Pope Francis’ Letter on the Importance of Literature in Education:

Intuitions, Scope, and Perspectives

Abstract

Literature, since ancient times, has played a very important role in human life. Peruvian Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa never ceases to praise it, because thanks to it, we can combat not only boredom, but also all forms of imposition and slavery. Pope Francis, from his time as a Jesuit student, sparked his interest in literature, especially after being commissioned to teach the subject at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción in Santa Fe, Argentina, in the mid-1960s. Fourth and fifth grade high school students witnessed the dedication of their teacher. The European summer of 2024 surprised everyone with the presentation of his letter on the importance of literature in the formation of a Christian. In this article, we briefly recount what motivated the writing of the letter, the reactions in the academic world, and, above all, its intuitions, scope, and perspectives in the life of a believer.