Pope John Paul II: In My Own Words; Memorial Edition 1920-2005

This book is a sort of `quotable quotes' from Pope John Paul II, the third-longest-serving pope in history. It is compiled as a labour of love by Anthony F. Chiffolo, drawn from many different sources, as diverse as daily audience statements to encyclicals, prayers to formal speeches. In these words, the Pope addresses matters internal and external to the church, ranging as broadly as did his 26-year papacy. Many of the statements are theological in nature, but this is not a systematic theology. However, it is no mere `collected sayings' either, for by being compiled in a topically-arranged format, one can get a greater sense of the mind and heart of the pope on individual topics. Some of the topics are more spiritual and theological: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (individually reflected upon as well as in their Trinitarian unity); Soteriology (salvation); Ecclesiology (Sacrament, Church, Priesthood, etc.); as well as a section on the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom the Pope gives special adoration. Some of the topics are very practical: Marriage and the Family; Progress and the Modern World; the Christian Life. `Christ offers you his friendship. He gave his life so that those who wish to answer his call can indeed become his friends.' The Pope tried his best to be a spiritual leader for all people, and had a special affection and affinity for the young people. The above quotation comes from a message to the young people of Cuba in 1998; there was a certain rock-star quality about the pope that has been widely commented upon, and it is this work with the youth of the world that will insure his name and influence being felt for generations to come. This is a wonderful collection of pieces that show only the vaguest shadow of why Pope John Paul II will be remembered, but it is an accessible and user-friendly volume in which to remind oneself of his words and presence, which continue in different ways.