Pope Francis sends hand-written note to the Jesuit magazine, “La Civiltà Cattolica”, to mark 170 years since its first publication. The Pope’s message will appear on the cover of the first issue of January 2020. “Thank you for the help you offer me as well”, writes Pope Francis. “I want you to be creative… practice discernment and combat hatred, small-mindedness and prejudice”.

“170 years ago Blessed Pius IX asked the Society of Jesus to found ‘La Civiltà Cattolica’. Since then it has faithfully accompanied the Pope. Thank you for the help you offer me as well.

“Continue living the dynamism between life and thought with listening eyes, knowing that ‘La Civiltà Cattolica’ [“Catholic civilization”] is that of the Good Samaritan.

“My wish for you is that you may be creative in God, exploring new paths, thanks also to the new international outlook that inspires the magazine: rising from the pages we hear the voices of so many frontiers listening to one another.

“Be discerning regarding language, combat hatred, small-mindedness and prejudice. And above all, do not be content with making superficial proposals or abstract synthesis: accept instead the challenge of the overflowing restlessness of the present time, in which God is always at work”.