Pope Francis by Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti (2010)

TL;DR: There's a lot here. I'm of the opinion that this is one of those books where you take time, take long to read.

It is not encouraged. It even has its own space in the Constitution declaring separation from the State. Whether it wants to or not, the Church does seem to get intertwined with Politics. At least, not directly nor intentionally but when a government becomes oppressive to its people; when it's no longer a matter of public opinion; and actual human values and dignity are crossed; the Church takes action.

A brief Philippine History interlude: The Marcos years with unrest arising from different areas, then Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin speaks out against the political institution at the time. Half the world away, at a different time in somewhat similar circumstances, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Bergoglio finds himself at odds with the leading elite during a most trying time from its history as well. Who knows how many other times and places where politics and religion clash. Jorge Bergoglio Or Pope Francis is the current Pope of the Catholic Church. 

It is interesting to note that this book was published a couple years before Pope Francis became Pope. In terms of geography, his supported area then was Argentina. It appears even before, he radiates the impression of a humble, compassionate and smart fellow.

In the Introductory parts:

During his time, he made frequent trips in shanty towns of Buenos Aires [...] A bricklayer stood up and said: "I am proud of you, because when I came here with my companions on the bus I saw you sitting in one of the last seats, like one of us. I told them it was you, but no one believed me"

But when it is time to speak out, he speaks his mind about his nation and its political institution

Those who feel so included they exclude everyone else, those who are so clairvoyant they have become blind. [...] copying the hate and violence of the tyrant and the murderer is the best way to inherit it.

The next sections are his thoughts on multiple subjects.

On work:

Work anoints a person with dignity. Dignity is not conferred by one's ancestry, family life or education. We eat with what we earn, we support our families with what we earn.

Work opens a door to realism, and in itself constitutes a clear mandate from God: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it." That is to say, be masters of the earth: work.

On work but this directed to businessmen:

Cultivate a culture of work, not of charity. [...] Fewer people working means fewer people consuming.

Work-Life Balance may have been floating around the time

When work does not yield to healthy leisure, to restorative rest, then it enslaves you, because then you are not working for dignity, but to compete. This vitiates the intention of work.

Healthy leisure means that both mother and father play with their children. [...] Leisure as idleness means the negation of work.

On Pain

Pain is not a virtue in itself, but you can be virtuous in the way you beat it. Our life's vocation is fulfillment and happiness and pain is a limitation in that search.

Both physical and spiritual pain are borne from within, where no one can enter; it entails a great deal of solitude. What people need is to know that someone is with them, loves them, respects their silence, and prays that God may enter into this space that is pure solitude.

Pain is something that produces fruitfulness. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a masochistic attitude. It's just accepting that life creates limits for us. 

Learning to Love Yourself:

Look, I ask for you by name, I choose you, and the only thing I ask is that you let yourself be loved.

Humility

I don't want to mislead anyone -the truth is that I'm a sinner who God in his mercy has chosen to love in a privileged manner. 

That's not the case. I don't have all the answers. I don't even have all the questions. 

On Teaching

If you try to educate using only theoretical principles, without remembering that the most important thing is the person in-front of you, then you fall into a kind of fundamentalism. This does nothing for children because they can't absorb lessons that aren't accompanied by a life's testimony and a degree of closeness and sometimes with nothing but theory, after three or four years, it comes to a head and they act out.

On Leading

To have authority is not to be an oppressor. Oppression is a distortion of authority. When exercised correctly, authority implies creating a space where a person can grow.

Traveling with Patience

Traveling with patience is knowing that what matures is time. Traveling with patience is allowing time to rule and shape our lives. 

To travel in patience means these things: it's giving up the presumption of wanting to solve everything. You have to make an effort, but understand that one person cannot do everything. You have to put the myth of efficiency into perspective. 

Good Parents

A good father, like a good mother, is one who intervenes in the life of his child just enough to demonstrate guidelines for growing up, to help him, but who later knows when to be a bystander to his own and others' failures, and to endure them. 

Respect for Individuals

If you don't accept that there are people with different opinions, even opposing opinions, opinions that you don't share, and if you don't respect them or pray for them, you will never redeem them in your heart.

On Vices/Sins

Sin properly assumed is the privileged place of personally finding Jesus Christ our Savior, of rediscovering the deep meaning that he has for me. In Short, it is the possibility to live the wonder of having been saved. 

Helping the Poor

When Jesus comes to judge us, He will say to some, "Because I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me." And they will ask the Lord, "When did I do that? I don't remember." And he will respond, "Every time you helped the poor you helped me." But he will also say to others, " Go away because I was hungry and you gave me nothing eat"

Prejudging

Prejudging someone is like putting up a wall, which then prevents us from coming together.

On Love

Well, the virtue of love, of giving oneself to another, and doing that from a position of gentleness. I find gentleness attractive.

Accepting Fate

Whenever I have a problem, I ask the saint not to resolve it, but to take it in her hands, and help me accept it, and as a sign, I almost always receive a white rose. (to Saint Therese of Liseux)

Attitudes that define People

There are three words that define people and constitute a compendium of attitudes - [...] permission, thanks, and forgiveness [...] the person who asks for permission is more humble, more open, more conciliatory. [...] Gratitude is a flower that blossoms in noble souls. [...] there are people who think it unnecessary to ask forgiveness for anything. They suffer the worst sin: the sin of pride. [...] only someone who had to ask forgiveness and who has experienced forgiveness can forgive. For this reason, anyone who doesn't ask for forgiveness is lacking something in his day-to-day life. Either he was not given a chance to learn properly or he has been taught badly by life.

Forgiving yourself is just as important as asking for it. Properly receiving forgiveness equates to when they feel remorse and want to atone for what they did.

Granting someone forgiveness is one thing: having the capacity to receive it is quite another. 

On Hope 

For me, Hope is in the human person, in what lies in his or her heart. I believe in man. I'm not saying man is good or bad, just that I believe in man, in the dignity and greatness of the person.

All joking aside, one should not confuse optimism with hope. Optimism is a psychological attitude toward life. Hope goes further than that. It's the anchor you toss into the future and pull on to reach what you wish to attain. It's making a effort in the right direction. Hope is theological: God is involved. That's why I believe life will triumph.