Querido Papa Francisco: O Papa responde a cartas escritas por crianças de todo o mundo

by Pope Francis

Querido Papa Francisco é um verdadeiro projeto de amor para todos os que nele participaram, incluindo o Papa Francisco, a quem havia sido solicitado um livro para crianças, ideia a que ele anuiu prontamente.

Uma extensa rede coordenada por padres jesuítas tratou de indagar do interesse das crianças em contactarem por escrito Sua Santidade e o resultado foi surpreendente. Devido à enorme quantidade de cartas recebidas com perguntas colocadas ao Papa, tornou-se impossível publicá-las todas, assim como as respetivas respostas, pelo que foi decidido escolher 30, com o único critério da sua diversidade. Foram, então, contempladas as missivas de crianças de 26 países dos 6 continentes, escritas em 14 línguas.

O Pe. Antonio Spadaro, coordenador desta iniciativa, encontrou-se com o Papa Francisco e fez-lhe a leitura de cada carta, e o Papa foi respondendo, individualmente, à medida que simultaneamente observava o desenho de cada criança.

É este o resultado editorial que Paulinas Editora, agora, com muita e gratificante alegria, oferece ao público de língua portuguesa.

Cada criança deveria ler este livro, sozinha ou com os pais, avós, irmãos mais velhos, professores ou outra pessoa amiga, tomando consciência de que todas estas questões, que poderão também ser as suas perguntas, são importantes e podem conduzir-nos a Deus.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Religion, Nonfiction, Catholic, Juvenile, Christian

74 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2016

About the author

Pope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.

Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loyola Press very graciously contacted me to see if I would be interested in a hard copy sent to my store so I could properly read and review it, since the eARC wasn't downloading or opening properly. I said yes and they sent me the book, so here is my review.

First off, let me say, that while I am not Catholic (I am Protestant, specifically Presbyterian), I do admire the current Pope and though I do disagree with the Catholic church on some things (that's kind of what we Protestants are known for), I do appreciate that without Catholicism, there would be no Protestants. I respect the roots of my beliefs, if I don't agree with them 100%.

Second off, I went to a Jesuit college for my higher learning and really developed a respect for Jesuits in particular. Since this Pope is the first Jesuit Pope and the Jesuits were highly involved with the making of this book, I am slanted to like the book before I even cracked it open.

Thirdly, I was ALWAYS angered and upset as a child that because I was a child, no one of any importance (re: adults), would listen to me or give much heed to what I said and believed, because I was "just a kid". That the Pope, one of the most loved, venerated, respected, religious leaders took the time to listen to and answer the children seriously, impressed me in a very positive way.

Fourthly, I love this Pope. He's not about the money and power, he's about Jesus and serving the people as Jesus would want him to. I'm not a huge follower of the Catholic church, I tend to ignore it because it has no direct impact on my life, but this Pope has gotten my attention and respect. Not because of his position, but because of his words, and most importantly, his actions. That's not to say I agree with everything he says, he's Catholic, so in my Protestant mind, wrong some of the time, but I still respect him.

So, taking all of that into account, what did I actually think about the book itself?

Thirty questions and pictures from children all around the world are published, alongside the Pope's responses to them. The pictures are colorful and vibrant, the questions raw, real. The kids weren't pulling any punches. They wanted real answers and the Pope respected the children enough to answer them fully, but in language all could understand.

I admit, I was tearing up quite a bit. I let my boss at the bookstore read this first when it came in. (Happy boss, happy work!) She was reading while I shelved books. Every so often I would have a question for her and I would find her sniffling, or wiping her eyes or staring into space, trying not to cry. I asked her why the tears and she said that the book was so sweet, that it gave her hope for the future. The tears were, I guess, tears of relief and happiness, maybe mixed with some sadness at the way the world is today.

Very sweet, heart-felt book. I highly recommend it for everyone. Even if one isn't religious, it's never a bad thing to read about children trying to understand the world and make their corner of it a little better. Yes, Jesus and God are the ultimate answers from the Pope, but the advise is sound and loving. He wants the best for all of God's children, no matter their age.

