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  • Published: 13 June 2005
  • ISBN: 9780141954714
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 264

The Rise of Benedict XVI

The Inside story of How the Pope Was Elected and What it Means for the World



This will be the first book on the market.

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?

  • Published: 13 June 2005
  • ISBN: 9780141954714
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 264

About the author

John L. Allen

JOHN L. ALLEN, Jr., is the Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and a Vatican analyst for CNN and National Public Radio. His weekly Internet column, “The Word from Rome,” is widely considered the best source of insights into Vatican affairs in the English language.

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