In a Meeting Between the Vatican Ambassador and Book City Representative:
In a recent meeting between Ali Jafarabadi, Deputy Director of the Book City Institute, and Archbishop Andrzej Józwowicz, the Vatican’s ambassador to Iran, it was announced that the Persian translation of Pope Francis’s autobiography, Hope, will soon be published in Iran. Jafarabadi expressed his condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, the late leader of the Catholic Church, and shared news of the forthcoming release of Hope, the Persian edition of the Pope’s self-written life story.
This project is a collaboration between the Book City Institute and Hermes Publishing, with the translation handled by Mahmoud Gholipour, a renowned translator of international works. The original memoir, published in early 2025, is currently in its final stages of preparation at Hermes Publishing and is set to be unveiled at the Tehran International Book Fair. Notably, initial negotiations for the Persian edition began in late 2024-prior to the original’s global release-with Penguin Random House, the book’s international publisher, ensuring that all copyright and legal requirements have been fully observed. This marks a significant commitment by Iranian publishers to upholding international publishing standards.
Pope Francis (Jorge Bergoglio) begins his autobiography with the story of his grandparents’ migration from Italy to Argentina. After recounting his childhood memories, he reflects on the concerns of his teenage years and his calling to the Church. Other sections of the book cover his journey to priesthood, his studies, his membership in the Society of Jesus, and the dark era of Juan Perón, as well as his efforts to free political prisoners. However, the bulk of the book focuses on his time as Pope and his relentless pursuit of peace and hope in the world. Known as the “Pope of the Slums,” the “People’s Pope,” and the “Pope of the Marginalized,” he seeks—through the universal language of human conscience—to invite each and every person to build a better tomorrow.
Archbishop Andrzej Józwowicz praised the cultural initiative, calling it a significant step toward fostering global understanding. “This work—the late Pope’s final book—portrays a spiritual leader who valued people beyond religion, ethnicity, or background,” he said.
He also confirmed the Vatican Embassy’s full support for the book’s launch event.
During the meeting, both sides discussed expanding cultural cooperation, particularly in translating and publishing important works from their respective sides. They emphasized how such collaborations can strengthen interfaith dialogue.
