The Wisdom of Pope Francis: 365 Days of Inspiration

By Pope Francis

When the new pope stepped out onto the balcony on March 13, 2013, nobody could have imagined how this man in simple white vestments would capture the world's attention. Before he proclaimed the traditional blessing on those gathered in St. Peter's Square, he bowed his head and asked the people to pray for him.
This single gesture told the world that this Pope would not just be proclaiming the teachings of Jesus and his church. Here was a man eager to listen and ready to engage the whole world in a conversation that is both ancient and fresh.

The Wisdom of Pope Francis is a collection of his most inspiring, accessible, and challenging ideas. Journey with him through the year as he leads you deeper into the heart of God. Along the way, you will discover yourself in new and exciting ways, and develop a fresh understanding of what it means to be a member of the human family in the modern world.

You could spend hundreds of hours reading the writings and speeches of Pope Francis, but here in your hands, you have the heart and soul of his message. With an outstanding introduction by Matthew Kelly— one of the great thought-leaders of our time— this collection has been carefully curated to provide you with a powerful experience. Read, reflect, and allow these words to transform you into a-better-version-of-yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781635821659

Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. He was ordained a priest in the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1969 and made a bishop in 1992. He became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was named a cardinal in 2001. In March 2013 he was elected Bishop of Rome, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church.

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POPE FRANCIS

Copyright © 2019

Kakadu, LLC

Published by Blue Sparrow

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

The quotes in this book have been drawn from dozens of sources. They are assumed to be accurate as quoted in their previously published forms. Although every effort has been made to verify the quotes and sources, the Publisher cannot guarantee their perfect accuracy.

Cover Art by Cameron Smith.

Joyful Father, 2015.

Cover Design by Madeline Harris

Typeset by Ashley Wirfel

ISBN: 978-1-63582-164-2 (hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-63582-165-9 (e-Book)

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Printed in the United States of America

FIRST EDITION

TABLE of CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

INTRODUCTION: AN EPIC CONVERSATION

WHEN THE NEW pope stepped out onto the balcony on March 13, 2013, nobody could have imagined how this man in simple white vestments would capture the world’s attention. Before he proclaimed the traditional blessing on those gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he bowed his head and asked the people to pray for him.

This single gesture told the world that this Pope would not just be proclaiming the teachings of Jesus and his church. Here was a man eager to listen and ready to engage the whole world in a conversation that is both ancient and fresh.

Christianity has always been in conversation with the world. The focus and quality of this conversation has consistently influenced and often altered the direction of human history.

Over the past 50 years, an ever-increasing number of people have decided not to participate in this conversation. As they exit the conversation, they grow indifferent toward Jesus, his church and Christian principles in general. This indifference is perhaps the greatest enemy Christianity faces in today’s modern secular world.

To the casual observer, it could seem that in an age of limitless communication and constant dialogue on every topic, the Catholic Church has become the last remaining monologue.

Pope Francis set out to change that. He is trying to re-energize the conversation between Catholicism and the world. He is open to dialogue. He is inviting people to rejoin the conversation. As a result, hundreds of millions of people are now participating in the conversation for the first time or in a new way. This is a good thing.

This conversation is important. It matters. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the most effective way to draw all of God’s children closer. For this reason, this conversation cannot be about the Church and its future, or its past. It has to be about the people the Church exists to serve—their hopes and dreams, their fears and needs, their daily struggles, God’s dream for them, and the truth that will set them free.

Evangelization at its core is a conversation that helps people seek and find deeply personal answers to their deeply personal questions.

What makes a great conversation? First and foremost, great conversations take time. They aren’t simply a quick exchange of ideas, and they cannot be rushed.

Great conversations are centered on great questions. Excellent teachers, priests, and doctors hone the art of asking penetrating questions that move a conversation in a positive direction.

Great conversations are constantly seeking deeper, more complete expressions of truth—the anchor upon which all great conversations rely to consistently move to deeper levels.

And in great conversations, we listen