At the Buchmesse in Frankfurt, a major global publishing event, the Vatican Bookstore is presenting several new books by Pope Francis, a focus on literature and spirituality, as well as works with a particular focus on spirituality and ecology.
The Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the most prestigious events in the sector, takes place from October 19 to 23 in the German financial capital. As usual, the stand of the Vatican Publishing Library (LEV) is present there. Among the selection presented this year, a volume dedicated to an upcoming very significant anniversary for the life of the Church and culture: the 800th anniversary of the first nativity scene, designed and made by Saint Francis of Assisi at Christmas 1223. C That’s why the LEV is working on a book by Pope Francis called Il presepe, “The Nativity Scene”, unfolding characters and symbols of the Holy Night, in which the Pope explains the meaning and the message of the different characters, physical and figurative, of the representation of the Nativity.
Francis’ books
Another new book by Pope Francis, Walking Together, will also be presented in Frankfurt. “Words and reflections on synodality”, edited by Sister Nathalie Becquart, Under-Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, anthology which collects the words of the Pope on the theme of the Church listening and on the move as the people of God, from the moment of her election to the throne papal until today. A very important text which falls at the time when Francis announces the double appointment for the synod on synodality, in October 2023 and October 2024.
Another text by the Pope is devoted to the theology of the priesthood, “According to the style of God”: these are reflections on the spirituality of the priesthood, in which is presented the speech of Francis at the symposium on the theology of the priesthood held in recent months at the Vatican, accompanied by comments by Father Timothy Radcliffe and Father Luigi Maria Epicoco. The text is also enriched with some meeting sheets for the continuing formation of the clergy.
Spirituality, ecology, fiction
In addition to these titles and others by Pope Francis, as well as recent magisterial documents written by the various organs of the Holy See, the Vatican Publishing House presents at the Buchmesse in Frankfurt a number of recent texts related to the protection of creation, social life and spirituality. First, the book by the French economist and Jesuit Gaël Giraud The soft revolution of the ecological transition. How to build a possible future, which has already been very well received in Italy in terms of sales and press; also, the biography of Venerable Tonino Bello by Bishop Domenico Cornacchia: witness and teacher of virtue. The Christian Way of Don Tonino Bello, already being translated into Polish. The book Le diversità riconciliate will also be presented at the book fair. “A Protestant in the Pope’s newspaper” by Marcelo Figueroa, reverend of the Presbyterian community and director of the Argentine edition of L’Osservatore Romano, which will be published in Spanish and Portuguese, and “Theological ethics of life. Writing, tradition, practical challenges»under the direction of Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
The Vatican Bookstore at the 2022 Frankfurt Book Fair – Vatican News