On September 30, 420 AD, St. Jerome, the great translator of the Bible, died.<\/p>\n
This is an important figure that Pope Francis wanted to highlight on the occasion of the 16th centenary of the saint's death.<\/p>\n
So the Pope has launched a new apostolic letter dedicated to St. Jerome, the 'Sacrae Scripturae affectus', 'Devotion to sacred Scripture.'<\/p>\n
POPE FRANCIS<\/strong> The document is dedicated to St. Jerome. It explains that his work was crucial for the Church at that time and in all times.<\/p>\n St. Jerome translated the Bible from Hebrew into Latin. Until then only the Greek version existed, a much less widespread language during that time. <\/p>\n For the pope, St. Jerome is an example for missionaries who must find the right words to share the faith in places where there is no translation of the Bible.<\/p>\n Pope Francis wrote that \u201cthe richness of Scripture is neglected or minimized by many because they were not afforded a solid grounding in this area.\u201d It is an invitation to remember the 1600th anniversary of St. Jerome's death by reading the book to which he dedicated his life.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe example of this great doctor and father of the Church, who has placed the Bible at the center of his life, awakens in everyone a renewed love for Sacred Scripture and a desire to live a personal dialogue with the Word of God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n