When Pope Benedict XVI was elected in April 2005 much of the media in the English-speaking world reacted with hostility. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he had for over twenty years been the Catholic Church's voice as upholder of orthodox doctrine. Media comment assumed that this meant he should be unpopular. But within just a few weeks perceptions had changed, and the real person had been discovered: this was clearly a popular pastor, reaching out with a worldwide message at his inaugural Mass, cheered to the echo by over a million young people at World Youth Day, drawing huge crowds in St Peter's Square, sitting with First Communicants at a children's rally to teach and answer their questions. The Holy Father has emerged as a person of warmth and gentleness, communicating the Christian message with clarity, and emphasising the hope and joy it can bring to the world. For Catholics and non-catholics alike, the person of the Pope is a fascinating one. In this book we meet the man who is St Peter's successor, read what he actually says and discover the way he thinks and acts. From a boyhood in a traditionally Catholic family in Bavaria, throught years as a professor, writer, and lecturer, to the years in Rome, his is a story worth discovering - and he is a teacher whose message is worth hearing.

Joanna Bogle is a Catholic author, broadcaster and journalist. She writes for the Catholic press in Britain, America and Australia and broadcasts regularly with EWTN, the international Catholic television network. her many books include the best-selling A Book of Feasts and Seasons (celbrating the Church's year in home and family) andbiographies of Fr Werenfried van Straaten (the founder of Aid to the Church in Need, Blessed Karl of Austria (A Heart for Europe) and Caroline Chisholm (The Emigrant's Friend).

Read the review in AD2000 here.