Shedding light into the darkest corners of the Catholic Church and revealing some of the most mysterious and controversial aspects of the institution, Jorge Blaschke describes the greatest challenges facing the new pope Francis as he strives to usher in an era of openness and reconciliation with the non-Christian world. The author begins by examining the possible reasons for the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the sequence of events that led to Jorge Mario Bergoglio's ascension to the most powerful seat in Christendom. Bergoglio's own history--including the role he played in Argentina during the dictatorship--is analyzed, and controversies such as the Vati Leaks uproar and the resignation for sexual misconduct of Scottish cardinal Keith O'Brien are discussed as Blaschke paints a portrait of the serious obstacles that threaten to derail the best intentions of Rome's latest pontiff.