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Pope Francis

Biography

Pope Francis

Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, the son of Italian migrants and the first of five children born in the working-class barrio of Flores. He qualified as a chemical technician, graduated in philosophy in 1963, became a priest in 1969, was named provincial of the Jesuits of Argentina in 1973, was named auxiliary bishop in 1992, archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, created cardinal in 2001, and since March 13, 2013, Bishop of Rome and the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. For 2025, the 12th year of his papacy, Pope Francis has announced a new Jubilee with the motto “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Pope Francis

Books by Pope Francis

Hope: The Autobiography
written by Pope Francis , translated by Richard Dixon with Carlo Musso - Autobiography, Nonfiction

HOPE is the first autobiography in history ever to be published by a Pope. Written over six years, this complete autobiography starts in the early years of the 20th century, with Pope Francis’ Italian roots and his ancestors’ courageous migration to Latin America, continuing through his childhood, the enthusiasms and preoccupations of his youth, his vocation, his adult life, and the whole of his papacy up to the present day. In recounting his memories with intimate narrative force (not forgetting his own personal passions), Pope Francis deals unsparingly with some of the crucial moments of his papacy and writes candidly, fearlessly and prophetically about some of the most important and controversial questions of our present times.

A Big Heart Open to God: A Conversation with Pope Francis
by Pope Francis - Christian, Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality

The world was shocked when Jesuit magazines across the globe simultaneously released an exclusive interview with Pope Francis, just six months into his historic papacy. Within minutes of its release, the interview dominated the worldwide media. In a wide-ranging conversation, Pope Francis spoke movingly about such topics as his spiritual life and his hopes for church reform. Now this remarkable, historic and moving interview is available in book form.