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This Jubilee year, a new book, Viva la poesia, curated by Jesuit priest Antonio Spadaro, brings together Pope Francis’ reflections on poetry and literature. This unique collection gathers excerpts from encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, interviews, and personal letters, revealing the Pope’s deep appreciation for poetry as a source of wisdom, creativity, and spiritual nourishment. So far the book is only in Italian.
Antonio Spadaro: The man behind the book
Father Spadaro, a prominent Jesuit intellectual, has long been at the forefront of dialogue between faith and contemporary culture. Born in Sicily in 1966, he joined the Society of Jesus in 1988 and later became editor-in-chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, a journal known for its close connection to the Vatican. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as undersecretary for the Dicastery for Culture and Education, further cementing his influence in shaping the Church’s engagement with the arts. His role as curator of Viva la poesia! offers a deeper look into the Pope’s literary sensibilities and the authors who shaped his intellectual formation.
Pope Francis and the power of poetry
For Pope Francis, poetry is a means of fostering imagination, insight, and spiritual depth.
“I love poetry,” he once said, “and when I can, I continue to read it. Poetry is full of metaphors. Understanding metaphors helps make thought agile, intuitive, flexible, and sharp.”
His appreciation for literature has deep roots. As a young seminarian in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was drawn to the works of great poets, and his writings often reflect a poetic sensibility. He has frequently referenced literary figures such as Dante, Borges, and Hölderlin, demonstrating how poetry shapes his theological and pastoral vision.
In recent years, Pope Francis has actively promoted literature as a formative tool, even suggesting that poetry should be integrated into academic programs at Pontifical universities. In a letter on the importance of literature, he noted, “A good book opens the mind, stimulates the heart, and prepares us for life.” His emphasis on poetry aligns with his broader vision of a Church that engages deeply with human experience, using the arts to communicate the beauty and mystery of faith.
Poetry and the Catechism
While the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not specifically mention poetry, it highlights the role of the arts in expressing divine beauty. Paragraph 2501 states, “Created ‘in the image of God,’ man also expresses the truth of his relationship with God the Creator by the beauty of his artistic works.” This echoes Pope Francis’ belief that poetry can be a pathway to deeper faith, offering a language for contemplation and spiritual growth.
A unique literary testament
Viva la poesia! is a testament to Pope Francis’ conviction that poetry has the power to shape hearts and minds. Through Spadaro’s careful curation, the book invites readers to rediscover poetry’s role in faith and culture. By elevating the imagination, nurturing interior freedom, and inspiring a sense of wonder, poetry remains, in Pope Francis’ words, a source of “mercy and inner liberty.”
And today we celebrate...