Pope Francis will release his memoir next year, in what is being described as the first autobiography to ever be published by a pontiff. “Hope” publisher Penguin Random House said in a Wednesday announcement that the book was originally expected to be published following the death of the 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis plans to publish his memoirs, titled "Hope," in January 2025, the Italian publishing house responsible for the book's release said on Wednesday. The book was originally planned to be published after his death,

The original plan had been to release the memoir after his death. However, the pope decided to publish in light of the upcoming 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

The landmark autobiography was originally meant to be published after Pope Francis’ death, but inspired by the upcoming year of Jubilee — a rarity that only occurs every 25 years — the pontiff decided to release it now.

Hope' will be published by Random House in the U.S., and simultaneously in more than 80 countries, on January 14, with Italian publisher Mondadori managing world rights. Random House is touting the book as the first memoir written by a sitting pontiff.