The Rise of Benedict XVI
The Inside story of How the Pope Was Elected and What it Means for the World
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
On 19 April 2005 at 5.50pm, white smoke poured from the Vatican chimney. Joseph Ratzinger had become one of the most important figures on earth. How and why was Pope Benedict XVI elected? And what will his impact be on the Catholic faith and the world?
Vatican correspondent John L. Allen draws on his unparalleled knowledge to give the full inside story of the Church's new leadership. In this in-depth account he examines the transition from John Paul II to Benedict XVI, the legacy of the previous Pope and the role of the current leader. He takes us right into the heart of the selection process, interviewing the cardinals who chose Benedict XVI to reveal their thoughts on the new Pope and the reasons why he was picked. And he looks at why this conclave was one of the briefest of modern times.
Confronting many difficult questions, Allen asks what the choice of a renowned 'hard line' traditionalist will mean for 1.1 billion Catholics around the globe. What do the way Ratzinger rose to power, his history and theological views say about how the faith will now move forward? Why did the Vatican choose such a seemingly safe candidate? And what will the consequences be for Catholicism and the challenges it faces today?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When Pope Benedict XVI walked onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on April 19, it was the first time that many people had ever heard of him. But for the last 24 years, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was a celebrity in Catholic circles, widely known for his intellectual prowess and his role as the Vatican's notorious defender of the faith. Allen's book seeks to fill in the blanks about the man known in the media as "God's rottweiler," revealing a person who cannot be summarized in a catchphrase. But this book isn't just an examination of the new pope's Christian principles; it is also a glimpse into the inner machinations of the Vatican, which Allen covers for the National Catholic Reporter and from time to time on CNN. Drawing on his many sources including eight cardinals who participated in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict Allen gives a play-by-play assessment of how the pope was chosen and what he might have in store for the church's 1.1 billion followers. Readers who want a cloak-and-dagger political whodunit should look elsewhere. Allen's book is much smarter than that; it's a rich and thoughtful analysis of the present-day Catholic Church and its complex new spiritual leader.
