His Holiness: John Paul II and the History of Our Time

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Summary: The best John Paul biography.
Review: "His Holiness" stands as the best biography of Karol Wojtyla, later to become Pope John Paul II and the first Pope of the third millennium. His papacy has revolved around inceessant travel and an effort to re-establish orthodoxy in the Church through rigid supression of dissent led by Joseph Ratzinger.

This incessant travel has led John Paul to be seen as a mdeia superstar, and at the same time is strong doctrinal stance has led to him being seen by some as a restorationist and as a successor to Pius XII rather than John XXIII.

This book avoids many of the problems of other John Paul biographies. Bernstain and Politti write with more clarity than, say, Tad Szulc, and they do a very good job of explaining the contradictionas that really are to be seen in the Wojtyla papacy: the authoritarian church leader versus campaigns for justice in the wider world. Most aspects of Karol Wojtyla's life up to the time of the book's printing are described most effectively - such as the conclave and how Wojtyla came through against several Italian candidates.

This is the book to read to know John Paul II.

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Summary: Reveals John Paul II as Deus Ex Machina in Foreign Affairs
Review: "The roots of all he felt and did as pope, in terms of both Catholic dogma and geostrategic doctrine were to be found deep in the soil of his native Poland. As a youth, like many of his compatriots, he had steeped himself in the lore of Polish messianism, the idea that Poland was the Christ of the Nations that one day would rise again to point the way for all of humanity." So begins this spellbinding account of Pope John Paul II, and the history of our time.

Not since Malachi Martin's "The Keys of This Blood" has there been a book that so meticulously traces and makes clear the global ambitions of the Catholic Papacy. Carl Bernstein's excellent reportage combines with the sometimes irritatingly unctious contributions of Italian journalist Marco Politi to write a book that is filled with so much high-drama and intrigue it is difficult at times to keep in mind that this is not a novel, but real life history being made right before our very eyes.

Perhaps the most compelling chapters in the book have to deal with how Karol Woytila as pope, conspired with Ronald Reagan and his Cabinet, which was virtually made up of all Catholics, to assit Poland's Solidarity movement, and hasten the demise of Communism.

This book copiously documents how the United States Government, together with organized labor, made common cause with the Vatican to conduct a modern-day Berlin airlift of sorts to keep Soldarity alive during the days of martial law in Poland.

This pope's purely political side is brought out for all the world to see. Not since Malichi Martin's book has there emerged a portrait of this pontiff which shows just how cunning, politically motivated, and hegemonistic he really is. John Paul II is portrayed as being a "very important asset" to our government. "And what was in it for the pope," a deputy of Secretary of State Alexander Haig was asked. "Something he probably wanted more than anything else...I think he is a very political man-what this gave him ...was that he felt he had a high-level intimate relationship with the world's most powerful country. He was a player. That's what it gave him."

In this book emerges a portrait of a pope that many people haven't seen, or do not believe exists, and that is the portrait of a man on a mission to establish worldwide, what has been established in his native Poland; a world dedicated to the Virgin Mary, governed under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church.

A person would only have to review the history of Catholic absolutism in history, especially in the Dark or Middle Ages, and in the period from the 1870's to the Second World War to see how truly frightening this prospect is. This book clearly shows that John Paul II is the Deus Ex Machina in foreign affairs. This book is every bit as compelling as a novel.

Rating:
Summary: Must Read
Review: Best book I ever purchased. Well written and very informative.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Biographies
Review: I usually do not read many biographies, as they tend to be somewhat dry or either too skimpy or way too much. However, this one I really enjoyed. I highly recommend reading it for either a good biography or to learn more about Catholics and Pope John Paul II. The only, only thing I can find fault with is the ending. It seemed a bit cut off, and I almost wanted to find the words "The End" because I just didn't feel like it ended. But then again, I find my ears perk up whenever I hear about the pope, in a chance to learn more about Pope John Paul II, or simply Karol Wojtyla.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Biographies
Review: I usually do not read many biographies, as they tend to be somewhat dry or either too skimpy or way too much. However, this one I really enjoyed. I highly recommend reading it for either a good biography or to learn more about Catholics and Pope John Paul II. The only, only thing I can find fault with is the ending. It seemed a bit cut off, and I almost wanted to find the words "The End" because I just didn't feel like it ended. But then again, I find my ears perk up whenever I hear about the pope, in a chance to learn more about Pope John Paul II, or simply Karol Wojtyla.