Product Description

From the author of Conclave and All the Pope’s Men comes the story of Pope John Paul II’s last days, the behind-the-scenes dynamics within the College of Cardinals that led to the choice of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, and where the new pope is likely to lead the Catholic Church.

On April 18, 2005, the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church gathered to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II. Faced with several potential candidates, the cardinals made a bold choice, entrusting the Keys of the Kingdom to 78-year-old Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a man whose views on the challenges facing the Church and the broader culture could not be more unambiguous, or controversial.

Questions arose as the world watched while Ratzinger was installed as Pope Benedict XVI, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church. Why Ratzinger? Why someone so clearly identified with the previous pope? Why not a “compromise” choice? Why a Cardinal from Western Europe and not from Africa or Latin America? What would this mean for the future of the Catholic Church?

No one can tell the story of exactly what took place during the closed doors meeting, known as the conclave, when Cardinals from around the world cast their votes for the next pope, better than John L. Allen, Jr. As a correspondent for National Catholic Reporter and a Vatican analyst for CNN and National Public Radio, Allen has spent years covering Vatican politics and personalities, and his unique access to Roman halls of power has enabled him to write the ultimate behind-the-scenes account of the election of Pope Benedict XVI. The Rise of Benedict XVI is based on extensive research and exclusive interviews with eight cardinals representing five nationalities, guaranteeing readers an intimate glimpse into this monumental decision.

But Allen’s insight also means that he is in a unique position to evaluate the accomplishments and legacy of the man now known as Pope Benedict XVI, and to provide some analysis of the direction he will take the Catholic Church in the coming years. Ratzinger’s long career as a major Vatican insider, force of influence, and occasionally polarizing figure, has ensured that his pontificate will be one of the most fascinating in the history of the Catholic Church. Benedict XVI will certainly have a major impact on the lives of the faithful around the world, and John Allen’s riveting new book is the definitive work on this turning point in history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #787596 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-07
• Released on: 2005-06-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

From 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. (June 7)
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Review
Praise for John L. Allen, Jr.’s, Conclave

“An invaluable primer . . . highly informative.” —Washington Post

“Definitely a winner.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“It’s surprising how much you learn from this book . . . [Allen] explain[s] the process in an engaging way, and offers history, context and his own list of front-runners.” —Arizona Republic

Praise for John L. Allen, Jr.’s, All the Pope’s Men

“[A] superb book” —Chicago Sun-Times

“The National Catholic Reporter’s Vatican correspondent John L. Allen, Jr., unpacks several popular myths as well as the psychology, sociology, and theology that inform the Holy See’s worldview. But All the Pope’s Men is not a polemic. It’s a patient look at Vatican ways of thinking and acting.” —San Antonio Express-News

“An exceedingly valuable book.” —Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, First Things

“By turns enlightening and highly amusing, the book deserves a wide readership.”
—America

“ . . . this dispassionate book is the best written about the Vatican in a long time and belongs on the desk of every editor and religion writer in the English-speaking world.”
—Andrew Greeley, National Catholic Reporter

“An informative and readable look at Vatican structures, policies, and personalities . . . filled with useful data and engaging anecdotes.” —Crisis Magazine

From the Back Cover

Praise for John L. Allen, Jr.’s, Conclave

“An invaluable primer . . . highly informative.” —Washington Post

“Definitely a winner.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“It’s surprising how much you learn from this book . . . [Allen] explain[s] the process in an engaging way, and offers history, context and his own list of front-runners.” —Arizona Republic

Praise for John L. Allen, Jr.’s, All the Pope’s Men

“[A] superb book” —Chicago Sun-Times

“The National Catholic Reporter’s Vatican correspondent John L. Allen, Jr., unpacks several popular myths as well as the psychology, sociology, and theology that inform the Holy See’s worldview. But All the Pope’s Men is not a polemic. It’s a patient look at Vatican ways of thinking and acting.” —San Antonio Express-News

“An exceedingly valuable book.” —Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, First Things

“By turns enlightening and highly amusing, the book deserves a wide readership.”
—America

“ . . . this dispassionate book is the best written about the Vatican in a long time and belongs on the desk of every editor and religion writer in the English-speaking world.”
—Andrew Greeley, National Catholic Reporter

“An informative and readable look at Vatican structures, policies, and personalities . . . filled with useful data and engaging anecdotes.” —Crisis Magazine