The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of How the Pope Was Elected and Where He Will Take the Catholic Church

by John L. Allen Jr.

Book Overview

"Commendable and balanced . . . With crisp writing and an amazing attention to detail, Allen brings readers inside the papal jockeying, covering the days of mourning and the conclave." -- The Los... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385513208
• ISBN13: 9780385513203
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 249 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Who is Joseph Ratzinger and why was he chosen as the 264th successor to St. Peter?

Upon the death of Pope John Paul II one name you heard being discussed more than any other was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany. At 78, Ratzinger was far and away the most well known, the most respected and in some circles the most feared cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. Ratzinger was an insider. He is a man of keen intellect and an extremely influential theologian. Aside from the fact that he really did not want the job it appeared very unlikely that the College of Cardinals would turn to Ratzinger as the successor to John Paul II. Conventional wisdom seemed to suggest that a "compromise" candidate would likely emerge from the conclave. In "The Rise of Benedict XVI" long time Vatican observer John Allen Jr., a highly respected correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, examines the reasons why Ratzinger would ultimately become the overwhelming choice of the 115 voting members of the college of Cardinals. Allen contends that the most obvious reason was that Ratzinger was simply the best man for the job. Aside from his obvious qualifications as a prominent theologian, Ratzinger had been a top official at the Roman Curia for nearly a quarter century. Among the handful of Cardinals who would ultimately be considered, Ratzinger alone possessed the gravitas to be an important player on the world stage. Additionally, his impressive performance at the funeral of his predecessor would only serve to enhance his stature among those who were witnessing that historic event. It would take just four ballots for his colleagues to come to a decision. Joseph Ratzinger would become the next pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. In the pages of "The Rise of Benedict XVI" John Allen discusses at length what Catholics might expect from the forthcoming papacy. As someone whose full-time beat is the Vatican, Allen is in a rather unique position to make such assessments. Clearly, one of Pope Benedict's priorities will be to stem the tide of relativism in Europe. I found it quite interesting that in his writings the new Pope has often considered the very real possibility that the Roman Catholic Church might actually have to contract for a period of time in order to remain faithful to its teachings. He appears to be a man who is quite capable of taking bold steps when such actions are called for. In addition, Pope Benedict is expected to pay close attention to the needs of the millions and millions of faithful Catholics in the southern hemisphere. It is in precisely in this portion of the world that the Catholic Church is thriving. Many observers were even calling for the election of a pope from South America or perhaps even from Africa. While that did not happen this time around expect that these regions will exert considerably more influence in Rome than they have in the past. The new pope is also expected to address any number of other important issues including curial reform as well as the sexual abuse crisis in the United States. Seri

A good 'popular' account of recent history

One commentator called this book 'instant history', and to a certain extent, that is true - the interregnum between John Paul II (the Great?) and Benedict XVI was very brief, the Conclave short, but the road leading up to these events were well established and well documented, often by author John J. Allen, Jr. himself. Allen is the author of many books on this topic, include a book entitled 'Conclave', written several years ago in anticipation of the Conclave from earlier this year (2005). He also has written books on the College of Cardinals and other Vatican officials, Opus Dei, and numerous articles on various papal and Vatican subjects in his capacity as a correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. Allen brings all of this background to bear with his good insight and accessible journalistic style to describing the events from the final days of John Paul II to the papal election ('Habemus Papam!'). These are presented in an interesting section with sensitive and compassionate writing about the final days and funeral of the late pontiff. With regard to the election process itself, Allen presents many fascinating details, including a litany of conventional wisdom facts that Ratzinger/Benedict seemed to shatter. These include: * he who goes into the Conclave a pope comes out a cardinal * the cardinals from outside Rome would not elect a Curia insider * the cardinals would not elect someone closely identified with the previous pope * the cardinals would not elect someone from Europe, where the church is increasingly in decline * the church would not elevate someone close to 80 to begin such a major ministry. Allen writes of the very human dimension of the election process in the Conclave, using the words of Ratzinger himself as support. When asked in 1997 if it was the Holy Spirit who directed the election of the pope, Ratzinger did not affirm the role of responsibility to the Holy Spirit exclusive of human agency, stating, 'There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit would obviously not have picked.' The second half of the book (in reality, part three, as the above sequence constitutes part one and two) deals with a biographical and analytical sketch of the new pope, the former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. Allen highlights many of the chief concerns and challenges that the new pope will face, including the changing culture of the church and the new face of society in general. Benedict XVI, like his predecessor, was a product of the World War II experience, with a very traditional education and upbringing; very intelligent and highly educated, he began in his earliest speeches putting some distance between himself and earlier images of him, but reaffirming many of his traditional beliefs at the same time. This is a fascinating book, in which Allen makes many attempts at predictions, not so much on what Benedict XVI will do, but on what will be considered. As Allen writes, however, w

Vital reading for all Christians

John Allen puts his journalistic contacts to great use in this informative primer on the new pope. Protestant fans of John Paul II will be relieved to see that the Catholic Church has, it appears, selected a worthy successor. A strong but humble man, with a firm commitment to the orthodox faith. Allen's account of John Paul II's final days provides an interesting and sympathetic insight into the how the Vatican sought to maintain both confidentiality and accuracy in its public comments about the pope's declining health.

John Allen's view of a multifaceted Church leader

Make no mistake about it, "Benedict XVI will not preside over a pontificate of small plans." And who better to report events as they unfold than National Catholic Reporter's Vatican correspondent John Allen? Allen offers a balanced view of people and events framed in a straightforward and engaging style. "The Rise of Benedict XVI" is a fabulous introduction to the new pope, hard to put down and worth savoring every page. Although the former Cardinal Ratzinger is no dark horse pope, at times he has been stereotyped. Allen debunks these myths and presents a complex and very human Benedict, a man who is reticent and, at the same time, a towering defender of the Catholic faith. A musician with a keen resolve concerning truth. Gravitas with a dash of levity. The late John Paul II energized the papacy and some feared that he had cast too long a shadow for a comparable successor to emerge. Allen affirms that Pope Benedict will not shrink from this challenge. John Paul's right-hand man and yet very different, Benedict will build on the late pope's great initiatives of evangelization and reconciliation, and also come up with a few surprises of his own. I shall look forward in the coming days to these likely events and to how John Allen tells the story. In a nutshell, I strongly recommend this book. It should help to dispel misconceptions and at the same time lend insight into what may well take place in this fascinating pontificate of Benedict XVI. Rev. Dennis J. Mercieri

The Inside Story of Benedict XVI !

Mr. Allen provides amazing background and uses his contacts within the Vatican to bring you this behind the scenes account of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's rise to become Benedict XVI. Regarded by some as a "hardliner" because of his previous position as Head of the Doctrine of the Faith, then Cardinal Ratzinger kept the rouge theologians in line. Interviews with other Vatican personnel provide a better insight into the real Benedict XVI. Caring, charming and warm to others who is also fluent in numerous languages. A great read that takes you behind the scenes after John Paul II's death and leads up to Benedict's election as the Successor of Peter. I highly recommend this book.