Pope Francis

"We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves." -- Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate In his third apostolic exhortation, Pope Francis presents the universal call to live holy lives with a new, fresh approach. We are encouraged to strive for -- and achieve -- holiness in our everyday lives. As we actively live out holiness day by day, we not only draw closer to the Lord ourselves, but become participants in bringing others to Christ. Gaudete et Exsultate shows us: How to understand and embrace the call to holiness How to spot the contemporary enemies of holiness How to understand Christ's call to holiness in the Beatitudes How to be signs of holiness in our everyday lives How to draw strength for the battle for holiness

Discover what The Lord's Prayer really means, reinterpreted for a modern audienceIn this new work by the much loved Pope Francis, he offers remarkable insights into what the most popular prayer in Christianity can tell us about living a life of meaning, purpose and strength.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - Pope Francis illuminates the Lord's Prayer, the most important prayer in all of Christianity, offering readers a guide to living a life of meaning, purpose, and strength. In conversation with Father Marco Pozza, a theologian and prison chaplain in Padua, Italy, Pope Francis offers unprecedented insight into Jesus's most profound words as he explores the importance of embracing social justice, benevolence, and forgiveness in our hearts and minds. "We need courage to pray the Our Father," writes Pope Francis, "to truly believe that God is the Father who accompanies us, forgives us, gives us bread, is attentive to all that we ask, clothes us even better than the flowers of the field. To believe is a big risk." Challenging this doubt and fear, he issues a call to "dare . . . help one another to dare." With excerpts from some of the Pontiff's most cherished teachings, this beautiful work offers words of encouragement and inspiration for all who are seeking hope and direction in our often tumultuous world.

Set out for the future without fear That's the message of Pope Francis to young people as he challenges them to follow Christ and his plan for their lives. In this collection of short excerpts of his talks from around the world, Pope Francis speaks to the best instincts of young people, inviting them to do their part to build a better, more just world. He encourages teens and young adults to say yes to all that God is asking of them, even while acknowledging that following the Lord wholeheartedly involves risks as well as rewards. Popular youth speaker Fr. Mike Schmitz provides follow-up reflections and questions after each selection that are designed to help young people draw closer to God in prayer, giving them the courage to rise up and embrace the pope's words. This book can profoundly influence the choices that young people make at crucial decision points in their lives.

In reflections drawn from his writings and preaching, Pope Francis treats the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, opening for each a window on a larger theme. For instance, under "welcoming the stranger," Pope Francis reflects on the plight of refugees and immigrants. This book is one of Pope Francis's most challenging and personal reflections on the gospel message.

Many think slavery ended with the demise of the trans-Atlantic trade, but sadly, that's far from true. An estimated thirty-six million live without dignity or rights and although slavery is illegal in every country, it continues to persist in all - as a crime against humanity. Lisa Kristine's indelible images seek to unify humanity and inform the viewer of the tangible humanness of individuals enslaved today. Lisa was invited to the Vatican as a witness to the signing of the Declaration to Eradicate Modern Day Slavery by 2020. When Pope Francis gathered twenty-five of the world's distinguished faith leaders the message was clear - slavery is not a political issue - it is a crime against humanity, against all people. Lisa's journey sheds light on the need for a global shift from dependence on slave labour, to fair trade labour systems available and active in many parts of the world today. It is not simply a story about slavery, but liberation. In order to create change, we must first visualise what is required to free those enslaved today. Bound to Freedom focuses on inspiring us to engage in the reality of slavery - to make us aware of the depth of its reach and insist we begin to look for solutions across faiths, communities, and the world. The call is for a renewed commitment to cooperate and to empower those enslaved to be seen.

The Name of God is Mercy, Pope Francis' exploration on the universal theme of mercy, is a spiritual inspiration to both followers of Christianity and non-Christians around the world. Drawing on his own experience as a priest and shepherd, Pope Francis discusses mercy, a subject of central importance in his religious teaching and testimony, and in addition sums up other ideas – reconciliation, the closeness of God – that comprise the heart of his papacy. Written in conversation with Vatican expert and La Stampa journalist Andrea Tornielli, The Name of God is Mercy is directed at everyone, inside or outside of the Catholic Church, seeking meaning in life, a road to peace and reconciliation, or the healing of physical or spiritual wounds.

2018 Catholic Press Association, 3rd Place: Pope Francis "There is a charm and a charism to Pope Francis. His words have a way of captivating the reader. Like all good pastors, he points to Jesus. Prepare now to join Pope Francis on this walk along 'the Way.'" --From the Foreword by ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH E. KURTZ Ask someone for a definition of Christianity and you are likely to hear a philosophical, historical, or even cultural description of it. But any explanation of the Christian faith that fails to define it as a way of being, of proceeding, is missing the mark. For at its core, Christianity is about living--and loving--as committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Embracing the Way of Jesus is a beautifully curated collection of excerpts from the homilies and writings of Pope Francis, all centering on Christianity as a way of life--or, as the earliest Christians would have understood it, "the Way." Through the Pope's meditations on Scripture, we pause to consider essential aspects of discipleship such as The Way of the Cross, The Way of Prayer, The Way of Children, The Way of the Poor, and more. The book even offers a rare opportunity to see more clearly the path of discipleship through the lens of the Old Testament. For anyone desiring to live out the faith in a way that can truly transform and heal our hearts and our world, Embracing the Way of Jesus is the perfect place to start.

Drawn from his writings, speeches, and homilies, this collection by Pope Francis lays out the comprehensive vision behind his historic encyclical Laudato Si' and shows how concern for the earth calls for a profound conversion of values that involves a new understanding of our relation to God's Creation.

