SPCK scoops new book by Pope Francis

SPCK has scooped Pope Francis’ new book, I Am Asking in the Name of God: Ten Prayers for a Future of Hope. The book will publish on 3rd October 2023, marking the 10th anniversary of the Pope’s election as supreme pontiff.

SPCK’s publishing director, Philip Law, bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Penguin Random House NY, who control rights in the English translation of the book.

I Am Asking in the Name of God is described by the publisher as "Pope Francis’ heartfelt call to humanity, to join him in praying for God’s help in confronting the 10 most pressing issues of our day. 

The synopsis said: "This collection, which is being released in over a dozen other languages, sets out The Pope’s compelling vision for unifying the world, as he encourages us to embrace the good, reject greed, hatred, and deceit, and pray together for a just and peaceful future."

Pope Francis is the first Latin American to be elected as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was ordained as a priest in 1969. Following the resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI on 28th February 2013, the conclave elected Bergoglio, who chose the papal name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Law commented: "Rarely can any publisher boast an author with nearly 20 million Twitter followers around the world and with such powerful words to say about the major issues of our time. People of all religious backgrounds will find the Pope’s words both practical and realistic, as well as hopeful. They provide a clear vision of the peaceful, just and sustainable world God wants us to build – both now and for future generations."