“How can we speak to the hearts of men and women if we ignore, set aside or fail to appreciate the ‘stories’ by which they sought to express and lay bare the drama of their lived experience in novels and poems,” asked the pontiff in his July 17 letter to priests-to-be, published by the Vatican on Sunday in eight languages.

In the lengthy text — peppered with references to literary greats like C.S. Lewis, Marcel Proust, T. S. Eliot and fellow Argentinian Jorge Luis Borges  — Francis argued that reading was “part of one’s path to personal maturity” and therefore crucial not just for those joining the priesthood but all Christians in general.

Noting that Paul the Apostle was a reader, Francis plugged for time spent reading, noting that a good book can “(keep) us from other choices that are less wholesome” and open up minds “trapped by a few obsessive thoughts”.

“In moments of weariness, anger, disappointment or failure, when prayer itself does not help us find inner serenity, a good book can help us weather the storm until we find peace of mind,” wrote the 87-year-old Argentine Jesuit.

The pope — whose tastes also run to jazz and soccer — has sometimes dropped clues as to his preferred reading lists.

He has mentioned Dostoevsky as a favourite author and confessed to having read Italy’s seminal 1827 novel “The Betrothed”, three times, calling author Alessandro Manzoni the champion of “victims and those who come in last”.

In a speech about artificial intelligence to the G7 in June, Francis cited Robert Hugh Benson’s 1907 dystopian novel “Lord of the World”: “It’s nice to read it, it’s interesting,” he told the Group of Seven leaders.

In his letter to young priests, Francis pointed out that reading — which he noted requires greater personal engagement than watching films or television — improves one’s vocabulary, develops intellectual capacity and reduces stress and anxiety.

He said he regretted that literature was considered non-essential in the training of priests.

An ‘open mind’

“We desperately need to counterbalance this inevitable temptation to a frenetic and uncritical lifestyle by stepping back, slowing down, taking time to look and listen. This can happen when a person simply stops to read a book,” wrote the pope.

In a personal aside, Francis recalled teaching high school literature at a Jesuit school at the age of 28, encountering resistance from students who did not want to read certain selections.

Arguing that even difficult or boring texts had value, the pope said people should approach reading with “an open mind” and “a willingness to be surprised.”

“I, for my part, love the tragedians, because we can all embrace their works as our own, as expressions of our own personal drama,” he said.

“In weeping for the fate of their characters, we are essentially weeping for ourselves, for our own emptiness, shortcomings and loneliness.”

Seeing life through the eyes of others through literature leads to greater perspective and greater humanity as readers step out of their own lives to enter that of others, Francis wrote.

“We are caught up in the lives of the fruit seller, the prostitute, the orphaned child, the bricklayer’s wife, the old crone who still believes she will someday find her prince charming,” he said.

Immersing oneself in the thoughts and fears of characters facing daunting challenges has hidden benefits, wrote Francis.

“Perhaps too, in following a story to the end, we gain insights that will later prove helpful in our own lives.”