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God's Choice: Pope Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Church – An Intimate Insider Biography of the Papacy's Historic Transition
George Weigel's New York Time s bestselling biography of Pope John Paul II, Witness to Hope , set the standard by which all portraits of the modern papacy are now measured. With God's Choice , he gives us an extraordinary chronicle of the rise of Pope Benedict XVI as well as an unflinching view of the Catholic Church at the dawn of a new era.
When John Paul II lapsed into illness for the last time, people flocked from all over the world to pray outside his apartment. He had become a father figure to millions in a world bereft of strong paternal examples, and those millions now felt orphaned. After more than twenty-six years of John Paul II's guidance, the Catholic Church is entering a new age, with its bedrock traditions intact but with pressing questions to address in a rapidly changing world. Beginning with the story of John Paul's final months, God's Choice offers a remarkable inside account of the conclave that produced Benedict XVI as the next pope, drawing on George Weigel's unrivaled access to this complex event. Weigel also incisively surveys the current state of the Church around the world: its thriving populations in Africa, Latin America, and parts of the post-communist world; its collapse in western Europe; its continued struggles in Asia; and the vibrancy of many aspects of Catholic life in the United States, even as the Church in America struggles to overcome its recent experience of scandal. Reflecting on John Paul II's greatness, drawing on firsthand interviews to paint an intimate portrait of the new Pope, and boldly assessing the Church's current condition, God's Choice is an invaluable book for anyone seeking to understand the Catholic future and the larger human future the Church will help to shape.
When John Paul II lapsed into illness for the last time, people flocked from all over the world to pray outside his apartment. He had become a father figure to millions in a world bereft of strong paternal examples, and those millions now felt orphaned. After more than twenty-six years of John Paul II's guidance, the Catholic Church is entering a new age, with its bedrock traditions intact but with pressing questions to address in a rapidly changing world. Beginning with the story of John Paul's final months, God's Choice offers a remarkable inside account of the conclave that produced Benedict XVI as the next pope, drawing on George Weigel's unrivaled access to this complex event. Weigel also incisively surveys the current state of the Church around the world: its thriving populations in Africa, Latin America, and parts of the post-communist world; its collapse in western Europe; its continued struggles in Asia; and the vibrancy of many aspects of Catholic life in the United States, even as the Church in America struggles to overcome its recent experience of scandal. Reflecting on John Paul II's greatness, drawing on firsthand interviews to paint an intimate portrait of the new Pope, and boldly assessing the Church's current condition, God's Choice is an invaluable book for anyone seeking to understand the Catholic future and the larger human future the Church will help to shape.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2005
17 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
George Weigel
124 books154 followersAmerican author and political and social activist. Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Weigel was the Founding President of the James Madison Foundation.
Each summer, Weigel and several other Catholic intellectuals from the United States, Poland, and across Europe conduct the Tertio Millennio Seminar on the Free Society in Krakow, in which they and an assortment of students from the United States, Poland, and several other emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe discuss Christianity within the context of liberal democracy and capitalism, with the papal encyclical Centesimus Annus being the focal point.
He is a member of the advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
Each summer, Weigel and several other Catholic intellectuals from the United States, Poland, and across Europe conduct the Tertio Millennio Seminar on the Free Society in Krakow, in which they and an assortment of students from the United States, Poland, and several other emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe discuss Christianity within the context of liberal democracy and capitalism, with the papal encyclical Centesimus Annus being the focal point.
He is a member of the advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
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November 13, 2008
Most of my favorite parts of this book are the quotes and descriptions of our current pontiff. Here are a few of them:
In 1974, Josef Pieper, the German philosopher who Cardinal Ratzinger had admired during his student days urged him to get in touch with Cardinal Wojtyla who had made such a deep impression on Pieper. Ratzinger and Wojtyla began exchanging books! ☺ (p. 178) A very propitious beginning to one of the most important friendships of the last century, don't you think?
