Austen Ivereigh, Papal Historian and Biographer: Francis Knows, “Papacy is for Life”

Pope Francis has been in the hospital for the longest stay of his papacy. More than two weeks as of February 28. And while the latest updates out of the Vatican continually report a slow steady improvement from his severe bronchitis and double pneumonia, it hasn’t stopped the Vaticanista rumor mill from speculating on his possible resignation. But papal historian, author and biographer Austen Ivereigh dispels the rumors saying that despite the secret letter of resignation he wrote at the beginning of his election as the Bishop of Rome, Francis believes the papacy is for life. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, recorded in Rome in Vatican City, Ivereigh talks about hopes for the pope’s healing, his work ethic, and how this simple and humble man from Argentina has molded the Roman Catholic Church in ways so different from his predecessors. Ivereigh is the author of “Pope Francis: The Great Reformer,” “Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope, “and also “Wounded Shepherd: Pope Francis and the Struggle to Convert the Catholic Church.”

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