A Gift of Joy and Hope

A moving reflection on how to hold on to hope—and fight for joy—even when the world feels broken.

Written in the wake of global crises and personal trials, A Gift of Joy and Hope is the late Pope Francis’s candid exploration of what it means to live with enduring joy. This book doesn’t sugarcoat suffering. Instead, it invites readers to confront pain, injustice, and uncertainty with a fierce trust that joy is possible—and worth seeking.

Through stories, meditations, and piercing questions, Pope Francis shares how he has learned to find God in the hidden corners of life and why joy is both a gift and a discipline. He offers wisdom not just for surviving difficult seasons, but for transforming them into sources of resilience, compassion, and deeper faith.

With characteristic warmth and directness, A Gift of Joy and Hope is both balm and battle cry for those who refuse to give up on the beauty of life, even in its most challenging hours. Hope never lets us down!

Pope Francis Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. He was ordained a priest in the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1969 and created a bishop in 1992. He became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was named a cardinal in 2001. In March 2013 he was elected Bishop of Rome, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church.