By Catholic News Service
CINCINNATI (CNS) — Pre-print orders reached 5,000 Sept. 21 for a commemorative book on Pope Francis’ trip to Cuba and the United States that is being produced by Franciscan Media Books, an imprint of Franciscan Media, with content provided by Catholic News Service.
The same day "Love Is Our Mission: Pope Francis in America," as the book will be titled, was at the top of Amazon.com’s pre-release list.
Franciscan Media announced Sept. 9 it has partnered with CNS and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to produce the official commemorative book documenting Pope Francis’ historic Sept. 19-27, 2015, pilgrimage to Cuba and the United States. The 128-page glossy hardcover is scheduled to be released Oct. 30.
"Love Is Our Mission" will feature photographs and on-the-scene reporting from CNS, whose reporters, photographers and videographers will have special close-up access throughout the pope’s visit.
The editorial team of Franciscan Media’s St. Anthony Messenger, the national, Catholic family magazine, will compile the book.
"This partnership between Franciscan Media and Catholic News Service is an exciting partnership designed to bring Catholic media giants together for an in-depth look at the pope’s visit," Father Daniel Kroger, chief executive officer and publisher of Franciscan Media, said in a statement. "We are excited to help capture this historic event and to bring this book to the public so soon after the World Meeting of Families and just in time for the holidays."
Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the official publishing house of the Vatican, also is a partner in the joint book project.
Two million Americans are expected to attend the liturgies, speeches and festivities taking place during Pope Francis’ first trip to the U.S. After spending Sept. 19-22 in Cuba, the pope was to arrive just outside Washington at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 4 p.m. (EDT) Sept. 22.
In Washington, among other events on his itinerary, he will address a joint meeting of Congress, meet at the White House with President Barack Obama, and canonize Blessed Junipero Serra, the 18th-century Spanish Franciscan missionary who founded a string of California missions. He then goes to New York, where he will address the U.N. General Assembly and then on to Philadelphia for the closing days of the World Meeting of Families.
"We at Catholic News Service are very happy to work with our old friends at Franciscan Media on chronicling Pope Francis’ momentous trip to Cuba and the United States," said Tony Spence, director and editor-in-chief at CNS. "While our work will be seen by millions in various media, this book will compile stories and images of the trip in a single volume readers can enjoy time and again, thanks to the skilled publishers of Franciscan Media."
The book also made the front and back covers of the Sept. 21 issue of Publishers Weekly.
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Editor’s Note: "Love Is Our Mission: Pope Francis in America" is $19.95. It can be pre-ordered at www.amazon.com or at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website at http://store.usccb.org.