Five huge shining hopeful stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Loyola Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book for for children--and adults--of all ages! This book is amazing. The letters from children around the world were profound and moving. Pope Francis' responses were simple yet meaningful and so relatable. My 7 year old and 3 year old loved it. They pick out their favorites to reread over and over again, we admire the artwork drawn by children and the letters written in their native languages. This book provides you with the opportunity to talk to your children about how people are different yet share the same faith. Loved it!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Pope Francis, I was excited to come across this book on a whim while browsing the children's section at Barnes & Noble a few days ago. I rarely go into that store anymore because I work in a library. I chose to purchase the book after reading the first letter answered by the pope. Pope Francis' charm and wisdom comes across in each of his responses and provides comfort to an adult mind, like mine, when grappling with questions of faith that have never been adequately answered.

[Dani Stigliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preguntas inocentes y fascinantes con respuestas sencillas y concretas.

[Arjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the oddest reading choice I've made yet — a children's book where Pope Francis answers questions from kids around the world. Although I vividly remember the 2013 Conclave on Dutch television, I never held much regard for the pope — or for any religious-political figures, for that matter. But pope Franciscus passed on the 21st, and his funeral was just yesterday. It has been all over the media, and many have come to Pieterskerk to light a candle. Somehow, I feel that this book would capture Franciscus's essence better than a thick piece of journalism could.

When I walked around a church the other day, there stood a wall on which people could stick prayer-notes. Many were calls for peace on the planet, but what particularly struck me were notes written clearly by young children, including drawings and barely readable handwriting. These would be drawings of angels, or messages like "Lieve Oma, hoe is het in de hemel?" This book is precisely that- those pure, unfiltered questions, with Franciscus providing delicate answers. At first, I struggled with the dualistic and simplistic language required to discuss such topics with children. But truth — God — is simple. So very simple. As the editor of this little book points out, "[with children], we can't escape into the shadow of highly abstract concepts or specious reasoning."

Remember matthew 18:3

[Ari Damoulakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So see my previous review about Pope Francis when I read The Great Reformer.
This book just increases why, for me, he is the best, most patient and incredible Pope the Catholic Church ever had.
So honest and humble when answering, never mind that he even cared enough to answer and his continuing care and love for the world that, if anyone denies it, they should be ashamed of themselves and probably have some sort of mental disorder. It is no secret what I think of conservative Catholics who don’t respect him. And like I mentioned in last review, he is very smart, yet has great EQ and realises how humble we all should be when thinking about a universe we understand so little about.
Pity, I don’t think any of my Gr friends have read this yeg.
Now to the book. Obviously the pope and none of us know the answers to some Theological questions, especially those asked by children, which, as many parents know, are often the hardest, but he does his best and gives the most comforting answers that he can to the children.
My most favourite letter and answer in this book is from the Dutch twins and the pope’s response.
If I could wish a miracle on this Pope, I really wish he could have been, or maybe still be like those rare people who are a few years over 100 and have all their mental faculties, and even sometimes extraordinary physical energy.
So, for this review, I think it is very appropriate to end it with a Gospel song.

https://youtu.be/GF25u_Z6_jk?si=4tOax...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Fr. Antonio Spadaro, S.J., arrived at Pope Francis’s door, he was told to knock and go in.

“There you go,” he writes, “what’s more normal than knocking on a door, right? But it’s Pope Francis’s door.”

He continues with an account of the couple of hours he spent with the pope. Fr. Spadaro arrived with a pack of letters from children all over the world. They wrote questions for the Pope, drew him pictures, and sent them via Fr. Spadaro.

The questions, admittedly, weren’t easy ones. “But these are tough questions!” Pope Francis responds after leafing through them.

You don’t have to spend much time reading Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children Around the World (2016, Loyola Press) to understand that.

For anyone who spends much time around children, these are standard fare. But that doesn’t make them any easier.

The letters that made the cut into the book are delightful, both for their content and for the art that accompanies them. Of the 259 letters received from 26 different countries, 31 were printed.

(Can you imagine being that editor?)

The Pope’s answers vary in length, but all share a warmth that will make you smile and feel a bit like he’s sitting beside you, answering a question you would have asked, given the chance.

