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Audiobook (abridged)5 hours
The Pontiff in Winter: Triumph and Conflict in the Reign of John Paul II
Written by John Cornwell
Narrated by Graeme Malcolm
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this audiobook
Over more than a quarter of a century, John Paul II has firmly set his stamp on the billion-member strong Catholic Church for future generations and he has become one of the most influential political figures in the world. His key role in the downfall of communism in Europe, as well as his apologies for the Catholic Church's treatment of Jews and to victims of the Inquisition, racism, and religious wars, won him worldwide admiration. Yet his papacy has also been marked by what many perceive as misogyny, homophobia, and ecclesiastical tyranny. Some critics suggest that his perpetuation of the Church's traditional hierarchical paternalism contributed to pedophiliac behavior in the priesthood and encouraged superiors to sweep the crimes under the carpet. The Pontiff in Winter brings John Paul's complex, contradictory character into sharp focus. In a bold, highly original work, John Cornwell argues that John Paul's mystical view of history and conviction that his mission has been divinely established are central to understanding his pontificate. Focusing on the period from the eve of the millennium to the present, Cornwell shows how John Paul's increasing sense of providential rightness profoundly influenced his reactions to turbulence in the secular world and within the Church, including the 9/11 attacks, the pedophilia scandals in the United States, the clash between Islam and Christianity, the ongoing debates over the Church's policies regarding women, homosexuals, abortion, AIDS, and other social issues, and much more. A close, trusted observer of the Vatican, Cornwell combines eyewitness reporting with information from the best sources in and outside the pope's inner circle. Always respectful of John Paul's prodigious spirit and unrelenting battles for human rights and religious freedom, Cornwell raises serious questions about a system that grants lifetime power to an individual vulnerable to the vicissitudes of aging and illness. The result is a moving, elegiac portrait of John Paul in the winter of his life and a thoughtful, incisive assessment of his legacy to the Church.
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Author
John Cornwell
John Cornwell is an award winning journalist and author. Hitler’s Pope was an international best-seller, and he won the non-fiction Gold Dagger Award for Earth to Earth, the story of a West Country family tragedy. His recent history, Hitler’s Scientists: Science, War and the Devil‘s Pact, won the Science and Medical Network book of the year prize for 2005.
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Reviews for The Pontiff in Winter
Rating: 3.833333247619048 out of 5 stars
4/5
21 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Extremely well written, it's always a pleasure to read Mr Cornwell. Every Catholic (and -phile) should read this book. It wakes you up to a reality not readily seen; the curtains are well and truly pulled back. The portrait revealed of this most profound world leader may offend those who prefer spin to reality. Yet the sincerity and respectfulness of the writer persists throughout. The book covers the main events of John Paul's life and, of course, the controversies. It is an education and reveals a world that no Catholic can afford not to know. If for no other reason than to read a fascinating character study and a well written book, then read this.