Publisher Description
In his former role as right-hand man and policy expert to Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has written many previous books. However, this is his first as the newly chosen spokesman for the world’s 65 million Roman Catholics. Written in conjunction with President of the Italian Senate, Marcello Pera – a partnering of the statesman and the holy man – the book is a reassessment of the European "West" and its struggle to define itself in the wake of war, terrorism, diplomatic and spiritual crisis. Pope Benedict reveals an uncanny grasp of the contemporary global climate and the tentative and fractious bonds that tie Europe to the rest of the world. Though critical and cautionary, the new Pope ultimately offers an assertive message of hope to mend the West’s fractured identity and reconnect with its spiritual roots. It’s a message that co-author Pera drew upon as the basis for his rousing recent address at the United Nations and a message that has resonated with conservative pundits like Niall Ferguson, Samuel Huntington and Fareed Zakaria, who all hail the publication of this important "new" voice.
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About the Authors
Joseph Ratzinger, also known as Pope Benedict XVI, was head of the Roman Catholic Church from April 2005–February 2013. A prolific author, theologian, and university professor, He served as an “expert” at the Second Vatican Council, and was tapped in 1977 by Pope Paul VI to lead the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. In 1981, Pope John Paul II called him to Rome to head the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he served until his papal election.
About Michael Page
Michael Page has been recording audiobooks since 1984 and has over two hundred titles to his credit. He has won numerous Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. As a professional actor, he has performed regularly since 1998 with the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire. He is a professor of theater at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.