LET US DREAM: A Conversation between Pope Francis & Austen Ivereigh. (Simon and Schuster, 2020).
This book, which has just been published, is the result of conversations between Pope Francis and journalist Austen Ivereigh.
Given the Covid situation, they did not meet personally. Ivereigh would send questions to the Pope and the Holy Father would answer in recorded audio messages.
The book addresses the most urgent situations and problems the world is facing today, especially the crippling effects of the pandemic, which, unlike many other grievous problems, cannot be denied. Its impact is evident, and it has affected people everywhere.
Pope Francis insists on the need to dream together, find solutions, create a better world. His biographer, Ivereigh, describes the book as ‘Spiritual guidance for a world in crisis, a personal manifesto for profound social change, and a summons to each person to choose a better future.’
The Pope draws on his own experience and episodes from his life. He mentions three crises in his own life that affected him deeply. He mentions a number of well known situations of the moment: “the protests over the death of George Floyd; why Pope Francis thinks women in the crisis have proved better leaders, and why female economists offer a blueprint for the new kind of economy the crisis shows we need; the origins of the abuse crisis in the Church.”
The book discusses “why change can only come from the margins of society – and a politics centered on fraternity and solidarity; polarization in Church and society, and how differences can be made fruitful; Why the Pope favors a Universal Basic Income, and strong curbs on a neo-liberal market; economy to enable access to work and greater equality, and ecological recovery; the need for a new kind of politics beyond managerialism and populism rooted in service of society and the common good; and the origins of the environmental crisis.”
The Pope has strong criticism of the systems that have produced today’s tragedies: a global economy centred on profit and not on the needs of people; the harm done to the environment; politicians who foment fear and hatred to increase their own power.
We need to put the poor and the planet at the centre of our concern. Ordinary people acting together can discover tremendous and previous unseen possibilities.
One reviewer finds Pope Francis “at his most personal, profound and passionate.” He believes that “with this book and with open hearts, we can change the world.”
Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life
by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles (Random House, 2016. 208 pages)
This famous book is not just about living long. It is about living a happy and meaningful life. We need to find our passion, a reason for “jumping out of bed every morning.” Awareness, relationships, healthy food, meaning—these things matter more than hurry and rushing about.
The author was born in Spain, and lived many years in Japan. His writing is based on his understanding of Japanese people and culture. He was particularly impressed by the people of the Japanese island of Okinawa who are known for their longevity and good health.
The people of Japan believe that everybody has ikigai—a reason to jump out of bed every day.
Have you found your passion? In simple words, your passion means a meeting of what you are good at, and what you are doing. What do you think about and read about? Is what you are actually doing in line with that?
Want to know the “Ten Rules of Ikigai?” Here they are: Stay active, don’t retire. Take it slow, don’t rush. Do not overeat or fill your belly. Have good friends. Stay fit for your next birthday. Smile. Connect with nature. Give thanks. Live in the present; Don’t regret the past or fear the future. Follow your passion, your meaning, your ikigai!
Fr Joe Mannath SDB
To subscribe to the magazine, click Subscribe
