Pope Francis writes preface to youth Bible
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has written a preface to a new volume of the Bible for young people, the inspiration for which came from Thomas Söding, professor of New Testament studies at Bochum university. As a father of three, Mr Söding felt it was necessary to provide a more appealing approach to the Bible for young readers.
The Holy Father begins his preface saying that his old, tatty, well-thumbed Bible is his “priceless treasure”. “I would not give it away for the world”. He said he did he did not wish for a new €1000 version: “I love my old Bible… which has shared my joy and has been soaked with my tears”.
He speaks about how more Christians are being persecuted nowadays than ever before because they wear a crucifix or they have a Bible. He goes on to mention Mahatma Gandhi who once said “A text has been given to you Christians, a text that has the dynamic power to make human civilization explode into a million pieces, to turn the world upside down and to bring peace to a planet torn apart by war. However, you merely regard it as a work of literature, nothing more”.
The Pope says “you hold in your hands something truly divine: a book of fire, a book in which God speaks”. He reiterates Gandhi saying, “the Bible was not written to be put on a bookshelf; it was written to be read every day”.
He warns his young readers “Read carefully. Do not skim-read the Bible, as you would a comic strip! The word of God cannot be skim-read! Ask yourselves ‘What is the Bible telling my heart? What is God telling me through these words?’”
Pope Francis concludes explaining how he reads his Bible, like a son sitting near his father. He adds that he prays sitting because it hurts him to kneel down…
He finishes saying “Do you want to make me happy? Read the Bible”.
The new edition includes reproductions of pieces of holy art, along with introductions to each book and quotations of saints, Popes and important religious figures.