Vatican City: Pope Francis has written the foreword to a book by Italian journalist Francesco Antonio Grana, titled Jubilee of Hope, which focuses on the Vatican. In the foreword, the Pope expresses his desire for the upcoming Holy Year to be a genuine moment for personal transformation, encouraging individuals to reflect on their lives through the lens of the Gospel.

The Pope’s vision for the Jubilee is one of peace, where weapons are silenced, the arms industry ceases to profit from violence, the death penalty is abolished, and prisoners receive amnesty or pardon. He highlights these aspirations in his introduction to Grana's book, which will be published by Elledici. "I hope this Jubilee brings a ceasefire in all war-torn nations!" the Pope stresses, emphasizing that war leaves everyone defeated—there are no victors, only the vanquished, echoing the words from the Holy Year’s proclamation, Spes non confundit ("Hope does not disappoint").

For the Pope, hope is not simply an optimistic outlook or a fleeting emotion but a profound virtue, one that requires conscious action and commitment to goodness. He explains that "hope is not illusion but a concrete virtue," sustained by each person’s dedication to what is good. This hope, he adds, is manifested through intellectual, spiritual, artistic, and political efforts, all aimed at serving the common good.

The Pope underscores the importance of focusing on this common good, especially in the context of migrants. He points out that what are often called "journeys of hope" frequently turn into "journeys of despair," as many perish in the Mediterranean, transforming it into a "vast cemetery." He also calls for improved conditions for prisoners and reaffirms his stance against the death penalty, which he deems unacceptable as it infringes upon human dignity.

Pope Francis further explains that the Holy Year is more than a mere event on the calendar; it is a vital pastoral tool, employed by popes since 1300 to address the needs of their time. The Pope envisions the 2025 Holy Year as a moment of pilgrimage, where millions will walk through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s and the other three Papal Basilicas. However, he hopes that this pilgrimage will not be a superficial, tourist-driven experience but rather an opportunity for deep spiritual conversion and reflection. He encourages pilgrims to accompany their journey with a charitable act, carried out in secret.

The book also honors Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, two young people to be canonized during the Jubilee. Pope Francis draws inspiration from their lives, urging people not to squander their time but to embody, with Jesus in their hearts, the transformative power of love that manifests in acts of service.