‘Evangelism is the reason for the Church’s existence’ says Pope Francis in new memoir

Pope Francis’ latest book gives readers an insight into how major historical events have shaped and influenced the pontiff, says Catherine Pepinster 

It’s a common parlour game to ask “Where were you when?”.

It might be “Where were you when you heard Princess Diana died?” or “Where were you on 9/11?”.

Pope Francis’ memoir Life – My Story Through History (Harper One) is this parlour game par excellence, with each chapter devoted to an historic event and his reactions to it, his more meditative thoughts on its consequence, and sometimes later connections to that historic event.