Pope Francis' First Autobiography to Be Published on the 13th of Next Month: "Keep the Funeral Simple"

The first official autobiography of Pope Francis will be published domestically on March 13, the Catholic Publishing House announced on the 25th. The book is titled 'Hope'.

Pope Francis's first official autobiography, Hope. Provided by Catholic Publishing House

The book chronologically unfolds the life of Pope Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Bergoglio), over 524 pages. It begins with the story of his ancestors who emigrated from Italy to Argentina, introducing the pain of war experienced by his parents' generation and his childhood stories.

It also introduces the concerns of the young Bergoglio, his experiences in pastoral work, anecdotes just before his election as pope, and the reason he chose the papal name Francis.

The book includes his activities during his papacy and his efforts for ending wars and promoting peace, accompanied by various photographs.

He also mentions his own death. He wrote, "All preparations for my funeral have been completed," adding, "The papal funeral ceremony was too grand, so after consulting with those in charge, it was simplified. The elaborate funeral altar and the special ceremony of closing the coffin were abolished."

'Hope' is the official autobiography that Pope Francis personally wrote over six years and was simultaneously published last month in more than 100 countries worldwide. The Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul's Father Lee Jae-hyeop and the Vatican News Korean translation team collaborated on the translation, and the publisher stated that extensive translator's notes were added for Korean readers.

Born in 1936 and currently 88 years old, the pope has recently been hospitalized for over ten days due to deteriorating health.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.