Pope Francis Personal Journals Will Be Published
The late pontiff's writings spanning over three decades are scheduled for release on November 24, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Catholicism
Live Poll
Do personal diaries of religious leaders increase your trust in the institution they represented?
Pope Francis' personal journals will be released to the public on November 24, 2026, by the publisher Image. The book compiles private writings authored between December 1992 and August 2024.
Why it matters
These journals provide an unprecedented look into the spiritual and personal life of the pontiff, who died at age 88 on April 21, 2025. The publication offers global readers direct access to his thoughts recorded over a period of 32 years.
The collection covers entries from December 1992 through August 2024. The book will be available in five different languages.
The players
Pope Francis
The leader of the Catholic Church who served from 2013 until his death in 2025.
Sister Bernadette Reis
The religious sister who completed the English translation of the late pontiff's journals.
Víctor Manuel Fernández
The editor and annotator responsible for preparing the English edition of the journals.
Image
A publishing imprint of Penguin Random House that specializes in religious and spiritual works.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana
The official publishing house of the Vatican that is partnering on this release.
The details
The project is a collaboration between the Vatican Publishing House and Image, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The English-language edition was translated by Sister Bernadette Reis and edited with annotations by Víctor Manuel Fernández.
Timeline
Journal entries begin in December 1992.
Journal entries conclude in August 2024.
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025.
The book will be published on Nov. 24, 2026.
Culture Shift
This release follows the pattern set by the publication of the Vatican's official papal memoirs. It represents a broader effort to archive and share the private reflections of religious leadership with the public.
Readers interested in the history of the papacy can prepare to acquire the translated editions in five languages starting in late November 2026. This publication will likely influence how scholars and believers perceive the pontiff's legacy through his own written words.
The takeaway
The upcoming release allows the public to engage directly with the internal reflections of a major world religious figure. Readers may find value in examining how his theological and personal perspective evolved over three decades.
Further reading
For more insight into the history and practices of the church, visit the Catholicism section.
Live Poll
Do personal diaries of religious leaders increase your trust in the institution they represented?
