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On Hope
2019 Illumination Book Awards, Catholic
2019 International Book Awards, Christian Inspiration
2019 Best Book Awards, Christian Inspirational
2018 Independent Press Awards, Spirituality, Contemporary
Pope Francis has a simple, life-changing message for God’s love can grace each of us with a lasting and sustaining hope, no matter how dark or confusing our situation. On Hope is Pope Francis at his most intimate and most inspiring.
“Life is often a desert, it is difficult to walk, but if we trust in God, it can become beautiful and wide as a highway. Never lose hope; continue to believe, always, in spite of everything. Hope opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable.”
--Pope Francis
2019 International Book Awards, Christian Inspiration
2019 Best Book Awards, Christian Inspirational
2018 Independent Press Awards, Spirituality, Contemporary
Pope Francis has a simple, life-changing message for God’s love can grace each of us with a lasting and sustaining hope, no matter how dark or confusing our situation. On Hope is Pope Francis at his most intimate and most inspiring.
“Life is often a desert, it is difficult to walk, but if we trust in God, it can become beautiful and wide as a highway. Never lose hope; continue to believe, always, in spite of everything. Hope opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable.”
--Pope Francis
112 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2018
129 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Pope Francis
1,325 books999 followersPope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 24, 2020
"When someone asks me a difficult question, like 'Tell me, Father: why do children suffer?' truly, I do not know how to respond. I say only: “Look at the Crucifix: God gave us his Son, he suffered, and perhaps you will find an answer there.” But there are no easy answers. Just looking at the love of God, who gives his Son, who offers his life for us, can indicate a path of consolation. For this reason, we say that the Son of God entered the pain of mankind; he shared it, and embraced death; his Word is definitively the word." (p. 34)
November 11, 2022
This book was a compilation of excerpts from Pope Francis’ general audiences on hope. There are so many words of wisdom here. It is a great little book to further explore the idea of hope from a Christian perspective. It is not a difficult read and can be done in a short period of time.
December 21, 2017
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, uses a combination of approaches to address the subject of Hope. Foremost, he turns to the Biblical text, using exegetical analysis but accessibly in plain language. He addresses:
--Why do we have hope? [God walks beside us. He intends us to be happy. Also: Jesus' salvific mission.]
--What does Christian hope look like? [Having hope allows us to smile amid challenging times.]
--What does a lack of Christian hope look like? [The person stops smiling, laughing, and engaging in joyfulness.]
Pope Francis assures us with Scripture and his own hope, that although at this time in history, we are looking at a lot of discouragement, We must focus on hope.
It is fascinating to learn at the feet of a master of compassion and hope I must recommend this book! The only drawback: I would prefer to hear it in Pope Francis' own voice, but the preface is clear that the material comes from a number of speaking occasions.
--Why do we have hope? [God walks beside us. He intends us to be happy. Also: Jesus' salvific mission.]
--What does Christian hope look like? [Having hope allows us to smile amid challenging times.]
--What does a lack of Christian hope look like? [The person stops smiling, laughing, and engaging in joyfulness.]
Pope Francis assures us with Scripture and his own hope, that although at this time in history, we are looking at a lot of discouragement, We must focus on hope.
It is fascinating to learn at the feet of a master of compassion and hope I must recommend this book! The only drawback: I would prefer to hear it in Pope Francis' own voice, but the preface is clear that the material comes from a number of speaking occasions.
May 2, 2018
One to revisit again and again
Pope Francis has so much love in him and it flows through everything he writes. I'm sure when I read this again in six months, a year, or three years from now I'll find new insights.
Pope Francis has so much love in him and it flows through everything he writes. I'm sure when I read this again in six months, a year, or three years from now I'll find new insights.
March 31, 2021
Easy read
This book is easy to read and shows how wecas a people must hope in God, and not the false idols we have produced. It is a message of hope we all need to hear especially during these trying times.
This book is easy to read and shows how wecas a people must hope in God, and not the false idols we have produced. It is a message of hope we all need to hear especially during these trying times.
November 24, 2025
I am always on the lookout for small, encouraging books to take when I visit people in the hospital, and this little volume will be added to that collection. It is written in a gentle conversational tone and contains brief meditations on the theological virtue of hope.
August 6, 2020
A lovely book to have on hand for daily meditation on Christian Hope. It's been a nice companion to Seven Storey Mountain.
January 23, 2022
"We must not let hope abandon us....optimism disappoints, but hope does not."
May 8, 2019
Very significant contribution to pastoral youth ministry
Francis promoting the journey with young people as a pilgrimage church
Very important read for people in the faith of young people and the culture they live in.
Francis promoting the journey with young people as a pilgrimage church
Very important read for people in the faith of young people and the culture they live in.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews