In a Meeting Between the Vatican Ambassador and Book City Representative:

Pope Francis’s Autobiography Hope to Be Published in Persian

In a recent meeting between Ali Jafarabadi, Deputy Director of the Book City Institute, and Archbishop Andrzej Józwowicz, the Vatican’s ambassador to Iran, it was announced that the Persian translation of Pope Francis’s autobiography, Hope, will soon be published in Iran. Jafarabadi expressed his condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, the late leader of the Catholic Church, and shared news of the forthcoming release of Hope, the Persian edition of the Pope’s self-written life story.

This project is a collaboration between the Book City Institute and Hermes Publishing, with the translation handled by Mahmoud Gholipour, a renowned translator of international works. The original memoir, published in early 2025, is currently in its final stages of preparation at Hermes Publishing and is set to be unveiled at the Tehran International Book Fair. Notably, initial negotiations for the Persian edition began in late 2024-prior to the original’s global release-with Penguin Random House, the book’s international publisher, ensuring that all copyright and legal requirements have been fully observed. This marks a significant commitment by Iranian publishers to upholding international publishing standards.

Hope traces the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) from his childhood in Argentina through his years as a Jesuit, his philosophical studies, and his pastoral work, culminating in his election as Pope. The memoir offers insight into his religious, social, and political perspectives, and is enriched with personal anecdotes, confessional reflections, and previously unpublished photographs provided by the Pope himself.

The Vatican ambassador praised this cultural initiative, describing it as a meaningful step toward international understanding and interfaith dialogue. He also affirmed the Vatican Embassy’s full support for the book’s launch event in Iran.