In the post-WWII years when our current Holy Father was in seminary, he was a great lover of novels especially those by: Dostoevsky, Claudel, Bernanos and Mauriac. In fact, the book says, he "devoured" them"! ☺ (p. 164)
When his Pontificate was announced, 'amid the veritable hurricane of commentary, analysis, celebration, and toy- making*, an intriguing analysis came from what some might regard as an unexpected source: Professor Timothy George, a prominent American evangelical theologian and dean of the interdenominational Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, a Baptist institution in Alabama. Dr. George suggested to his fellow Protestants that Benedict XVI could be the "harbinger of a new reformation" and that, in any event, "his pontificate will be one of great moment for the Christian Church, not least for the evangelicals." Why?'
Dr. George gave five reasons: 'because Benedict "takes truth seriously"; because his theology is Bible-focused"; because "his message is Christocentric"; because he is Augustinian in perspective"; and because "he champions the culture of life."' (p. 154)
Our current pope's 'parent's name's were Joseph and Mary (which provoked innumerable jokes in later life), and he was their third child, following his sister, Maria, born in 1921, and his brother, Georg, born in 1924.' (p. 159)
Pope John Paul's selection of Cardinal Ratzinger 'as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) disclosed several things about (his) thinking on the state of Catholic theology and its importance in the Church. The first was that John Paul II took theology very seriously indeed. Rather than appointing an experienced Church bureaucrat to head the congregation, John Paul chose a man whom everyone, including his critics, regarded as a scholar of the first rank, one of the finest Catholic theological minds of the 20th century. The appointment also suggested that the Pope, far from wanting to drive theology back into the lecture hall, wanted it to engage the world--but in a distinctively theological way. Thus he chose Ratzinger who had come to embody an updating of the Church based on a return to the sources of Catholic spiritual and intellectual vitality. And in the third place, the appointment underscored John Paul's commitment to a legitimate pluralism of methods in theology. Joseph Ratzinger was the first head of the Vatican's doctrinal office in centuries who did not take Thomas Aquinas as his theological lodestar. Both the Pope and his new prefect respected Thomas and Thomists. They also wanted a wide-ranging theological conversation to shape papal teaching.' (p. 181)
My favorite of all the stories Weigel has told about the Holy Father (so far) is this one. It concerns his choice of one of the symbols Pope Benedict chose to include in his episcopal coat of arms when he was 'appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising: a bear with a pack strapped to its back. The image came from the legend of St. Corbinian, the first bishop of Freising, who, as the legend goes, was on his way to Rome when a bear attack his horse and killed it. Corbinian scolded the bear and made it haul the pack the horse was carrying all the way to Rome. The story reminded Ratzinger of Augustine's reflections on several psalms in which the great patristic theologian speaks of having become a draft animal--a "good sturdy ox to pull God's cart in this world," as Ratzinger puts it. The paradox is that that was how the scholar, Augustine, who might have preferred not to be the bishop charged with pulling God's cart through history, came closer to God. "Just as the draft animal is closest to the farmer, doing his work for him, so is Augustine closest to God precisely through such humble service, completely within God's hand, completely His instrument." That was how Ratzinger understood his own translation from scholar to bishop: "The laden bear that took the place of Saint Corbinian's horse, or rather donkey--the bear that became his donkey against his will. Is this not an image of what I should do and of what I am?" As St. Augustine had put it, "A beast of burden have I become for you, and this is just the way for me to remain wholly yours and always abide with you." And that, in the end, was how Joseph Ratzinger had come to understand himself and his service to John Paul II.' (pp. 204-205)
* there was a handmade Benedict XVI teddy bear
In 1974, Josef Pieper, the German philosopher who Cardinal Ratzinger had admired during his student days urged him to get in touch with Cardinal Wojtyla who had made such a deep impression on Pieper. Ratzinger and Wojtyla began exchanging books! ☺ (p. 178) A very propitious beginning to one of the most important friendships of the last century, don't you think?
