Holy Father: Pope Benedict XVI: Pontiff for a New Era

For those of us with so much to read / so little time, this is a wonderful book to get an overview of the new Pope Benedict XVI as well as a brief history of the Papacy. I read Part Two first - Biography of Pope Benedict XVI. It flows well, even if, like me, you haven't read the first section on the history of the papacy. Each part stands on its own. In under 100 pages Greg Tobin provides an overview of the entire life of Joseph Ratzinger now Pope Benedict XVI. We read of his early family life, his studies, and his previous assignment as Perfect (Head) of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Throughout these pages we meet "A humble worker in the Vineyard of the Lord." In the final segment of this section he author outlines what he sees as the major issues Pope Benedict will face in his pontificate. I was captivated by the biography, so returned to the first section on the history of the Papacy. This reads a bit slower, and is VERY summarized. If you find yourself getting bogged down in the history, I recommend at least scanning the Popes of the last 100 years (The Universal Pastor.) The section on the recently deceased Pope John Paul II explains why he will one day be called "John Paul The Great." The Appendix provides a "Chronology of the Popes and the Papacy" and is one of the best listings of all the popes I have come across. Each pope is listed, dates of reign, and a sentence summarizing one key point of this man. A great reference tool! Library Journal said it well, "A well-researched history of the modern church and an excellent portrayal of a man of deep spirituality." If you read only one book on our new pope, this should be the one!