The Pope is first of all the pastor of the Church and sign of its unity. He can be a theologian professionally, or he cannot be, as it has happened for the majority of popes. ln both cases, in his teaching as well as in the choices he makes or in the orientations he offers, his teaching and his style are imbued with a theological perspective and ask theologians to confront with them.

The collection "Pope Francis' Theology", calling upon the expertise of eleven theologians from various Countries of the world, aims at showing us what theology is at the base of such incisive words and such simple gestures with which Pope Francis has made us so familiar.

They are eleven easy volumes, written in a captivating way yet able to show in a rigorous way the deep roots of his thought and action.

Faces, Gestures and Places highlights some contents and aspects of the Christological perspective of Pope Francis, taking as its starting point the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which he himself presented as the programmatic document of his ministry, without neglecting the other documents of his magisterium. and significant expressions of the activity preceding his election as Bishop of Rome. The texts are selected not so much to focus attention on the dogmatic value of language and documents concerning the person of Christ and his ministry as to grasp those themes that are dear to the Pontiff with their connections and spiritual and pastoral implications. The aim of the study is to offer the reader an opportunity to appreciate the human depth and spiritual richness of Pope Francis, nourished by a profound faith in Christ, whose profession reveals far-reaching effects for Christology and for theology.

About the Author

Lucio Casula (1961), a priest of the diocese of Oristano, earned a license and a doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.  He is professor of systematic Theology of the Theological Faculty of Sardinia.  His theological reflection spans the Christological field, with a specific attention to St Leo the Great's Christology.  He is a member of the Presidential Council of the Italian Theological Association.