Vatican City, 25 February 2016 (VIS) –
"L'amore prima del mondo" ("Love before the world")
is the title of a book published by Rizzoli, in the form of 31
letters and drawings sent to the Holy Father by children from various
Jesuit institutions from all five continents, asking for advice and
explanations, and Francis' replies.
The title is drawn from the Pope's
answer to the question, "What did God do before the world was
made?". The eighty pages of the volume consist of a dialogue
between Francis and the Jesuit Fr. Antonio Spadaro, director of La
Civilta Cattolica, who took the children's letters and drawings the
Domus Sanctae Marthae last summer and to ask for a response. The Pope
accepted the proposal and the resulting book has been released in
Italian bookshops today. It will shortly be available in other
languages.
Francis answers questions on a wide
variety of issues, such as how Jesus managed to walk on water: "God
doesn't sink", and why He created us if He knew we were going to
sin against Him: Because God created us like Him. Free. And being
free includes the possibility of sinning. … Freedom can be
frightening because it cannot be planned. But it is beautiful and it
is the greatest gift". In response to questions from the
youngest children regarding the devil and guardian angels, the Pope
recalls the importance of liturgy of prayer, or evokes the fantastic
imagination of the young: "God defeated the devil on the cross.
The devil is like the big scary dragons who are defeated and killed.
They have a very long tail which, even if they are beaten and killed,
continues to move".
There are also questions regarding war
and atrocities; for instance, a child from Nigeria asks how these
conflicts could be resolved. "It is necessary to encourage
people of good will to speak against war. I cannot solve the
conflicts in the world, but you and I can try to make this a better
world. We need to convince everyone that the best way to win a war is
not to enter into one. It is not easy, I know. But I try. You can try
too".
A child from China wants to know why
the Pope likes football. "I have never learned well the
techniques of the game", admits Francis. "I don't have
agile feet. But I like to see the team on the field because it is a
game of solidarity". In response to a boy from the United
Kingdom asks, "What was your hardest choice in your mission for
faith?", the Holy Father replies, "There are many hard
choices, but I have to say that the type of decision that is most
difficult for me is to remove someone from a responsible job or a
position of trust, or a path they are following, for reasons of
unsuitability".
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