Pope Francis becomes first ever sitting pontiff to publish autobiography

Story by Jonny Walfisz

 • 21h • 3 min read

Pope Francis has made history by becoming the first pontiff to publish his life story while his office. Francis wrote "Hope" over a six-year period and originally intended for it to be published after his death.

Francis, however, changed his mind about posthumously publishing it due to his belief that the needs of our times require he make his thoughts on his legacy and the state of the world available now.

It coincides with the beginning of a papal jubilee. A jubilee is held every 25 years in the Vatican and Francis has declared that this quarter century’s jubilee theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”, tying into the title of the book.

"Hope" covers the major events of Francis’ life. It starts with his heritage, how his Italian ancestors moved to South America to escape Mussolini’s fascist rule. Through this, the book covers not just the circumstances of his birth in Argentina, but the roots of his empathy towards those struggling under tyranny and forced into migration and forging a new life.

Born as Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936, Francis is the first ever South American to become Pope of the Catholic Church. After covering his provenance, he moves into the providence that brought him to become a Jesuit priest.

Read the rest: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pope-francis-becomes-first-ever-sitting-pontiff-to-publish-autobiography/ar-BB1rrBoa?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=70caa9ce72e64691acd72f220d4efd4d&ei=41