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Last Testament Paperback – November 7, 2017
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The story of the first Pope to resign in over 700 years.
Pope Benedict made history when he became the first Pope in over 700 years to resign from office, stunning the Catholic Church the world over. At last, Last Testament is a stunning and frank autobiography from the shy and private man who has since remained cloistered in a former convent in the Vatican gardens. In interviews with Peter Seewald, the Pope Emeritus breaks his silence on corruption within the Vatican, clerical sex scandals, and the challenge of reforming the Papacy.
In these interviews, Benedict discusses such wide-ranging controversies as:
- The “Vatileaks” case in which his butler leaked some of his personal letters that alleged corruption and scandal in the Vatican
- The presence of a “gay lobby” within the Vatican and how he dismantled it
- His alleged Nazi upbringing
- His attempts at cleaning up the “dirt in the church” (clerical sexual abuse)
- The mysterious private secretary “Gorgeous George”
On a more personal level he writes with great warmth of his successor Pope Francis, who he admits has a popular touch, a star quality which Benedict himself has lacked. Much controversy still surrounds Pope Benedict's Papacy--in this book he addresses these controversies and reveals how at his late age, governing and reforming the Papacy and particularly the Vatican, was beyond him.
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Print length288 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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Publication dateNovember 7, 2017
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Dimensions5.21 x 0.72 x 7.56 inches
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ISBN-101472944623
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ISBN-13978-1472944627
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"The most sincere interview which Benedict XVI has given . . . It is gripping from the very beginning . . . An exquisite conversation between two people who know each other, like each other, and have mutual respect for one another . . . A fantastic book which should not be overlooked by any open-minded Catholic who wishes to learn from our great tradition but also wants to progress with the Church." - The Catholic Times
"Throughout there are moments of breathtaking candor . . . it's stunning to realize you're reading the inner thoughts--and confessions--of a former pope now speaking without the weight of that papal mantle . . . The portrait here is one that deepens and defends the place of Benedict in history." - Chicago Tribune
"There are beautiful moments in the book." - The Huffington Post
"The most revealing book yet on Benedict XVI . . . Seewald has gathered in perhaps the finest harvest yet. For more than a decade I have read everything I can about Benedict XVI, but I was amazed by the revelations in this new book." - Catholic Herald
"Joseph Ratzinger has certainly been a great theologian . . . Last Testament [is] revealing about who this underrated man really is . . . He bears comparison with the greatest doctors of the Church." - Prospect
"Prophetic and important analysis. The Testament is a fascinating read for this and so much more, and there is a consistent note of joyful and solid faith which is an inspiration." - Joanna Bogle, The Catholic World Report
"I can’t begin to describe the influence that the writings of Joseph Ratzinger have had on me . . . but suffice it to say that this beautiful and compelling book may well be the final gem in the crown of his work that we’ve all been waiting for." - Paul Senz, The Catholic World Report
"[Last Testament] deepens our sense of the personality, gentleness, humor, and subtlety of the pope emeritus." - First Things
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Special Interest (November 7, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 288 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1472944623
- ISBN-13 : 978-1472944627
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.21 x 0.72 x 7.56 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #559,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,774 in Christian Discipleship (Books)
- #2,694 in Religious Leader Biographies
- #16,004 in Memoirs (Books)
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About the authors
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Born in 1927 in Germany as Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI has been head of the Roman Catholic Church since April 2005. A prolific author, theologian and university professor, Ratzinger served as an "expert" at the Second Vatican Council, and was tapped in 1977 by Pope Paul VI to lead the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. In 1981, Pope John Paul II called him to Rome to head the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he served until his papal election.
