Book description
John Paul was, famously, a bundle of paradoxes; he defied every attempt to put him in an ideological box, and he was equally bewildering to his admirers and his detractors. Edward Stourton unravels John Paul's life, his beliefs, his actions and ultimately places him in context within the Catholic Church…
Why read it?
1 author picked John Paul II as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Stourton is the best sort of biographer; I appreciate his candour and directness.
Despite clearly admiring the now-Saint John Paul II, he portrays vividly the limitations of this conservative and retrograde pope whose long reign saw the church battle with modernity. John Paul II’s inability to listen to women, engage in genuine dialogue with other faiths, his authoritarianism, and propensity to hide scandals within the church are eloquently examined in this biography.
I particularly like the character sketches and Stourton’s ability to poke some fun at this very dour and remarkably earnest pope. What could have been a dry subject…
From Ambrogio's list on politics and Catholicism during the twentieth century.
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