On the other hand, this book includes many questions I’ve never thought of asking, but that, upon reading, I did immediately wonder about.

Have you spent much time thinking about the action of walking on water? And the fish going about their business beneath you?

Me neither.

That’s just one of the many gems found in this compilation, which is beautifully illustrated by the children themselves. Each letter also includes a picture of the writer, so you get the feeling that you’re included in a conversation.

My kids wouldn’t sit through the entire book; we made it through a few pages before the younger ones scampered off. I caught my nine-year-old curled up with it at two different times, though, and she told me she really liked it.

And, to be truthful, I liked it a lot myself. This is a book we’ll be keeping around and paging back through.

It’s wonderful to have a real-life glimpse of Pope Francis to share with my children, and even better to have a look for myself. This book is a reminder that questions are important, and having the courage to ask them—and hear them—is at the heart of our Catholic faith.

[Dewi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saya kutipkan pengantar editor :
Karena Tuhan itu sederhana, kelembutan Tuhan dinyatakan dalam kesederhanaanNya. Seseorang tidak boleh memperumit Tuhan, apalagi jika kerumitan itu justru menjauhkan Tuhan dari manusia.

Buku ini berisi pertanyaan dari anak-anak dan jawaban Bapa Paus Fransiskus. Dari pertanyaan yang lucu : "Ketika masih kecil apakah Bapa suka menari" dari anak 6 tahun di Albania, pertanyaan filosofis seperti : "Why did God create us even though He knew that we would sin against Him" dari seorang anak 10 tahun dari Singapore, bahkan pertanyaan sulit seperti "Akankah dunia kembali lagi seperti dahulu" dari seorang anak Suriah yang berada dalam situasi perang.
Bapa Paus berusaha menjawab dengan sederhana. Yang saya suka adalah beliau menaruh perhatian pada detil gambar yang disertakan anak-anak dalam pertanyaan mereka.

24.04.25
Membaca ulang buku ini lagi saat Paus Fransiskus sudah berpulang. Sekian tahun berlalu sungguh terasa benar bahwa beliau memiliki cinta, kepedulian dan keberpihakan pada anak-anak. Sugeng tindak Bapa Paus Fransiskus.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book in every way. Pope Francis answers questions from children around the world. The Children's questions and art work are on one side and the Pope's answers are on the other. Such a variety of interesting questions. The responses from the Pope are beautiful, consistent with who he is...loving, compassionate and intelligent. Great book to read to children, use in a classroom, just look at for younger children. Love it!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely book full of peace, joy and faith. I love the quote at the end "I realize that the language of Pope Francis is simple and that he lives in simple words. Because God is simple. The tenderness of God is revealed in his simplicity. One must not complicate God, especially if this complication distances God from the people." This captures this book perfectly.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter received this as a first communion gift. I haven't read it all yet but the parts I've read are really touching. My daughter loves reading the letters from children all around the world, and marveling at the Chinese and Arabic letters. Great book.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The devil is a loser"

-Pope Francis

[Marcelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful book for all ages. Brings up a lot of good questions from children and Pope Francis answers questions as it relates to the Catholic faith.

[Grunge SeaBunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a devout atheist. But this book brought me so much joy. It was clear how much Pope Francis denounced war, injustice, racism, etc. True teachings of Jesus.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pope Francis deserves all the stars. Although he would definitely say he doesn't deserve them, which is exactly why he does.

Adults will get just as much out of this book as kids. Pope Francis doesn't talk down to kids. And kids have big questions, which he takes seriously and answers honestly and with compassion. I especially love the one about "what was God doing before he made the world?" and the answer is "he was love."

Parents should be aware that it does mention suicide.

This is not my first time reading this book and it will not be the last. I'm glad I found a copy to add to my shelf.

Also, it contains the best Pope Francis quote of all time:

"The devil is a loser."

[Célia M. Martins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este livrinho é simplesmente adorável.

Não vou dizer que sou uma fiel devota da Igreja, até porque se o dissesse estaria a mentir. Contudo, confesso que aprecio o Papa Francisco, a sua simplicidade e a forma como ele tenta chegar o mais próximo possível das pessoas. Daí me ter interessado por este livro.

