Hermes Publishing will make Pope Francis's memoir available at the 36th TIBF
Hermes Publishing is poised to release Hope, the Persian translation of Pope Francis’s autobiography, offering Iranian readers a profound glimpse into the life and thoughts of the leader of the Catholic Church. Hope chronicles Pope Francis’s journey from his childhood in Argentina to his ascension to the papacy, exploring his experiences within the Society of Jesus, his philosophical pursuits, and his dedicated service as a priest. Throughout the memoir, Jorge Bergoglio shares his insightful perspectives on a wide array of religious, political, and social issues shaping our world.
A central and deeply moving part of the book recounts his historic encounter with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Grand Ayatollah of Shia Islam, during his visit to Iraq – a pivotal moment in interfaith relations. As Pope Francis describes in Hope:
Earlier, I had been to the holy city of Najaf, the historical and spiritual center of Shia Islam, where the tomb of the Prophet’s cousin Ali is situated, for a private meeting that was particularly important to me, for it would represent a milestone in the path of interreligious dialogue and understanding between peoples. The Holy See had been preparing that meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for decades, without any of my predecessors managing to achieve it.
Ayatollah al-Sistani welcomed me fraternally in his house, a gesture that, in the East, is even more eloquent than declarations or written documents, for it means friendship, belonging to the same family. It did good to my soul and made me feel honored: Never had he received heads of state, and never had he stood up, and yet that day, significantly, he had done so with me several times, while with the same feeling of respect I entered his room without shoes. He struck me immediately as a man of wisdom, of faith, concerned in the face of violence and committed to raising his voice in defense of the weakest and persecuted, affirming the sanctity of human life and the importance of unity among people. I sensed his anxiety about the mixture of religion and politics, a certain aversion, which I feel we share, toward “clerics of state” and, at the same time, the entreaty to the great powers to relinquish the language of war, giving priority to reason and to wisdom. I recall one particular phrase that I carried with me as a precious gift: “Human beings are either brothers by religion or equals by creation.” In brotherhood there is already equality, but in any event, below equality it is not possible to go. For this reason, as with true development, the path of peace can never be binary, never “against,” but only inclusive, deeply respectful.
Hermes Publishing plans to present Hope at the Tehran International Book Fair, anticipating significant interest from readers seeking both a personal narrative and reflections on critical global themes. The book promises to offer a unique perspective on faith, leadership, and the ongoing quest for understanding in a diverse world.
Tags: Hermes, Hope, Pope Francis
