The Universal Father: A Life of John Paul II

by Garry O'Connor

Book Overview

Pope John Paul II will go down in history not only as the third longest serving pope, but possibly the most politically influential of all 305 popes and antipopes since St. Peter. Born in Poland in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596910968
• ISBN13: 9781596910966
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Length: 450 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

We're missing your equanimity.

If you asked me "why are you writing this in the context of `Book Review" about the late Pope, I wouldn't be able to answer you, because I don't know. I simply felt here is an extraordinary account of blessed faith on the one hand and plagued by questions over political acrimonies blended together to clone a `man's world of power', on the other. Perhaps the latest comments made by his successor about `Islam' prompted me to write this review. Such comments could have far reaching consequences if not handled with equanimity and self-restraint. Pope John Paul II: we are missing your equanimity and self-restraint. Unfortunately our planet is already full of mental and emotional instabilities from groups living in different and dissimilar countries that many will not accept, by their own interpretations, the statements recently made by Pope Benedict XVI after a speech about the concept of holy war. For instance, how will the `large' Muslim communities in France, England, Germany and Holland (even in Italy) react to the Pope's statements? Notably by those too many who, after the second or third generations, could not mix. Nor could they have any sense of connection (speaking the language is not enough) with the local common tradition and usage so long established and became the force of practices followed by the `real-ethnic-group' French, English, Germans, Dutch and Italians. In fact, on face value, I cannot see much of a rationale in the Pope's remarks. Why should it have come from the Holy See at all? By reasons intrinsic in their faith-and-glory filled history, coupled with feelings of disparity and local inequities, many Muslims in Europe and America are much given to ritual customs. On the basis of personal experience and perception, and for its very natural importance, this episode tends to be one of those moments in history for which no record, written journals or even first-person reportage should reasonably be able to describe the actual events that would soon be unfolding. The word `soon' in history does not necessarily mean `promptly or quickly'. `Without hesitation' is, perhaps, more appropriate. This book about the late John Paul II may be the end of an era. No book has so far been written about the beginning of another.

best bio

This particular book was well researched. The author spent a great deal of time speaking to colleagues and family acquaintainces. The historical and personal accounts made this book a fast and very enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to everyone. This book is spiritually uplifting and provides the reader an insight to Poland.