Este é mais um dos livrinhos que a minha mãe ganhou num passatempo da Rádio Renascença e que depois de me chegar às mãos, despertou em mim uma certa curiosidade. Tal como se pode ler na sinopse, trata-se de uma selecção de cartas (com perguntas e desenhos) que crianças de várias nacionalidades e idades escreveram ao Papa Francisco e que este se prontificou a responder.

São perguntas que, em algum momento das nossas vidas, também nos possam ter passado pela cabeça e que estas crianças colocam sem rodeios nem floreados, de uma forma directa. Algumas questões fazem rir, outras são mais sérias, mas todas elas têm direito a uma resposta do Papa Francisco que procura, também de uma forma simples, dar uma explicação e/ou esclarecer as dúvidas dos mais pequenos.

Não diria que é um livro só para crianças, também os adultos podem tirar muitas mensagens e ensinamentos das questões colocadas pelas crianças, mas também das respostas dadas pelo Papa. Talvez esta seja uma óptima maneira de nos aproximar mais da Igreja, colocando-nos na posição de cada uma destas crianças e olhando para o mundo através das suas perspectivas.

Não posso deixar de referir que a edição foi bem trabalhada e que a considero muito apelativa e alegre (apesar de algumas das questões e desenhos retratarem temas mais sensíveis). Os desenhos das crianças são adoráveis, cheios de cor, e as respostas do Papa são repletas de significado.

Uma nova experiência de leitura que me surpreendeu e que apreciei bastante.

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children are inquisitive by nature and they are rather fearless when asking any questions – no topic seems to be off limits, which makes their questions all that interesting. Some of their questions are mundane, some are fun, some are serious, and some spiritually or philosophically difficult that you would think that you would need someone with multiple doctorates to answer them.

Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children Around the World is a children's picture book written by various children around the world and answered by Pope Francis. The premise of this book is fairly obvious – children asking those mundane, fun, serious, spiritually, and philosophical question to one of the most powerful spiritual leaders on Earth. In this book he answers thirty of those questions.

This book is simply wonderful. The questions are innocent, frank and often rather deceptively deep. Pope Francis answers each question with optimism and with such honesty that would impact every reader long after the final page is read. This book is so illuminating and inspiring that it holds a universal message that is relevant for both children and adult alike.

All in all, Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children Around the World is a wonderful and perceptive children's book targeted mainly for young children, but it is relevant for adults as well. It gives a timeless message to all – from one of the most spiritual persons on the planet.

[Marathon County Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delightful and refreshingly candid look at Pope Francis and the children from around the world who had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write a letter and ask the leader of the Catholic Church any questions they wished. The questions they ask are honest, surprising, and ones that people of all ages would be interested in hearing his answer. Questions range from those of faith--why there are not any more miracles and do bad people have guardian angels, to more personal ones--what makes him happy and did he like dancing as a child. Accompanying the letters are color pictures drawn by the children, often including the questions written by them in their own language, and of course his answer. This heart-warming book is sure to delight readers of all ages and all faiths. You may even find yourself smiling and wondering what questions you might ask if you had an opportunity.

Sharyn H. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

[David Edmonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those that know me, it might be a surprise to find that I read this book. However, despite my feelings on religion, I've been impressed with Pope Francis and the message that he is sending. When I heard about this book, I was intrigued to see what his responses to children's questions would be like. While his answers to the children's questions are naturally Christian-based, he also gives advice that anyone from any faith or background could use: that peace, love, and calm are important aspects to being a good person.

[Erica Massarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Pope Francis is an extremely moving book.

In this book, children from around the world sent letters to the Pope. These letters contain questions that children have about their religion and life in general. The pope then answers them to the best of his ability.

This book is amazing because it shows how amazing children can be and how profound their thoughts are. It shows that they are interested in their faith. Pope Francis's answers are well-thought-out and age appropriate. I love sharing this book with my students.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so enjoyable to read with my 6-year-old son. It's full of images of real letters and drawings sent to Pope Francis by children all over the world, asking him big questions. His responses are wonderful and written in a way that a child can understand. We read 2 or 3 at bedtime each night for a week or so. My favorite thing about reading this to Michael was the conversations these letters sparked, about life, death, love, our faith, geography, human languages, and how big (and small in some ways) the world is. Wonderful.

