More than a year after his death, the world is about to hear from Pope Francis again. This time, through words he kept private for decades.
The Vatican is preparing to publish The Private Diary of Pope Francis, a collection of personal writings spanning nearly 32 years and offering what could be an unprecedented window into the late pontiff’s prayers, fears, struggles and spiritual life away from the public eye.
According to America Magazine, Francis’ writings stretch from Dec. 20, 1992, when Jorge Mario Bergoglio was serving in Argentina, through Aug. 18, 2024, less than a year before his death.
Now those pages are coming out of the shadows.
The book is scheduled for worldwide publication on Nov. 24, but one detail makes this release especially intriguing: Francis had previously spoken about destroying some of his private writings.
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That raises an obvious question: What exactly survived?
No evidence suggests the forthcoming book contains the intimate writings Francis wanted destroyed, and America Magazine noted that the material being published may be separate from those notes. Still, the revelation adds another layer of mystery to a collection already promising a rare look behind the Vatican walls and into the mind of one of the world’s most recognizable religious figures.
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and one of Pope Francis’ close collaborators, edited and annotated the writings.
Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, said the book will allow readers to gain “even deeper insight into the inner life of the Argentine pontiff.“
For years, the world knew Francis through papal addresses, interviews, theological declarations and headline-making decisions. But public ministry only reveals part of a person’s spiritual story.
What happens when the crowds disappear? What does a religious leader pray when no microphone stands before him? What fears, questions and battles make their way onto the page when no one else is supposed to read them?
We don’t yet know what Francis’ private writings will ultimately reveal. But come November, nearly 32 years of reflections that largely remained outside the public eye will begin speaking for themselves, and they could reveal a side of Pope Francis the world never knew.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
