Benedict XVI: A Life Volume Two: Professor and Prefect to Pope and Pope Emeritus 1966-The Present

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI was a controversial figure who commanded both adulation and unremitting criticism. Peter Seewald's authoritative biography covers his tenure from the Second Vatican Council to his resignation in 2013, revealing his conservative shift influenced by the Council and European political unrest. Appointed as prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith, he was intransigent on controversial issues but became Pope in 2005, facing scandal and controversy. Seewald's book is based on extensive research and interviews with Benedict, providing a definitive biography of the controversial pontiff.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 19 January 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI commanded both adulation and unremitting criticism during his tenure as the leader of the Catholic Church. To millions, he was a beacon of light in a turbulent modern world. This second volume of Peter Seewald's authoritative biography continues the story from the Second Vatican Council (1965-198) and follows Benedict's journey right up to his resignation in 2013. We see how Benedict's perspective on the Church and the modern world shifted from a liberal stance to a profoundly conservative one, influenced by the Council and the political unrest in Europe. Appointed as prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith in 1981, Benedict earned the nickname 'God's Rottweiler' for his unwavering stance on controversial issues such as abortion, contraception, gay rights, and gay marriage. However, his tenure as Pope was marred by shocking revelations of controversy and scandal, leading many to question his ability to handle the complexities of the Church in the modern world. Vatilieaks, sexual abuse by priests, and the Regensburg speech, which sparked anger and rage in the Muslim world, all made headlines in the world's media. Peter Seewald is the only person who was close enough to Benedict to assess the man himself and uncover the truth about so many of the controversial issues surrounding this most controversial papacy. With meticulous research and many hours of recorded interviews with Benedict himself, this book stands as the definitive biography of Benedict XVI from an author with unrivaled access to the Pope Emeritus.

Weight: 888g
Dimension: 153 x 232 x 45 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399404891