[Francis McKinney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pope Francis is a heretic! Answer the Dubia, make it right. Bar civilly divorced and remarried from Holy Communion, don't allow priests to preach love of sin such as homosexuality etc. Also, Make the Mass Latin Again!

[Linda Bossoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

La cosa che mi ha colpito inizialmente di questo libro è stato il titolo "L'amore prima del mondo", mi sono chiesta perché questa scelta per una raccolta di lettere; la risposta è arrivata leggendo la prima in cui un bambino chiede che cosa facesse Dio prima di creare il mondo, il Papa, con una semplicità quasi disarmante, risponde che Dio amava. Questo primo scambio detta un po' il tono di tutto il libro: domande difficili talvolta, anche profonde teologicamente, a cui il Papa risponde con una semplicità di linguaggio che gli permette di rendere messaggi complicati a misura di bambino.
È un libro che offre anche aperture inaspettate sulla persona di Jorge Mario Bergoglio,
cioè sull'uomo dietro al ruolo di Papa, un uomo con le sue paure, i suoi dubbi, le sue difficoltà oltre a qualche aneddoto sulla sulla sua fanciullezza, per esempio chi l'avrebbe mai detto che da bambino il Papa volesse fare il macellaio?
Un libro per bambini ma che può far bene anche ai genitori.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

...Tuhan itu sederhana, kelembutan Tuhan dinyatakan dalam kesederhanaan-Nya.

Membaca surat dari anak-anak di seluruh dunia ini, melihat ilustrasi yang mereka gambar, dan membaca jawaban Paus Fransiskus atas pertanyaan mereka memang menyenangkan, heartwarming, selalu eye-opening juga. Tiap kali re-read seperti memberi pandangan dan harapan baru. Ihiw. It's nice to see that the Pope also gave his own reflections on their drawings. Meskipun kata C.S. Lewis "Children's stories that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest," dan buku ini memang bukan buku cerita, tapi saya rasa kalau buku ini disebut buku cerita, maka buku ini buku yang sangat bagus dan uwu karena saya yakin orang-orang dewasa pun bisa menikmatinya dan memetik paling tidak sesuatu darinya :3 mungkin buku ini perlu saya re-read tiap tahun juga karena memang uwu + gives hopeful vibes.

[Susan Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful book! As a grandmother and former catechist and Catholic School teacher, I think any child with a Christian background would find this book to be comforting and inspiring. I consider it essential reading for anyone who works with children in a Catholic setting, or who has a Catholic/Christian background. My niece, who is the principal of a lovely Catholic School, gives this book to all her staff, faculty, and even to some visitors -- like me! This book radiates with God's love, just as her school does.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my Grade 7 religion class today, and they sat quietly and listened the entire class (not typical behaviour). Pope Francis not only answers the numerous questions in the book, but phrased it in a way that kids understand. Some of the questions posed were very thought provoking, such as “Do my dead relatives get to see me from heaven?” Other questions were humorous, such as “Why do you like to watch soccer?” A very enlightening read.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children ask direct questions and want to know why. This is a great children's book that contains simple to complex questions children have about the world and where the Pope stands. I found this to be not singled-out for Catholics but all religions. Pope Francis has a wonderful way of showing his concern for our world and talking to children and helping them make sense of it.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me sentí identificada con muchas de las preguntas de los niños. La forma de contestar del Papa Francisco es directa, didáctica y con mucha gracia.
Ver las cartas en su idioma original es maravilloso.
Y aún tengo atravesada una frase del libro en un relato sobre un suicida: “Saiba que entre a ponte e o Rio há a misericórdia de Deus”.

[Teacher Librarian Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming, inspiring and comforting with questions that children would ask if they had the chance. A great way to discuss difficult issues such as grief and suffering with children, as well as giving them a greater understanding of their faith. Highly recommend, the illustrations from the children are beautiful and made me teary.

[Kimberly Poquiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful children’s book. Some of the questions are lighthearted and others are more complex. It’s an enjoyable read even for an adult. My only criticism is that it is lengthy for being a children’s book.