‘This
is Christian hope: the certainty of walking towards something that exists,
not something I hope might be there.’

In response to the devastating loss the
world faced during the pandemic, Pope Francis was inspired to write a book to
help people find hope and meaning. God is joyful, he
writes. And God’s compassion is no less than the deepest expression of God’s
joy, and the heart of all Christian preaching. The liberating revolution of
the Gospel is encapsulated here. We are not supposed to carry burdens heavier
than those we already have, but to bear witness to a new, beautiful and
surprising horizon: to share a joy that has been prepared for everyone.

From the anxieties of the age to the
importance of nature, A Gift of Joy and Hope encourages readers to
look outside themselves to embrace authentic beauty, change attitudes that
exclude others, overcome life’s challenges with courage and, trust that joy
and hope are still possible, even in challenging times; for joy has the last
word - always.