In the post-WWII years when our current Holy Father was in seminary, he was a great lover of novels especially those by: Dostoevsky, Claudel, Bernanos and Mauriac. In fact, the book says, he "devoured" them"! ☺ (p. 164)
When his Pontificate was announced, 'amid the veritable hurricane of commentary, analysis, celebration, and toy- making*, an intriguing analysis came from what some might regard as an unexpected source: Professor Timothy George, a prominent American evangelical theologian and dean of the interdenominational Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, a Baptist institution in Alabama. Dr. George suggested to his fellow Protestants that Benedict XVI could be the "harbinger of a new reformation" and that, in any event, "his pontificate will be one of great moment for the Christian Church, not least for the evangelicals." Why?'
Dr. George gave five reasons: 'because Benedict "takes truth seriously"; because his theology is Bible-focused"; because "his message is Christocentric"; because he is Augustinian in perspective"; and because "he champions the culture of life."' (p. 154)
Our current pope's 'parent's name's were Joseph and Mary (which provoked innumerable jokes in later life), and he was their third child, following his sister, Maria, born in 1921, and his brother, Georg, born in 1924.' (p. 159)
Pope John Paul's selection of Cardinal Ratzinger 'as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) disclosed several things about (his) thinking on the state of Catholic theology and its importance in the Church. The first was that John Paul II took theology very seriously indeed. Rather than appointing an experienced Church bureaucrat to head the congregation, John Paul chose a man whom everyone, including his critics, regarded as a scholar of the first rank, one of the finest Catholic theological minds of the 20th century. The appointment also suggested that the Pope, far from wanting to drive theology back into the lecture hall, wanted it to engage the world--but in a distinctively theological way. Thus he chose Ratzinger who had come to embody an updating of the Church based on a return to the sources of Catholic spiritual and intellectual vitality. And in the third place, the appointment underscored John Paul's commitment to a legitimate pluralism of methods in theology. Joseph Ratzinger was the first head of the Vatican's doctrinal office in centuries who did not take Thomas Aquinas as his theological lodestar. Both the Pope and his new prefect respected Thomas and Thomists. They also wanted a wide-ranging theological conversation to shape papal teaching.' (p. 181)
My favorite of all the stories Weigel has told about the Holy Father (so far) is this one. It concerns his choice of one of the symbols Pope Benedict chose to include in his episcopal coat of arms when he was 'appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising: a bear with a pack strapped to its back. The image came from the legend of St. Corbinian, the first bishop of Freising, who, as the legend goes, was on his way to Rome when a bear attack his horse and killed it. Corbinian scolded the bear and made it haul the pack the horse was carrying all the way to Rome. The story reminded Ratzinger of Augustine's reflections on several psalms in which the great patristic theologian speaks of having become a draft animal--a "good sturdy ox to pull God's cart in this world," as Ratzinger puts it. The paradox is that that was how the scholar, Augustine, who might have preferred not to be the bishop charged with pulling God's cart through history, came closer to God. "Just as the draft animal is closest to the farmer, doing his work for him, so is Augustine closest to God precisely through such humble service, completely within God's hand, completely His instrument." That was how Ratzinger understood his own translation from scholar to bishop: "The laden bear that took the place of Saint Corbinian's horse, or rather donkey--the bear that became his donkey against his will. Is this not an image of what I should do and of what I am?" As St. Augustine had put it, "A beast of burden have I become for you, and this is just the way for me to remain wholly yours and always abide with you." And that, in the end, was how Joseph Ratzinger had come to understand himself and his service to John Paul II.' (pp. 204-205)
* there was a handmade Benedict XVI teddy bear
November 13, 2008
If you are looking for a book which is all biography on Pope Benedict XVI -- as I was -- you won't find it in George Weigel's God's Choice. If on the other hand you've read Weigel's masterly Witness To Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, it's possible to see this book as its conclusion and transition to the new pontiff. At first, I confess I was a tad disappointed--not that I don't love JPII (I do!) but I bought and was reading this book looking for insight into his successor. But as I read and listened to the last debilitating days our Polish Pope spent on this earth in humble suffering, I was gently chastised, and the stage was set for the book's overriding theme, which is, come what may God will have His Way. And gradually I came to see the wisdom, even the necessity of such a beginning. Weigel is seeking to show through God's Choice how indeed -- strange and unexpected though it may have seemed to the world at large -- the selection of the Bavarian Cardinal as Pope was indeed Divine, and to do so he needed to set the stage.
