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Decades before he was elected pope the Jesuit Fr Jorge Mario Bergoglio was a renowned spiritual director and retreat giver, steeped in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. Drawing on many retreat talks he gave in the 1970s-90s, which have never been translated into English, the Pope's biographer has created a powerful Ignatian retreat that offers a contemplative route into the key teachings and vision of the Francis pontificate.

First Belong to God uses the classic week-long "short form" of the Exercises, linking Ignatius's famous contemplations with Francis's call to a synodal, fraternal, and ecological conversion. Each day contains points for reflection taken from Fr Bergoglio's retreats, a well as guided meditations, Scripture references and suggestions for reading and prayer. First Belong to God can be used as a companion guide either for an individual or group retreat in a formal retreat setting under a director, or by a parish or community over a longer period such as Lent or Advent.