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On Faith:
"I do not let go of the foundational certainty of faith ... if I do not understand something that doesn't mean it is wrong, but that I am too small for it. ... [O]ne must maintain firmly, in faith, that He (God) knows better." (10)
On Heaven and the Beatific Vision:
"[O]ne is immersed in a great ocean of joy and love, so to speak. ... God is so great that we never finish our searching. He is always new. With God there is perpetual, unending encounter, with new discoveries and new joy. ... At the same time, in an entirely human perspective, I look forward to being reunited with my parents, my siblings, my friends, and I imagine it will be as lovely as it was at our family home. ... (There is a) communal character of beatitude." (12)
The media never seemed too fond of Benedict, seemingly enjoying speaking of him as "God's Rottweiler" and "The Enforcer", and maybe the Holy Father isn't too fond of them:
"[I]t isn't the judgement of journalists that matters, but the judgement of the loving God." (5)
In a number of places, the Holy Father speaks of the opposition to him within the leadership of the Catholic Church in Germany. Maybe the most succinct quote involving this is:
"[C]ertain people in Germany have always attempted to bring me down." (198)
There are so many interesting subjects covered in this book, including:
Pope John Paul II (4, 43, 155, 157, 160, 164, 165, 167-177, 200, 208, 222).
Pope John XXIII (121, 122, 126).
Pope Pius XII (137).
Obama (209).
Putin (210, 211).
Castro (91, 218, 219)
Humanae Vitae (156, 157, 159)
Priestly celibacy (158)
Hitler (46, 57, 59, 72, 81, 112, 138).
1968 (136, 154, 156).
Beatlemania (136).
Judaism (137, 138).
And this is barely scratching the surface. I can't help but end with a few more quotes I like:
"If a Pope is only getting applause, he has to ask himself whether or not he is doing things right." (xv)
"Politics cannot simply be pragmatic, in the sense of 'we'll do something.' It must have a vision of the whole." (116)
"[H]e (God) is love and He loves me - and as such, life should be guided by Him, by this power called love. ... [T]he living God .. touches the heart ... [He] knows me and loves me. ... [O]ne goes out of this world and will be there before God, and before the saints, and before friends and those who weren't friends. ... [A]ccept the finitude of this life and approach .. it inwardly, to come before God's countenance." (242, 105, 240)
This is probably the last opportunity, of a total of four, that Peter Seewald has had to do this. By now, I have listened to all of the interviews. The first interview is Salt of the Earth: The Church at the End of the Millennium , the second was: Light of the World: The Pope, The Church and the Signs Of The Times , and God and the World: A Conversation With Peter Seewald being the third. I was very impressed by these. As with this book, I was interested initially and primarily in this because of the questions that were asked (the issues probed are listed above in the book description). They are ones that we all would probably like answers for. I am very curious. I wanted to hear how Pope Benedict would answer them.
What makes it more interesting, Seewald does not supply the questions ahead of time. He asks. The pope responds. This gives us the chance to hear the Holy Father speak his mind unrehearsed. That's also the way the Pope wants it. It is here that we understand his grasp of the Church and its teachings, mission and history, as well as its problems, shortcomings, difficulties and failures. He hides from nothing. In fact, it is surprising how frank he is in his responses. It is almost as if he sympathizes with Seewald's looking for answers. He gives the Church a certain humanness that is very attractive, something that many are looking for at the parish level.
One of the strongest impressions that he has left in my mind as Pope is that he describes his role, not as you might expect--the world leader of a billion Catholics--but as someone who is to bear witness to Christ. He does not pontificate. Pope Benedict is certainly not a light-weight. His wisdom and understanding of matters is such that he can break things down to people at all levels, including children. I was there witnessing this at World Youth Day in Cologne. It was amazing!
I hope to also read this as an audiobook, which I think always adds to the satisfaction of it. It's not the Pope's voice, but you can imagine! As is the case with many books that I really like, I buy both the audio and either the hardcover or paperback edition. Doing that with a book like this allows me to dive into the text to draw whatever more I can from something like this interview I have listened to.
A great contribution to the Church and to people of all faiths. I believe that this can help greatly in clearing up many misunderstandings people may have.
A great read! A page-turner!
Top reviews from other countries
Something about the book:
I could not stop reading it and I have given it one quick read, yet to read it in depth.
Even a quick read administered to me what I was in need for - faith and hope.
Peter Seewald and Pope Benedict's all interviews are captivating and thought provoking.
Arising from the book , it seems as if Our Lord is seeking and teaching you through Emeritus Pope Benedict. The true facts surrounding his resignation will be shrouded in mystery ad multos annos. Let us not dwell on it, but give thanks that Pope Benedict had delivered in his book 'Last Testament' his spiritual teachings as a legacy for the future.