Pope Francis and his new book.Photo:Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty, Harper One
Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty, Harper One
Pope Francishas a new book out that links his own journey of faith to world events.
In stories and meditations, Pope Francis takes readers through the Holocaust to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the moon landing in 1969, the 1986 World Cup, the 9/11 terrorist attacks and even the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along the way, he offers frank and forthcoming messages on the major crises confronting our world, including war, climate change, racial discrimination and a host of social and cultural concerns. But with his characteristic candor, the Pope also shares a wealth of stories that show his humanity.
Below, in an excerpt shared exclusively with PEOPLE, he remembers two women who impacted his life — and a time he almost lost it.
She was so beautiful, so clever, it made my head spin. For a week I kept picturing her in my mind’s eye, and found it difficult to pray. Fortunately it passed, and I was able to dedicate my mind and body to my vocation.
Until there came yet another test. It was August 1957. My grandparents were about to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, but a few days before the day, everyone in the seminary caught the flu. I was infected too, but whereas the other boys recovered and started going out again, I stayed shut up in my room: the fever wouldn’t pass.
She realized the dosage of penicillin that had been prescribed for me was insufficient, so she administered the right amount for my condition and saved me. And fellow seminarians with the same blood type came every day to give blood. I had so many guardian angels!
My convalescence was long. I spent a great deal of time in silence. I thought about what might happen to me, I prayed to the Madonna, and to a certain extent I prepared myself for death—which might come suddenly; this could not be ruled out.
Indeed, every time my mother came to see me she burst into tears; others tried to comfort me. In November they removed the upper lobe of my right lung, which had developed three cysts. The surgical procedure used the techniques of the day: you can imagine the incisions they made, and how I suffered.
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Life: My Story Through Historygoes on sale March 19 and is now available for preorder.
source: people.com