Roughly the book can be divided into thirds. The first third deals with JPII's last days, his death, funeral and the conclave. Gradually Cardinal Ratzinger is introduced by Weigel and event-by-event he is shown to be the inevitable, the only, if the somewhat reluctant choice of his church to be their leader--the reluctance being mostly on his side. As a scholarly, quiet, professorial sort of priest, Cardinal Ratzinger tried to retire home to his library in Germany several times during JPII's pontificate and was not allowed to do so.
The middle third of the book provides a brief and rather unsatisfying biography of Pope Benedict. There are some amusing anecdotes, helpful spiritual insights and facts about the man himself. On the whole it is fascinating reading, but it only whets your appetite. My guess is Weigel plans a comprehensive biography of the reigning pontiff sometime down the road to complete the trilogy begun with Witness to Hope and continued here. But the little that I did learn about the man was so enlightening, inspiring, encouraging and suprising, it left me wanting to know and read him more!
The book concludes with a discussion of managerial, liturgical and inter-religious initiatives PBXVI will probably undertake during his years as pope, some of which have already been proven prophetic. Highly recommended!
So as not to make the review too long, I have included quotes from the book under the audio edition.
Roughly the book can be divided into thirds. The first third deals with JPII's last days, his death, funeral and the conclave. Gradually Cardinal Ratzinger is introduced by Weigel and event-by-event he is shown to be the inevitable, the only, if the somewhat reluctant choice of his church to be their leader--the reluctance being mostly on his side. As a scholarly, quiet, professorial sort of priest, Cardinal Ratzinger tried to retire home to his library in Germany several times during JPII's pontificate and was not allowed to do so.
The middle third of the book provides a brief and rather unsatisfying biography of Pope Benedict. There are some amusing anecdotes, helpful spiritual insights and facts about the man himself. On the whole it is fascinating reading, but it only whets your appetite. My guess is Weigel plans a comprehensive biography of the reigning pontiff sometime down the road to complete the trilogy begun with Witness to Hope and continued here. But the little that I did learn about the man was so enlightening, inspiring, encouraging and suprising, it left me wanting to know and read him more!
The book concludes with a discussion of managerial, liturgical and inter-religious initiatives PBXVI will probably undertake during his years as pope, some of which have already been proven prophetic. Highly recommended!
So as not to make the review too long, I have included quotes from the book under the audio edition.
August 3, 2024
WEIGEL DEALS WITH THE END OF JOHN PAUL II, AND THE BEGINNING OF BENEDICT XVI
Author George Weigel is a theologian and author of books such as 'Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II,' 'The Truth of Catholicism: Ten Controversies Explored,' 'The Courage To Be Catholic: Crisis, Reform And The Future Of The Church,' etc. He wrote in the Prologue to this 2005 book, "So the story of Pope Benedict XVI... begins with the final chapter in the story of Pope John Paul II: two different personalities, two different intellectual sensibilities, two different styles, yet both Christian radicals---unshakably convinced of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, willing to speak the truth to power, determined to challenge the Church and the world to a nobler, more bracing understanding of the human adventure." (Pg. 2)
He observes about John Paul II, "If World Youth Days were one of the signature events of the pontificate, so were the unprecedented number of beatifications and canonizations John Paul II conducted... There were critics. Some were unhappy with the new, scholarly-historical process for saint-making that John Paul substituted in 1983 for the traditional legal-adversarial process. Others thought that... it was being abused so that the Pope could 'take a new blessed in his pocket' when he traveled to a given country. Still others suggested... that all these beatifications and canonizations were debasing the coinage of sainthood, so to speak." (Pg. 42-43)
He notes that in 1995, John Paul "revived the classic ecumenical agenda, and thereby put the Catholic Church---long the tardy child at the ecumenical table---at the center of the global quest for Christian unity. The concrete results were not immediate... the Catholic Church and the communities of the Reformation were not measurably closer to a common Eucharist by the end of John Paul's pontificate than they had been when he took office." (Pg. 45)
He observes, "John Paul's attempt to re-evangelize Europe met with at least some success... But the clock is running. Christianity is dying in Christianity's historic heartland... No pope since the Middle Ages had tried harder to arouse Europe's Christian spirit. The response, to be charitable, was tepid." (Pg. 56-57)
