April 21 will go down in history as a date of profound significance for the Catholic Church. On that day, the world received the news of the death of Pope FrancisThe first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, who strongly marked the course of the Church in the 21st century. In a coincidence that many have interpreted as providential, that same day saw the publication of a book titled "Witnesses of mercy and hope. The teachings of Pope Francis for the 21st century."written by Spanish theologian Ramiro Pellitero.
Published by SAN PABLO, the volume offers a profound and systematic exposition of the thought of Pope Francis, from a theological and pastoral perspective. It is a work intended for both specialists and the general public who wish to understand in depth the keys to a pontificate that has left an indelible mark on the recent history of the Church.
The publication of this book on the same day of the pope's death has given the work an almost testamentary character. Although it was not written by the pontiff himself, Witnesses of mercy and hope rigorously reflects his great intuitions and priorities: a Church on the move, centered on mercy, committed to the poor and called to heal the wounds of the world.
Ramiro Pellitero, professor of Theology at the University of Navarra and author of multiple essays on ecclesiology, presents in this volume a clear, profound and well-documented synthesis of the magisterium of Pope Francis. Through its pages, readers will be able to explore the ideas that have animated the encyclicals, exhortations, speeches and gestures of the Argentine pontiff during his pontificate.
The work has a valuable prologue by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, who highlights the theological and pastoral value of the book. In his words, the Portuguese cardinal underlines that this volume "is not only a reading of Francis' thought, but an invitation to live it, to incarnate it in the daily commitment of believers with Christian hope".
Tolentino, recognized for his spiritual sensitivity and his ability to build bridges between faith and contemporary culture, also points out the timeliness of the publication, which coincides with the need to preserve and deepen the legacy of Pope Francis: "The teaching of Francis does not end with his earthly life; it lives on in every gesture of mercy, in every word of comfort, in every courageous decision of those who seek to renew the Church from the Gospel".
Structured in thematic chapters, Witnesses of mercy and hope addresses central issues of Francis' thought: mercy as the core of the Christian message, the role of the poor as evangelizing subjects, integral ecology as an expression of justice, ecclesial reform as a path of conversion, and synodality as a style of a Church that listens, discerns and walks together.
The author places special emphasis on the pastoral character of Pope Francis: a style of government that favors encounter, closeness and tenderness. Far from proposing an abstract or academic theology, Francis has wanted to speak to the heart of people, especially those who suffer. The book faithfully captures this dimension, showing how Francis exercised his Petrine ministry in a profoundly evangelical spirit.
The coincidence between the publication of the book and the death of Pope Francis has been received with emotion by many sectors of the Church. Not a few see in it a providential homage: a written summary of his legacy that reaches the world just as the Pope is returning to the Father's house. The very title of the book -Witnesses of mercy and hope- perfectly sums up the spirit of Francis and the message he leaves to humanity.
Already available in religious bookstores and digital platforms, the book is an indispensable reading for those who wish to deepen the spiritual richness of Francis' pontificate and continue to make his legacy bear fruit in the Christian communities of the world.
The death of Pope Francis marks the end of an era, but not the end of his influence. His thought, his gestures and his example will continue to illuminate the path of millions of believers. Books such as Ramiro Pellitero's help to preserve and transmit this legacy, and offer tools to live the Gospel today with audacity, compassion and hope.
With this publication, the Church not only looks back with gratitude, but prepares to move forward, inspired by one of the most significant pontificates of our era.
