The chapters in this volume ask what difference it makes that he is the first pope from Latin America, how and why different countries in the world respond to him, how his understanding of scripture informs his ideas on economic, social, and environmental policy, and where politics meets theology under Francis.

Part I Where Politics Meets Theology Under Pope Francis.- 1. Eluding Established Categories: Toward an Understanding of Pope Francis.- 2. How the Theological Priorities of Pope Francis Inform His Policy Goals.- 3. The First Jesuit Pope: The Contribution of His Jesuit Charism to His Political Views.- 4. Eternal Law and Environmental Policy: Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, and a Thomistic Approach to Climate Change.- 5. Love the Prisoner, Ban the Substance: Pope Francis and the War on Drugs.- 6. “To Show Concern”: Early Coverage of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis in the American National News Media.- Part II The Global Politics of Pope Francis.- 7. Pope Francis as a Global Policy Entrepreneur:  Moral Authority and Climate Change.- 8. The Pope and the United States: Faith as Dialogue.- 9. The Pope and Europe:  Sign o’ the Times: Does Francis’s Papacy Represent a New Era for Western Europe?.- 10. The Pope and Latin America: Mission from the Periphery.- 11. The Pope and Asia: Building Bridges—Reconciliation with the People’s Republic of China.- 12. Pope Francis and India: Mutual Enrichment and Challenges.- 13. “You Are Instead a Gift”: Pope Francis’s Response to Global Migration and the Refugee Crisis.

“Pope Francis as a Global Actor: Where Politics and Theology Meet, hold obvious interest for scholars working across the areas of theology and politics. … The contents of Pope Francis as a Global Actor are wide ranging and, frequently, engaging.” (Christopher Hrynkow, Reading Religion, readingreligion.org, August 21, 2019)

“In the five years since Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis, there has been much discussion about his role both in the Catholic Church and more generally in international relations. This topical and wide-ranging survey of what Pope Francis has done in these regards is highly recommended. It shows how he has become a leading focus of concerns linked to human rights and international development and explains this in terms both of his theology and socio-political outlook.” (Jeff Haynes, Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion, Conflict, and Cooperation at London Metropolitan University, UK)“This well-conceived and closely integrated edited volume focuses explicitly on the deeply theological grounding of Francis' distinctive worldview and wide-ranging breadth of political commitments. In so doing, it persuasively captures the complex essence of this provocative and compelling Pope.” (Tim Byrnes, Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science, Colgate University, USA) “This book uses a distinct methodology to explain the moral engagement and political activism of Pope Francis. It does this through an analysis of his unique Latin American roots and Jesuit background; his people-oriented Catholic theology, and his advocacy for the poor and marginalized. I found this book to be invaluable for my own research and recommend it to anyone seeking to understand the positive, political role that religious leaders can play in an increasingly globalized and secular world.” (Jo Renee Formicola, Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs, Seton Hall University, USA) “The essays collected in this volume address two major questions:  how do the theological ideas and religious commitments held by Pope Francis shape his political views?  What is the global impact of the papacy of Francis?  The contributing authors bring an array of scholarly competencies and cultural backgrounds to the task of answering those two questions.  The editors are to be commended for providing a valuable book that will enrich the understanding of anyone seeking insight into the significance of Pope Francis for our global society.” (Kenneth R. Himes, O.F.M., Professor of Theological Ethics, Boston College, USA) “This collection of intellectually stimulating essays from social scientists and theologians unpacks the relationship between theology and politics in the era of Pope Francis. Employing the perspective of Pope Francis as a global actor, the volume melds a rich span of public policy issues and geographical regions with theological and historical insight.  An invaluable resource for scholars and students of political science and theology, as well as anyone interested in the theology and global impact of Pope Francis.” (Susan Crawford Sullivan, Associate Professor, Sociology, College of the Holy Cross, USA)  

Analyzes Pope Francis' influence and interactions with policy, media, and politics in an increasingly globalized and secularized world Gathers leading scholars on religion and international politics to analyze Francis' theological roots alongside his political interventions Appeals to scholars and students of political science, religious studies, social ethics, culture and religion, practical and pastoral theology, and religious history