In Dear Pope Francis, Pope Francis gives them that chance and celebrates their spiritual depth by directly answering questions from children around the world. A beautiful hardback book full of life and joy and colour - the perfect gift for Christenings and Confirmations and for children or adults of all ages!

Laudato Si', Pope Francis's historic encyclical on the environment, was issued in 2015. As the first encyclical devoted entirely to the environment and related social justice issues, it represented a watershed in the church's engagement with such urgent challenges as climate change, environmental degradation, and the fate of the poor. This volume joins the full text of Laudato Si' with reflections by Sean McDonagh, one of the foremost Catholic proponents of ecological awareness. Aside from reviewing the history of Catholic teaching and the environment, he elaborates on several of the specific themes in the encyclical-climate change, biodiversity, water scarcity, the threats to the ocean, and the crisis of food. He concludes with prescriptions about what must be done to turn the pope's vision into a program of effective action. Each of us has a role to play. As Pope Francis observes, "All it takes is one good person to restore hope."

2017 Association of Catholic Publishers' "Excellence in Publishing Book Awards," First Place: Spanish Si le pudieras hacer una pregunta al Papa Francisco, qu le preguntar as? Los ni os, igual que los adultos, tienen preguntas e inquietudes, pero raramente se les da la oportunidad de manifestar lo que les preocupa y hacer las grandes preguntas que se encuentran en lo profundo de su coraz n. En Querido Papa Francisco, el Papa Francisco les da esa oportunidad y celebra su profunda espiritualidad, respondiendo directamente a las preguntas de ni os de todo el mundo. Algunas son divertidas, otras son serias. Y algunas discretamente te romper n el coraz n. Pero todas vienen de ni os que merecen conocer y sentir el amor incondicional de Dios.

"The cross is the word of hope and mercy to all the crucified of the world, for those who are oppressed, the sick, poor, and marginalized, victims of violence and abuse, still find the courage to turn their gaze to the One who was pierced. And from this look of divine love they receive comfort, peace, consolation, and mercy, even the strength to forgive their executioners. What would man be without the cross of Christ?" --from the Introduction With this simple yet profound book, Pope Francis invites us to pray the stations and to continue "this Way of the Cross in our daily lives. Let us walk together along the Way of the Cross and let us do so carrying in our hearts this word of love and forgiveness" (Address, March 29, 2013). +

A gift from God and the common home of humanity, the earth is threatened by man's abuse of his freedom. In his encyclical Praise Be to You (Laudato Si'), Pope Francis challenges all people to praise and thank God for his glorious creation and to work together to safeguard her. Popes Benedict XVI, John Paul II, and Paul VI addressed key themes regarding stewardship of God's creation, but Francis is the first to devote an entire encyclical to the subject. The encyclical takes its name from Saint Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures, which depicts creation as "a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us." Pope Francis declares, "This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her." Francis calls for an "integral ecology" based on what Pope Saint John Paul II called an "ecological conversion" a moral transformation linking the proper response to God for the gift of his creation to concern for justice, especially for the poor. He challenges people to understand ecology in terms of the right ordering of the fundamental relationships of the human person: with God, oneself, other people, and the rest of creation. Francis examines such ecological concerns as pollution, waste, and what he calls "the throwaway culture." Climate, he insists, is a common good to be protected. He explores notions such as sustainability from a Judeo-Christian perspective. The loss of biodiversity and the unequal distribution of resources, largely caused by the consumerism and excessive individualism of the wealthier nations, threaten the good order of creation, he writes. While valuing technology, he rejects efforts to repudiate the natural order, including the moral law inscribed in human nature. He cautions against an overreliance on science to solve ecological problems and emphasizes the need for openness to God. Expounding the biblical tradition regarding creation and redemption in Christ, Francis stresses man's subordination to God's plan. He insists on the primacy of the human person in creation and rejects treating it as if it were "divine," yet he traces the roots of the ecological crisis to man's self-centeredness and the rise of practical relativism. Without rejecting political changes, he implores people to change their hearts and their ways of life."

Now in paperback in the new Pope's own words, this definitive volume gathers his most probing thoughts on spirituality and the mission of Jesus. These challenging meditations on the scriptures provide valuable insight into how Pope Francis understands the person of Jesus and the Christian calling. Anticipating his retirement as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio gathered together his most probing reflections on the meaning of Christian discipleship. In these profound texts Cardinal Bergoglio draws on the Gospels and the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius to explain how all Christians are called to follow Jesus in the struggle to make God's reign a reality on earth.

Laudato si', mi Signore--Praise Be to You, My Lord With these words of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis begins by reminding us of the Canticle of the Creatures that celebrates the earth as our common home, our sister, who embraces and blesses all of us, with abundance and beauty. But, in the words of Saint John Paul II, the world needs a global ecological conversion before it is too late. The world is already grievously wounded, and its continued degradation is having the greatest immediate impact upon the poor. Appealing to "every person living on this planet," drawing on the wisdom of the tradition of the church and the teachings of previous popes, with this encyclical Pope Francis reaches out to begin a "dialogue with all people" about what we are doing to our planet. +

Pope Francis has been an engaging, prophetic voice tirelessly calling the church to a simple lifestyle of mercy, witness, and collaboration. This new volume in the Pope Francis Resource Library contains the gems from the Pope's reflections on pastoral and priestly ministry. Authorized by the Vatican, the texts are collected from Pope Francis's homilies, speeches, and papers during the first two years of his papacy, as well as from the earlier, exclusive edition published when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires. I Ask You, Be Shepherds offers Pope Francis's profound and encouraging appeal to everyone serving God's people today.