Being the Pope requires a demanding schedule which includes leading a 1-billion strong organized religion, extensive prayer, worldwide travel, and now, children’s book writing. On July 22nd, the Vatican press office announced that Pope Benedict XVI has authored a children’s book entitled, The Friends of Jesus. The twelve friends to the famed Messiah are the Twelve Apostles.

President of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, Spanish priest Julian Carron, wrote the prologue to the book. He also offers this comment about the publication: “[The Pope] takes us by the hand and accompanies us as we discover who Jesus’ first companions were, how they met him and were conquered by him to the point that they never abandoned Him.”

San Giuliano Milanese is the publisher of this work. The book is 48 pages in length. The written content is based on the Pope’s catecheses given to his Wednesday general audiences. It will feature illustrations by Italian artist, Franco Vignazia. Versions in English and Spanish will be available within the next year. Via Book Bench.