*Hope: The Autobiography* is the result of a monumental publishing operation with few parallels in the industry.

To Catch a Manuscript Thief

The shocking leak of Pope Francis’s closely guarded autobiography bears uncanny similarities to an infamous publishing swindler’s modus operandi

By Mattia Ferraresi

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHOP CHOPPISH SHOP

An advance manuscript of Pope Francis’s upcoming autobiography has been stolen and illegally leaked online, where it was available for more than a week before being taken down by law enforcement.

The theft sent the publishing world into a behind-closed-doors frenzy and sparked legal action, but until now no one has publicly acknowledged that the file ended up floating in the darkest corners of the Internet. Even the Holy See claimed to be unaware of the leak. “We have no information regarding the diffusion of the text,” a Vatican spokesman said. AIR MAIL was able to locate and download the file. The Italian publisher, Mondadori, confirmed its authenticity. Presumably in damage control over the leak, the publishers have decided to allow excerpts of the book to run early around the world.