Pope Francis' 'Santa Marta' homilies to be published in Italian

Pope Francis at Penitential service

One of the most popular items on Vatican Radio each week - which are picked up by news services around the world - are the reports of Pope Francis' homilies given during his regular morning Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta where he has been living since his election on 13 March last year.

Now these reflections – 186 of them to be precise – have been gathered together in one Italian language volume which will go on sale from next Thursday, 24 April, titled: 'The Truth is an Encounter. Homilies from Santa Marta'. Produced by Rizzoli publishers, the volume contains an introduction by Jesuit Fr Antonio Spadaro, editor of the twice monthly publication Civiltà Cattolica, and a preface by Vatican Radio director general, Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi.

Fr Lombardi notes that for the past 83 years, since Vatican Radio was founded by Guglielmo Marconi, it has been carrying out its mission "to spread the words of the Pope” to the very ends of the earth.

Its technicians, secretaries and journalists, he says, have now committed themselves “with dedication and joy” to this new task of sharing the very personal reflections on the daily readings that Pope Francis gives to those members of the congregation lucky enough to be present at his weekday morning Mass.

From 7 May, bookshops will also be selling the new volume together with a CD of all the homilies, recapturing the very distinctive voice of the Argentinian Pope, with his memorable expressions and colourful turns of phrase that have been captivating listeners around the world for the past 13 months.

Source: VIS