Dear Pope Francis

The Pope Answers Letters from Children Around the World

By: Pope Francis

1 Review

$18.95

Quantity	Price
1 – 24	$18.95
25 – 99	$15.00
100 – 249	$12.00
250 +	$10.00

ISBN: 978-0-8294-4433-9

Hardcover | 76 pages

SKU: Dear Pope Francis English (HC)

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If you could ask Pope Francis one question, what would it be?

Small children have BIG questions. Some are fun. Some are serious. And some will break your heart.

Dear Pope Francis is the Pope's first book for children, which he followed with the vibrantly illustrated Pope Francis Says… In Dear Pope Francis, the pope personally responds to 30 questions from children all over the world. With his optimistic heart, Pope Francis writes with an honesty that will impact every reader long after the final page is turned. Illuminating and inspiring, Dear Pope Francis is a lasting book with a universal message for children and adults. And, with Pope Francis Says…, younger readers can begin to learn this inspiring message from the Pope even sooner.

Available in Spanish.

What Parents and Teachers Are Saying About Dear Pope Francis:

"I purchased one for my 8-year old God-daughter's First Holy Communion. My 12-year old daughter perused it and loved it SO much I needed to purchase one for her as well as an Easter gift."

"This book left me in tears. The questions are so touching and the answers are beautiful. I bought this for our parish library. It is a book for children, but I think adults should read it too."

"I have been buying this book for my godchildren because it's so amazing. The Pope's responses are so sweet and sometimes profound. This book is totally worth it."

"Best book I've ever purchased for our son. It was a gift for his First Holy Communion. I wanted to inspire him to continue learning and asking questions about his faith, and it did just that. Our son is 9, though I've learned quite a bit, too!"

"The best Christian book for children that I've read in ages. I am giving one to each member of my family."

"Very insightful and cute. Will work great to read one each class at our faith formation classes."

"Bought as a First Communion book for our son and he has read and reread this several times. Great book for a Catholic kid, or actually any kid!"

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Author Bio

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New York Times best seller

2017 Illumination Book Awards, Gold (tie): Children’s Picture Book

2017 Independent Press Awards, Distinguished Favorite: Book Cover Design, Children’s

2017 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, First Place: Children’s Books

2017 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, First Place: Pope Francis

2017 Association of Catholic Publishers’ “Excellence in Publishing Book Awards,” Book of the Year

2016 International Book Awards, Winner: Children’s Picture Book: Hardcover Non-Fiction

2016 Lectio Book Award

2016 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, Gold: Religion/Spirituality

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If you could ask Pope Francis one question, what would it be?

Dear Pope Francis is the Pope’s first book for children, which he followed with the vibrantly illustrated Pope Francis Says… In Dear Pope Francis, the pope personally responds to 30 questions from children all over the world. With his optimistic heart, Pope Francis writes with an honesty that will impact every reader long after the final page is turned. Illuminating and inspiring, Dear Pope Francis is a lasting book with a universal message for children and adults. And, with Pope Francis Says…, younger readers can begin to learn this inspiring message from the Pope even sooner.

Blackline Masters for Dear Pope Francis are available in English and Spanish and include two lessons each for grades K–2, 3–5, and 6–8. In each lesson, students apply the wisdom of Pope Francis’s responses to children’s letters to their own lives.

On Feb. 22, 2016, twelve child co-authors of the book Dear Pope Francis spent an afternoon with their co-author Pope Francis. The children came from twelve different countries, including China, Belgium, Australia, Kenya, and the United States. These children’s questions and illustrations are featured in the Pope’s first and only children’s book, along with the Pope’s personal responses.

The Holy Father talked with his young guests at the Vatican. During the extraordinary visit, each of the children gave Pope Francis a gift from their homeland, including maple syrup from Canada, a woven painting from India, Ugg boots from Australia, and a soccer ball from the United States. The Pope in turn greeted and blessed each child and then presented them with a copy of Dear Pope Francis as well as a “Jesus the Teacher” plush figure. It was the first time the children had seen the Pope’s response to their questions. The children also had the unique opportunity to ask Pope Francis additional questions and even sing a song for him.

The impact of this once-in-a-lifetime experience for the children was poignantly expressed by Ryan from Canada, “One moment, I felt excited, but then I thought, this is probably the only time I'm ever going to meet him, so I don't want to blow this.” Clara from Ireland said that she would be friends with the kids she met on this special journey for the rest of her life.

The trip, which included a tour of Rome for the children and their parents, was sponsored by Loyola Press, publisher of Dear Pope Francis. Father Antonio Spadaro, S.J., who helped facilitate and edit this unique project, offered some insight as to why the Pope immediately said “Yes” to the book and visit: “The Pope knows that when he speaks to adults, children may not listen…but when he speaks to children, then adults listen.” In this way, the children’s visit to the Vatican helped bring the world’s attention to the Pope’s desire to share a message of mercy with all people.