Vatican to Release ‘The Private Diary of Pope Francis’, a Book by Cardinal Fernández

Vatican, Oct 6, 2026: Notes written by Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) between 1992 and 2024 form the basis of a new book by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, offering an insight into the personality and inner life of Pope Francis. The Private Diary of Pope Francis will be released by the Vatican Publishing House on 24 November 2026 in five languages across 94 countries.

Cardinal Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, presents notes written by Bergoglio from 20 December 1992 to 18 August 2024. The book covers the period before and during his pontificate, which lasted from 13 March 2013 until his death on 21 April 2025.

 The Italian edition will be published by the Vatican Publishing House, while the Spanish, English and Portuguese editions will be released by the respective branches of Penguin Random House. The French edition will be published by Éditions Albin Michel.

Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Dicastery for Communication, said the Vatican was honoured to publish Cardinal Fernández’s work, expressing the hope that the book would enable readers around the world to gain a deeper understanding of the Argentine Pope’s inner life.

Lorenzo Fazzini, Editorial Director of the Vatican Publishing House, said the publishing house works to bring the writings of the Popes to readers internationally. He noted that it had also overseen the publication and distribution of writings by Robert F. Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, from his time as Prior General of the Augustinians, in *Free Under Grace*, which has already been published in several languages.

Fazzini expressed the Vatican Publishing House’s satisfaction at making Pope Francis’ personal pages available to readers in Italy and, through various publishers, around the world. He described Cardinal Fernández as one of Pope Francis’ closest collaborators.

The Vatican Publishing House will present 'The Private Diary of Pope Francis' to international publishers at the Frankfurt Book Fair, which will take place from 7 to 11 October 2026.

Courtesy: Vatican News