He argues, "John Paul's dream ... to be able to concelebrate the Eucharist with his Orthodox brethren" faltered; "The conditions... were not only not right, they were not close to being right. Frustration also marked John Paul's efforts with the Christian communities of the Reformation. The once-promising Anglican-Catholic dialogue foundered in the mid-1980s when the Church of England ... [began] calling women to priestly ordination... Similar frustrations beset the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue... It was another frustration for the Pope, who had invested enormous energies into breaking down historic barriers of distrust with Protestant Christians." (Pg. 62)
After Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as Benedict XVI, "Some... who immediately deplored Joseph Ratzinger's election as pope, but who found themselves vaguely consoled by his public commitments to ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, and peace, further comforted themselves with the thought that Benedict XVI's would likely be a brief, perhaps transitional, pontificate. He was, after all, the oldest man elected to the papacy in more than two centuries, and he had been in difficult health at several points in the 1990s. Yet there is nothing in Joseph Ratzinger's character to suggest that he would ever understand himself as a placeholder..." (Pg. 213)
Like all of Weigel's books, this one is insightful, and will be of great interest to anyone interested in the modern Catholic church.
Author George Weigel is a theologian and author of books such as 'Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II,' 'The Truth of Catholicism: Ten Controversies Explored,' 'The Courage To Be Catholic: Crisis, Reform And The Future Of The Church,' etc. He wrote in the Prologue to this 2005 book, "So the story of Pope Benedict XVI... begins with the final chapter in the story of Pope John Paul II: two different personalities, two different intellectual sensibilities, two different styles, yet both Christian radicals---unshakably convinced of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, willing to speak the truth to power, determined to challenge the Church and the world to a nobler, more bracing understanding of the human adventure." (Pg. 2)
He observes about John Paul II, "If World Youth Days were one of the signature events of the pontificate, so were the unprecedented number of beatifications and canonizations John Paul II conducted... There were critics. Some were unhappy with the new, scholarly-historical process for saint-making that John Paul substituted in 1983 for the traditional legal-adversarial process. Others thought that... it was being abused so that the Pope could 'take a new blessed in his pocket' when he traveled to a given country. Still others suggested... that all these beatifications and canonizations were debasing the coinage of sainthood, so to speak." (Pg. 42-43)
He notes that in 1995, John Paul "revived the classic ecumenical agenda, and thereby put the Catholic Church---long the tardy child at the ecumenical table---at the center of the global quest for Christian unity. The concrete results were not immediate... the Catholic Church and the communities of the Reformation were not measurably closer to a common Eucharist by the end of John Paul's pontificate than they had been when he took office." (Pg. 45)
He observes, "John Paul's attempt to re-evangelize Europe met with at least some success... But the clock is running. Christianity is dying in Christianity's historic heartland... No pope since the Middle Ages had tried harder to arouse Europe's Christian spirit. The response, to be charitable, was tepid." (Pg. 56-57)
He argues, "John Paul's dream ... to be able to concelebrate the Eucharist with his Orthodox brethren" faltered; "The conditions... were not only not right, they were not close to being right. Frustration also marked John Paul's efforts with the Christian communities of the Reformation. The once-promising Anglican-Catholic dialogue foundered in the mid-1980s when the Church of England ... [began] calling women to priestly ordination... Similar frustrations beset the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue... It was another frustration for the Pope, who had invested enormous energies into breaking down historic barriers of distrust with Protestant Christians." (Pg. 62)
After Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as Benedict XVI, "Some... who immediately deplored Joseph Ratzinger's election as pope, but who found themselves vaguely consoled by his public commitments to ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, and peace, further comforted themselves with the thought that Benedict XVI's would likely be a brief, perhaps transitional, pontificate. He was, after all, the oldest man elected to the papacy in more than two centuries, and he had been in difficult health at several points in the 1990s. Yet there is nothing in Joseph Ratzinger's character to suggest that he would ever understand himself as a placeholder..." (Pg. 213)
Like all of Weigel's books, this one is insightful, and will be of great interest to anyone interested in the modern Catholic church.
