Vatican City: To celebrate his 88th birthday, Pope Francis has shared several excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, Hope, which will be released in January. The book, co-written with Carlo Musso, reflects on significant moments from his life, from his childhood in Buenos Aires to the challenges he faced during his 2021 visit to Iraq. A central theme in the book is the “concentrate of humanity” he witnessed in the slums of Buenos Aires, as well as the profound emotional impact he felt in Iraq, which he describes as an “arrow to the heart.”

The autobiography, set to be published by the Italian publisher Mondadori on January 14, will be available in over 100 countries. On December 17, the Pope’s 88th birthday, two major Italian newspapers, La Repubblica and Il Corriere della Sera, released selected passages from the book.

Reflecting on his childhood in the diverse and vibrant Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis recalls how the multiethnic, multireligious environment shaped his views. “When someone tells me I am a villero Pope, I pray to be worthy of it,” he writes, noting that differences among people were common and respected, from his Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim friends.

The Pope also reflects on the painful realities of his early encounters with prostitution in Buenos Aires, describing these experiences as exposing the “darkest and most difficult side of existence.” He recalls celebrating Mass for women who had turned their lives around, including one woman named Porota, who had worked as a prostitute in various countries, including the United States. Porota later became a caregiver for the elderly, finding new meaning in her life. Pope Francis calls her a “contemporary Magdalene,” and remembers her fondly, praying for her even after her passing.

Pope Francis also writes about his friendship with Father José de Paola, known as “Father Pepe,” a priest who worked in one of Buenos Aires' most neglected neighborhoods, Villa 21. The Pope supported Father Pepe during a crisis of faith and reflected on the difficult realities of life in these areas, where state presence had been scarce for decades and drug addiction was rampant. Despite these challenges, the Pope emphasizes how faith and pastoral work have brought progress to such marginalized communities, highlighting how the Church is deeply rooted in these “peripheries,” where the Gospel is lived daily by priests and laypeople alike.

On the theme of religion, the Pope rejects the notion that faith is merely “the opium of the people.” Instead, he stresses that faith is an encounter, a force that has brought about significant change and service in even the most challenging environments, like the villas in Buenos Aires.

The Pope’s reflections also extend to his historic 2021 visit to Iraq, which he describes as an emotional and spiritual journey. He recalls the devastation in Mosul, once a thriving symbol of cultural coexistence, which had been reduced to rubble by years of occupation by the Islamic State. From a helicopter, he saw the city as “an X-ray of hatred,” symbolizing the destructive power of conflict.

Despite the threats against him during the visit, including planned assassination attempts, the Pope pressed on, feeling it was his duty to visit the land of Abraham, shared by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. He reflects on the deep impact of the visit, especially his meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, which he describes as a profound gesture of friendship and solidarity. The meeting, which called for a greater commitment to peace and reason, left the Pope with a sense of hope, even amidst the surrounding conflict.

Alongside Hope, Pope Francis’ life story will also be recounted in a film based on Life: My Story in History, a separate autobiography published earlier this year.