USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - New Book Offers Inside Look at Papal Transition

New Book Offers Inside Look at Papal Transition

From Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI:
An Inside Look at the End of an Era,
the Beginning of a New One,
and the Future of the Church
Edited by Sister Mary Ann Walsh, RSM
with writings by Catholic News Service

"Selecting the best journalistic pieces from Catholic News Service's coverage of the papal election� the book nimbly transitions through highlights from the life of John Paul II, details regarding his funeral, and the world's celebratory but sad reaction to his death," wrote Publishers Weekly.

Photo by Nancy Wiechec A Giant Dies
"The crowd gradually diminished throughout the night, although a core group of about 200 young people spent the night in the square praying, singing and every once in a while breaking into the chant, 'Giovanni Paolo Secondo,' (John Paul II).
"Vatican spokesman [Joaquin] Navarro-Valls said that on April 2, the pope was told the young people were there, and 'he seemed to be referring to them when, in his words and repeated several times, he seemed to have said the following sentence: 'I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you.'"

"Habemus Papam"
"The speed of the election caught people by surprise. Few felt the College of Cardinals, which had entered the conclave barely 24 hours before with many candidates and no clear favorite, could have reached a decision so quickly.
"But the spiritual leader of the world, the head of more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide, had been chosen. And with some 100,000 people in the square, at 6:40 p.m., Chilean Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez, the senior cardinal in the order of deacons, appeared at the basilica balcony and intoned to the crowd in Latin: 'Dear brothers and sisters, I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope. His pronouncement – 'We have a pope" – brought the loudest cheers of the evening."

Photo by Nancy Wiechec

Photo by Nancy Wiechec Who is Benedict?
"His conclusions about specific theologians and their teaching about trends in theology and about moral questions have been described either as clear or as sharp. Some have questioned whether he always had to act when he did or if advancement in theology required time and room for debate and correction by colleagues; but when Cardinal Ratzinger put on his scholar's hat and engaged in public debates with other scholars, there was no denying the twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his lips."

Seven U.S. cardinals reflected upon their experiences, contributing compelling essays to the book. From left to right: Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia; Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit; Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York; Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney of Los Angeles; Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago; Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore; Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington
Photo by Nancy Wiechec

To order a copy, visit Sheed & Ward or Amazon.com.