July 4, 2020
My review of “God’s Choice” will not be entirely fair. After all, I had bought the book with expectations that it would be more directed toward the endeavors of the Catholic Church to reckon with a society that is rapidly becoming “post-Christian” than what turned out to be the case. Modern Western civilization, with faith in science rapidly replacing faith in God, has only vestigial elements of genuine Christianity left in its cultures. To label it a “post-Christian” culture is, in practices and values, quite accurate.
But so far as the book being reviewed is concerned, it was a disappointment to me because of its very intensive discussion of political aspects of the Catholic Church. Much space was devoted to technical matters regarding selecting the new pope (Pope Benedict XVI), and the prevailing essence of the book was technical and political, rather than spiritual or theological. Other readers might think differently about the book. For the purposes of the book, it is probably a quite appropriate treatment of the transition from Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI. My interests, though, were principally spiritual. Thus, I did not get from the book entirely what I’d hoped for.
It would be highly unfair to fail to acknowledge that much was discussed about spirituality, morality, and the church’s struggle to countervail extremely strong secular forces in the societies of the West. Thus, considerable spirituality was brought into the discussion. Of course, I need to confess to not being or having been Catholic. My guess is that most readers of this book are Catholic. I do, however, see the Catholic Church as being more effective at moving in opposition to the rampant secularizing of society than are most (liberal or moderate) Protestant churches. Thus, I consider myself more-or-less “pro-Catholic”. For many Catholic readers, this might be an excellent book. The author is obviously highly educated, knowledgeable, and deeply interested in the Catholic Church and its success.
But so far as the book being reviewed is concerned, it was a disappointment to me because of its very intensive discussion of political aspects of the Catholic Church. Much space was devoted to technical matters regarding selecting the new pope (Pope Benedict XVI), and the prevailing essence of the book was technical and political, rather than spiritual or theological. Other readers might think differently about the book. For the purposes of the book, it is probably a quite appropriate treatment of the transition from Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI. My interests, though, were principally spiritual. Thus, I did not get from the book entirely what I’d hoped for.
It would be highly unfair to fail to acknowledge that much was discussed about spirituality, morality, and the church’s struggle to countervail extremely strong secular forces in the societies of the West. Thus, considerable spirituality was brought into the discussion. Of course, I need to confess to not being or having been Catholic. My guess is that most readers of this book are Catholic. I do, however, see the Catholic Church as being more effective at moving in opposition to the rampant secularizing of society than are most (liberal or moderate) Protestant churches. Thus, I consider myself more-or-less “pro-Catholic”. For many Catholic readers, this might be an excellent book. The author is obviously highly educated, knowledgeable, and deeply interested in the Catholic Church and its success.
July 28, 2018
The title is a little misleading as at least half of the book is about Saint John Paul II.
Never one to disappoint, George Weigel gives new insights (at least new to me) about the pontificate of John Paul the Great. I'm sure at the time this book was published (November 2006) people wanted to know about the last year of JPII's life and how Pope Benedict XVI was chosen, and Weigel delivers. If you are a fan of JPII and B16, you will enjoy this book.
On the downside, while I learned several interesting facts about B16, based on the title, I was hoping for more.
Never one to disappoint, George Weigel gives new insights (at least new to me) about the pontificate of John Paul the Great. I'm sure at the time this book was published (November 2006) people wanted to know about the last year of JPII's life and how Pope Benedict XVI was chosen, and Weigel delivers. If you are a fan of JPII and B16, you will enjoy this book.
On the downside, while I learned several interesting facts about B16, based on the title, I was hoping for more.
April 21, 2020
A honest look at history of the Catholic church
I've read a few books by Pope Benedict and am very impressed with how he explains complex issues of our times. I know Pope Benedict is no longer the Pope,but I wish him the best and hope he will write more books.
