The book “Hope”, the autobiography of Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis), became the center of an inspiring discussion at Central BookCity on Tuesday, October 20, 2025. The event welcomed Archbishop André Yuzovich, Vatican Ambassador to Iran, Hojjatoleslam Dr. Mostafa Boroujerdi, former Iranian Ambassador to the Vatican, and Mohammad Gholipour, translator of the book, to examine the life, philosophy, and distinctive human approach of the current Pope.
The evening opened with Mohsen Azmoudeh, host of the program, highlighting the significance of the book as a rare opportunity to understand one of the most influential spiritual leaders of our time. He invited Mohammad Gholipour to share his motivations for translating the work, noting how translation itself became a journey of discovery.
Translator: “Hope is the red thread of my work”
Mohammad Gholipour explained that the act of translating “Hope” revealed a unifying theme across his diverse career, from short stories to novels and critical works on the Vatican in World War II. “While translating this book,” he said, “I realized that the thread connecting all my writings—both translations and original works—has always been hope. A twenty-year secret finally revealed itself.”
Gholipour also reflected on the philosophical depth of the text, noting how Pope Francis weaves ideas from Plato and Aristotle to contemporary thinkers like Ernst Bloch into accessible language, allowing readers to engage with complex philosophy without intimidation.
Vatican Ambassador: Hope as a Vaccine Against Despair
Archbishop André Yuzovich emphasized that this is the first papal autobiography released during the pontiff’s lifetime. Originally intended for posthumous publication, the Pope chose to release it during the Holy Jubilee Year 2025, a year dedicated to hope. “Hope is a central concept in Christian theology,” the Archbishop said. “It is the light in the darkness of night, a kind of vaccine against despair. Losing hope is losing the meaning of life. Hope gives us the power to live.”
Former Iranian Ambassador: Hidden Layers of Insight
Dr. Mostafa Boroujerdi noted that even with his prior studies of the Vatican, he found that there was much to learn upon encountering its realities firsthand. He described “Hope” as one of the most captivating, readable, and enduring books he has encountered. Praising the Pope’s deeply human character, Boroujerdi also pointed to the book’s unspoken narratives, noting that many of the complex challenges faced by Pope Francis and the Catholic Church are only briefly touched upon in the text. He emphasized that the Pope’s Latin American and Jesuit background shaped a leader profoundly distinct from his European predecessors—someone who has experienced poverty, migration, and struggle, and carries those experiences into his leadership.
This event was not only a book discussion but a celebration of BookCity’s commitment to fostering dialogue, philosophical inquiry, and cross-cultural understanding. By bringing together translators, diplomats, scholars, and readers, Central BookCity showcased its role as a space for intellectual exchange and reflection on universal human values, demonstrating how literature can illuminate complex ideas and nurture hope in diverse communities.
