Pope pens children's book entitled The Friends of Jesus

Following in the footsteps of Madonna and Geri Halliwell, Pope Benedict XVI has written a children's book.

Already the author of a range of titles for adults, from an exploration of the legacy of St Paul to reflections on the role of Mary in human history, the pope is now turning his hand to children's literature with a recounting of the story of the 12 apostles and St Paul.

Gli Amici di Gesù (The Friends of Jesus), published by the Italian press Piccola Casa Editrice, brings together passages from the pope's Wednesday general audiences with a prologue by Spanish priest Father Julian Carron.

The pope "takes us by the hand and accompanies us as we discover who Jesus's first companions were, how they met Him and were conquered by Him to the point that they never abandoned Him", according to Carron.

Running to 48 pages and illustrated by Italian artist Franco Vignazia, Carron's prologue begins: "Once upon a time there was a small group of men who, one day two thousand years ago, met a young man who walked the roads of Galilee. Each had his own job and family but, in an instant, their lives changed. They were called Andrew and John, Peter, Matthew, Thomas ... In Jerusalem at that time everyone knew that they were Jesus's 'friends' ... Later they were joined by St Paul [who] from being a persecutor of Christians became the greatest witness to Jesus."

As yet the book is only published in Italian, so is unlikely to trouble the UK's bestseller charts. However,according to the National Catholic Reporter, English and Spanish versions are expected within the next year.

SIC: TGUK