The Pope and I: How the Lifelong Friendship Between a Polish Jew and Pope John Paul II Advanced the Cause of Jewish-Christian Relations

by Jerzy Kluger

This book describes the surprising, lifelong relationship between Pope John Paul II and his Jewish friend, Jerzy Kluger. Their friendship played a role in shaping Karol Wojtyla s early views toward the Jewish people, and his later efforts, as pope, to overcome the legacy of anti-Semitism. Though their story has been previously recounted, here for the first time Jerzy Kluger offers his own account of their relationship over many years. The story begins with their friendship in grade school in Poland, Kluger s extraordinary survival of the war, followed by his reunion with Archbishop Wojtyla in Rome during Vatican II. After his friend s election as Pope John Paul II, their relationship unfolds against extraordinary advances in Jewish-Christian relations. Kluger tells a fascinating tale, highlighting the surprising confluences of history, politics, and religion sealed by friendship and mutual respect.

Genres: Religion, Biography, Nonfiction, Philosophy, World War II, Politics, History

251 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Brenda Wilhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as it was a very intimate look into the relationship of these two people. It is a tribute to the relationship of the two religions and how we are truly are all brothers and of one God.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was packed with information. Each time I read a survivor story of WWII I discover how little I actually know about it. Jerzy Kluger's personal story from WWII is so intriguing and different than what I have heard before. He traveled from Poland, to Russia, and all the way to Tel Aviv fighting against the German army and also at various times existing as a prisoner. After the retelling of his war experience, we are finally reunited with his childhood friend from Poland, Jurek, who is on his way to becoming Pope.

It is apparent that The Pope was haunted by his homeland. The tragic events that took place there before, during, and following WWII when it became a communist country particularly challenged the Pope and gave him a unique perspective on Jewish-Christian Relations. The legacy he leaves behind him is clear, "that if all people had one Father, then they were all brothers and sisters, and there should be no hatred among them."

I gave this book four stars our of five only because I beleive the translation was a little choppy and could have been clearer. The content of this book is excellent and I recommend it to anyone who is curious about post WWII history, as well as what stands in the way of peace in the middle east.

[Leslie Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Pope John Paul II, so I was interested to read this book by his lifelong friend, Jerzy Kluger. I enjoyed the parts that revealed personal glimpses of the pope throughout his life. There was also a lot of political stuff that didn't interest me, so I ended up skimming the last third of the book.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of this memoir was a childhood friend of the boy who would become Pope John Paul II. As a Polish Jew, he and his father spend time in a Soviet prisoner camp, his mother and sister die in a Nazi concentration camp and the two friends lose touch. In the 1960s, when the author was living in Italy and the future pope was participating in the Second Vatican Council, the two revived their friendship. He leveraged their affection to lobby the Vatican to establish formal diplomatic recognition of Israel and to ensure that Catholic practices and theological statements were free of anything that might carry an anti-Semitic message.

[Joyce Schiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very heavy way too detailed Relationship was important and sincere.

[Ghost of the Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religion/Faith...presently the most likely cause for the next global conflict some will say, and the driving force between this particular book.

In this lovely memoir we are giving a unique and touching window into the surprising, lifelong friendship between Pope John Paul II and his Jewish friend, Jerzy Kluger, that started in their hometown in Poland, and only ended with the Pope´s death in 2005.
We are shown just how important this friendship was, and the role it played in shaping Karol Wojtyla's early views toward the Jewish people, and his later efforts after being chosen as pope, to overcome a tenaciously enduring legacy of anti-Semitism.
Over the years i have read quite a lot on Pope JP2 and his life but i had never heard this particular story - so it was especially lovely to "listen" to the tales from their childhood and get a glimpse of the Pope as a young boy, in Jerzy Kluger´s own words. The story begins with their friendship in grade school in Poland, Kluger's remarkable survival to the horrors of World War 2, followed by his reunion with the Archbishop Wojtyla in Rome during the council Vatican II.
After his friend's election as Pope John Paul II, their relationship unfolds against extraordinary advances in Jewish-Christian relations - with Kluger many times assisting the Pope in his efforts to establish a good communication between Jews and Catholics and end the centuries of "bad blood" between the 2 faiths.
This ends up being also more than just a memoir, because given the times in which Kluger lived and his more or less direct contact with Pope John Paul II, we end up being provided with a very interesting account of recent european history, always with their strong bond of friendship in the background.
So why only 4 stars:
The style of writing - clearly very informal, almost like a conversation, it got a little tiring to read after a bit - do not know if its related to the quality of the translation, but at about 100 pages to the end i had some trouble maintaining focus.
The amount of political/historical details may not please everyone - especially given the amount of information we are given about Poland and its recent history - which naturally will have different levels of appeal to different readers. However, all in all, this is a very interesting book, filled with wonderful little stories and many insightful observations that are still relevant, given the current state of affairs on planet earth.
Definitely worth having a look!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a smooth read. It's a very unique perspective on Pope John Paul II's life and papacy, since the author is a childhood friend-- and most significantly a Polish Jew. Their deep, lifelong friendship is really moving and has profound implications for interreligious dialogue because of the people they were and the era they lived in. Kluger's insights into Jewish-Christian relations and his reflections on the history and politics of the state of Israel were all new to me, and they helped me see Pope John Paul II's pontificate with fresh eyes.

My only issue was with the style in some places. The Amazon page says it is Kluger's story "written with the help of Gianfranco di Simone." In some places, the text recreates conversations, dinner experiences, and some of the narratives feel contrived. In those places I felt uncertain about whose voice I was hearing-- Kluger's or di Simone's-- and that shaped my response to the book.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even at age ten there was strong evidence of Pope John PaulII (Lolek's) sense of brotherhood between Judaism and Christianity. He defended his belief from boyhood throughout his papacy. The physical closeness of the friendship betwen Jerzy and Lolek is interrupted after their graduation from high school by their separation at college and WWII. At this point the story evolves into tales of the war from a Polish/Jewish point of view, and of the awful suffering in the concentration camps and the separation of families.

The friendship is renewed later when Lolek is Archbiship and it continues throughout Pope John Paul II's time as Pope, with his never ending struggle for peace and among Jews and Christians and later Muslims. He never ceased seeing the good in people and striving to bring all people together in peace, even when Parkinson's disease was destroying this once hearty man.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

All about the matters closest to the heart of my beloved Lolek. From his young days, to the horrible world war II he had to face, to the many world political upheavals he tried to stop and the cultivation of world peace... and his fighting spirit right till he died. Thank you, Mr Kluger, for giving the world (and those who love JPII) this beautiful book.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early on Jurek seems to be "competing" with his childhood friend...once he moves beyond that, I really appreciated the insider's glimpse to the papacy of John Paul II, their friendship and their part in the world's religion/politics.

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pope John Paul II believed that no matter what religion we practice e worship the same God. This book recalls the story of the relationship between the Pope and his best friend, who is Jewish. The story concentrates on the anti-Semitism in the world and the attempt of John Paul II to erase it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting true story about a Polish Jew who lost most of his family in the Holocaust and reconnected with his childhood friend who became Pope John Paul II.

[Pamela Bickler-Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book