I've read a few books by Pope Benedict and am very impressed with how he explains complex issues of our times. I know Pope Benedict is no longer the Pope,but I wish him the best and hope he will write more books.
May 11, 2021
So good.... but also written a long time ago now and the last chapter feels it.
December 13, 2012
I bought this book some years ago, closer to Pope Benedict's actual election, but only just got around to reading it. Eight years into Benedict's papacy, Weigel's book remains a valuable read. Weigel is a thorough, and thoroughly readable, historian. The first half or so of the book describes the state of the Church through John Paul II's papacy before it approaches the 2005 conclave itself. Weigel also includes a good, swift biography of Joseph Ratzinger prior to the conclave which I found a great companion to another book I read this year: My Brother, the Pope, a book-length interview with Pope Benedict's brother, Georg Ratzinger.
God's Choice only dates itself in the last chapter, a chapter devoted to looking to the future. That chapter outlines various issues in the Church, both internal (e.g. curial maintenance) and external (e.g. Vatican diplomacy) and how the new pope might address those issues. Weigel teeters between what he thinks the pope might do based on his career and vocation in the Church thus far, and what Weigel would do if he had the reins. But in the end, reading God's Choice so far after the fact, it doesn't matter: Pope Benedict XVI has shaped his own papacy, the prognostications of various onlookers notwithstanding.
God's Choice only dates itself in the last chapter, a chapter devoted to looking to the future. That chapter outlines various issues in the Church, both internal (e.g. curial maintenance) and external (e.g. Vatican diplomacy) and how the new pope might address those issues. Weigel teeters between what he thinks the pope might do based on his career and vocation in the Church thus far, and what Weigel would do if he had the reins. But in the end, reading God's Choice so far after the fact, it doesn't matter: Pope Benedict XVI has shaped his own papacy, the prognostications of various onlookers notwithstanding.
March 12, 2009
From what I've been able to determine from the three books I've read by George Weigel, I definitely prefer when he is writing about what other people do, as opposed to his opinion on how things ought to be. It's not that his opinions are that much different than mine or not well researched, in fact the opposite is true. My problem is that he is a little bit too analytical, uses vocabulary that often seems to be too academic, and becomes fairly dry. On the other hand, similar to his biography on John Paul II, the portions of this book that describe the end of JPII's life, the interim, and then Pope Benedicts early Papacy are phenomenal.
Overall this is an excellent book and I did enjoy it. I think that I will probably avoid reading his analytical books in the future for the purpose of enjoyment, and leave them solely for educational purposes.
Overall this is an excellent book and I did enjoy it. I think that I will probably avoid reading his analytical books in the future for the purpose of enjoyment, and leave them solely for educational purposes.
May 20, 2008
George Weigel begins by analyzing the legacy of the late John Paul II; some of it is quite poetic and moving. It may be somewhat redundant for those who read his biography Witness to Hope or rambling for those who just want to get to the part about Benedict. Weigel then walks the readers through the events surrounding the conclave to select the new Pope, which will interest those intrigued by the political machinations, ambitions, and decisions of cardinals (of whom I am not one). Finally, he introduces the character of Joseph Ratzinger, providing a nice short biography of the man and then a long and somewhat dull analysis of the tasks that lay ahead of him as Pope.
December 9, 2011
I was very touched at the beginning with John Paul II history, as I usually am. After that I wanted to continue reading about the Great John Paul. Yes, I picked up the book to learn about Benedict XVI and I did. It was a good book, you cannot predict how a book will touch you.
January 14, 2013
Decent book but padded out a bit. Great info on both Pope's but some of the other info, in my opinion, was not necessarily all that interesting. 80-85% relevant. Worth a read (or listen as I listened to it on Audible)
Read
March 24, 2008want this
November 12, 2008
I have come to really enjoy Mr. Weigel's works and respect him as a man who has an intregrous insight into the temporal workings of modern society. This work only further reinforced that view.
August 31, 2016
Decent, hopefully Pope Benedict XVI will reign again.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews