Peter CostelloPope Francis: The Story of Our Pope by Ailís Travers, illustrated by Lir Mac Cárthaigh
The ‘Pope Francis effect’ seems to have reached down to even the smallest members of the community. This little book about the life and outlook of Pope Francis is aimed at the youngest of readers, seven to 12 according to the publishers.
Yet there is also a lesson here for adults, in the Pope’s “Five Finger Prayer”, a mnemonic device by which he remembers to pray for those nearest to us, for those that point the way for us, for those who are in authority, those who are weakest and finally, on reaching the little finger, to pray for one’s self.” [See panel.]
But the book has other lessons too. Ailís Travers provides a basic biography of the Pope emphasising the highlights in a straightforward way, but everywhere emphasising his humanity.
Anecdotes
She never loses sight of the fact that her audience prefers the concrete to the merely conceptual, and deploys events and anecdotes in a very skilful way that owes much to her time as a teacher.
The author recounts that “a delicious birthday meal” was laid on by Vatican staff for the Pope, which he invited homeless men to share with him.
“Pope Francis knows that Jesus also surprised people by sharing meals with those whom others did not want to eat with. Jesus wanted to teach people that God loves everyone and wants everyone to feel included. Pope Francis wants to remind people of this.”
But the book also reminds young readers what it is for a pastor to live with God moment by moment, and to share those moments with others. In its way this is an excellent little book, though the illustrations fail to convey the bubbly nature of the Pope himself.