The Essential Pope Benedict XVI: His Central Writings and Speeches Book

On April 24, 2005, Cardinal Joseph Alois Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI, the twenty-first-century successor of the Apostle Peterand the spiritual leader of more than one billion Roman Catholics. Whois this complex man whose office grants him sole charge of the world slargest religion? How will his tenure influence the future? The Essential Pope Benedict XVIanswers these questions through carefully chosen selections from hishomilies, interviews, theological essays, and articles on the crisesfacing the church today. This collection lays out Benedict s thinkingand relates it to a variety of contemporary issues, including modernculture s abandonment of traditional religious values, social moresregarding conception and the sanctity of life, current challenges tothe priesthood, and the Catholic Church s tenuous relations with otherworld religions. First a brilliant peritus, or expertadvisor, to the Second Vatican Council and then archbishop of Munich,Joseph Ratzinger was appointed head of the Congregation for theDoctrine of the Faith by Pope John Paul II in 1981. As CardinalRatzinger, the ex officio defender of church doctrine, hegained a reputation as a heroic guardian of the faith for conservativesand was held in suspicion by church liberals. We cannot yetknow what issues and events will define the reign of Pope Benedict XVI,but by any measure he will be seen as one of the most importanttheological voices of our time. This one volume is the best source forunderstanding the heart, soul, and agenda of this twenty-first-centurysuccessor to St. Peter. Publisher: Harper Collins Author: John F. Thornton Format: 512 pages, paperback ISBN: 978-0061128844Read More