Pope Francis answers questions from children in new
book
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
has answered 30 questions presented to him from children from around the world.
Loyola Press is publishing the responses in a book due to be published on 1
March called Dear
Pope Francis.
The United States-based
Jesuit publishing house approached Pope Francis about the idea last year, and
received a positive response. They then asked Jesuits from around the world to
collect questions from children aged 6-13, including Catholics and
non-Catholics. They also asked the children to send drawings, which are
included in the book.
They received 259 questions
from 26 countries in 14 languages. The book’s editor, Fr. Paul Campbell, SJ,
then sat down with a committee and chose the questions to send the Pope.
“One of the lines we
use to describe this book is: Little children have big questions,” Fr. Campbell
told Vatican Radio.
“Yes they are questions from
little children, but they are very, very profound questions,” – Fr. Campbell
said – “The Holy Father was very clear that it was terribly difficult to answer
these questions.”
The Jesuit priest said one
thing that comes out of reading the book is the Holy Father’s profound
sensitivity to the suffering of children around the world.
“I believe it was William
from the United States who asked the question if you could cause one
miracle…what would it be? And the Holy Father said ‘to stop the suffering of
children’,” – Father Campbell explained – “and it is very clear to me that the
Holy Father’s heart is full of compassion for those who suffer.”
This book is only a small way
of giving suffering people hope.
“The Holy Father wants
to reach out to children and adults to everyone who experiences suffering –
which means all of us – to tell us that he does not understand suffering, that
he cannot explain it, but that he does believe that Jesus did suffer for us,
and that is the only thing that gives him hope and comfort,” Father Campbell
said.
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