence and climate change’. He claims the recent lockdowns can teach us that ‘we need to slow down, take stock, and design better ways of living together on this earth.’‘The modern era, which has developed equality and liberty with such determination, now needs to focus on fraternity with the same drive and tenacity to confront the challenges ahead. Fraternity will enable freedom and equality to take its rightful place in the symphony.’Francis emphasizes the concept of a ‘people’, which ‘gathers itself in assemblies, … shares experiences and hopes, and hears the call of a common destiny.’ Such ‘Popular Movements‘, which spring up around the world on the margins of society, campaigning for land, lodging, and labour for their families. An elaboration of these needs forms the climax of the book, illustrated from his own experiences while Archbishop in Buenos Aires as well as meetings he hosted as Pope.This is a controversial but daring book and not what one would initially expect from the leader of a traditional, hierarchical religious institution. Conservatives will dismiss it as socialist propaganda. Evangelical Christians may find it too man-centred and not spiritual enough. But it deserves to be taken very seriously by all who see the need to revolutionize today’s self-centred, materialistic society, which is both cruel to deprived people and destructive of the environment.