TAKEAWAY: He is a one of a kind Pope. Ever since he was named, Pope Francis has never stopped surprising us. So we should not be too surprised that a publisher has decided to devote a magazine to him. Il Papa Mio is here.
Pope Francis will now be the subject of a weekly magazine to be called Il Mio Papa (My Pope).
How many of today’s celebrities can make that claim?
In fact, Mondadori, the publisher of the new magazine, already owns other titles, mostly about celebrities and gossip.
The expectations are as high as the pedestal where many have placed Pope Francis: 3 million copies in the first month, or about 750,000 each week.
“The idea for a magazine designed to report on and share the words and actions of Pope Francis came from observing how his election has stimulated a renewed interest on ethical, religious and moral issues,” said the editor Aldo Vitali. “In fact, the current Pope is a figure who, thanks to his empathy, as well as the power, the courage and the simplicity of his message, has won over everyone, both the faithful and non-believers,” Vitali concluded.
Engagement with readers and the Pope’s followers and admirers is part of the aim of the new publication: “Il mio Papa will be a meeting place for readers who can also send letters, poems and other contributions for publication in the magazine.”
Initially, the magazine will be available in print only, but then will also be possible to follow Il mio Papa on the web site www.miopapa.it, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Mondadori is Italy’s largest publisher in terms of revenue and total circulation. It is controlled by Fininvest, Silvio Berlusconi’s family holding company.
We imagine that , as with that other publication devoted to one person, Oprah Magazine, here, too, Pope Francis will grace every cover. The Pope’s fans would not want it any other way.
We look forward to Il Papa Mio.
Of related interest (and quite fun):
The Guardian anticipates the type of headlines we are likely to see in Il Papa Mio.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/mar/05/my-pope-francis-silvio-berlusconi-glossy-magazine
TheMarioBlog post # 1450