A Pope and a President

A Pope and a President PDF Author: Paul Kengor
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1684516358
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 549

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Book Description
Even as historians credit Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II with hastening the end of the Cold War, they have failed to recognize the depth or significance of the bond that developed between the two leaders. Acclaimed scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor changes that. In this fascinating book, he reveals a singular bond—which included a spiritual connection between the Catholic pope and the Protestant president—that drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the twentieth century: Soviet communism. Reagan and John Paul II almost didn't have the opportunity to forge this relationship: just six weeks apart in the spring of 1981, they took bullets from would-be assassins. But their strikingly similar near-death experiences brought them close together—to Moscow's dismay.Based on Kengor's tireless archival digging and his unique access to Reagan insiders, A Pope and a President is full of revelations. It takes you inside private meetings between Reagan and John Paul II and into the Oval Office, the Vatican, the CIA, the Kremlin, and many points beyond. Nancy Reagan called John Paul II her husband's "closest friend"; Reagan himself told Polish visitors that the pope was his "best friend." When you read this book, you will understand why. As kindred spirits, Ronald Reagan and John Paul II united in pursuit of a supreme objective—and in doing so they changed history.

A Pope and a President

A Pope and a President PDF Author: Paul Kengor
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1684516358
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 549

Get Book Here

Book Description
Even as historians credit Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II with hastening the end of the Cold War, they have failed to recognize the depth or significance of the bond that developed between the two leaders. Acclaimed scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor changes that. In this fascinating book, he reveals a singular bond—which included a spiritual connection between the Catholic pope and the Protestant president—that drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the twentieth century: Soviet communism. Reagan and John Paul II almost didn't have the opportunity to forge this relationship: just six weeks apart in the spring of 1981, they took bullets from would-be assassins. But their strikingly similar near-death experiences brought them close together—to Moscow's dismay.Based on Kengor's tireless archival digging and his unique access to Reagan insiders, A Pope and a President is full of revelations. It takes you inside private meetings between Reagan and John Paul II and into the Oval Office, the Vatican, the CIA, the Kremlin, and many points beyond. Nancy Reagan called John Paul II her husband's "closest friend"; Reagan himself told Polish visitors that the pope was his "best friend." When you read this book, you will understand why. As kindred spirits, Ronald Reagan and John Paul II united in pursuit of a supreme objective—and in doing so they changed history.

The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister

The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister PDF Author: John O'Sullivan
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1596980346
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 369

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Book Description
The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister is a sweeping, dramatic account of how three great figures changed the course of history. All of them led with courage — but also with great optimism. The pope helped ordinary Poles and East Europeans banish their fear of Soviet Communism, convincing them that liberation was possible. The prime minister restored her country's failing economy by reviving the "vigorous virtues" of the British people. The president rebuilt America's military power, its national morale, and its pre – eminence as leader of the free world. Together, they brought down an evil empire and changed the world for the better. No one can tell their intertwined story better than John O'Sullivan, former editor of National Review and the Times of London, who knew all three and conducted exclusive interviews that shed extraordinary new light on these giants of the twentieth century.

Witness to Hope

Witness to Hope PDF Author: George Weigel
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0061758647
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 1228

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Book Description
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER "A remarkable book. Weigel's biography is likely to remain the standard one-volume reference on John Paul II for many years to come." — Pittsburg Post-Gazette ?“Fascinating. . . sheds light on the history of the twentieth century for everyone.” —New York Times Book Review The definitive biography of Pope John Paul II that explores how influential he was on the world stage and in some of the most historic events of the twentieth century that can still be felt today Witness to Hope is the authoritative biography of one of the singular figures—some might argue the singular figure—of our time. With unprecedented cooperation from John Paul II and the people who knew and worked with him throughout his life, George Weigel offers a groundbreaking portrait of the Pope as a man, a thinker, and a leader whose religious convictions defined a new approach to world politics—and changed the course of history. As even his critics concede, John Paul II occupied a unique place on the world stage and put down intellectual markers that no one could ignore or avoid as humanity entered a new millennium fraught with possibility and danger. The Pope was a man of prodigious energy who played a crucial, yet insufficiently explored, role in some of the most momentous events of our time, including the collapse of European communism, the quest for peace in the Middle East, and the democratic transformation of Latin America. With an updated preface, this edition of Witness to Hope explains how this “man from a far country” did all of that, and much more—and what both his accomplishments and the unfinished business of his pontificate mean for the future of the Church and the world.

The Pope and the CEO

The Pope and the CEO PDF Author: Andreas Widmer
Publisher: Emmaus Road Publishing
ISBN: 1931018766
Category : Business ethics
Languages : en
Pages : 155

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Book Description
Former-Swiss Guard, CEO and business leader, Andreas Widmer gives a behind-the-scenes look into Pope John Paul ll, "the most authentically human person I've ever met," and reveals how those memories shaped and forged his success as a corporate executive.

A Still and Quiet Conscience

A Still and Quiet Conscience PDF Author: John A. McCoy
Publisher: Orbis Books
ISBN: 1608335453
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 479

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Book Description
"Through the life of a courageous bishop, an absorbing look at the inner workings of the American Catholic Church, how we got here, and how it could be different. Pope Francis has spoken of his desire for pastoral bishops-shepherds who have the smell of the sheep. The story of Raymond G. Hunthausen, archbishop of Seattle from 1975-1991, is about a bishop who epitomized this style-and the price he paid. The quintessential Vatican II bishop, Hunthausen embraced the spirit of renewal, reaching out to the laity, women, and those on the margins. A courageous witness for peace, he earned national attention when he became the first American bishop to urge tax resistance as a protest against preparations for nuclear war. In doing so, he ran against the Cold War policies of the Reagan Administration. But he also came into conflict with Pope John Paul II's desire to reshape the American episcopacy. This fascinating biography not only recounts a critical turning point for the American Catholic church; it rekindles the vision of a more inclusive, prophetic, and compassionate church as 'people of God'"--Publisher's description

John Paul II

John Paul II PDF Author: The Chicago Tribune
Publisher: Triumph Books (IL)
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description
This multimedia coffee-table book/CD-ROM package is the only one of its kind to honor in exquisite detail the remarkable, historical papacy of Pope John Paul II. Through hundreds of rare and archival photographs, extensive video footage, and decades' worth of reporting and interviews, John Paul II: The Epic Life of a Pilgrim Pope is the definitive tribute to the man and his legacy. The book is a captivating pictorial record of the pontiff's life and reign, with hundreds of photos, interviews, and firsthand news accounts of the most significant events of the Pope's quarter century in power. World leaders such as President George H.W. Bush, Lech Walesa, and many others share their experiences with Pope John Paul II and reflect on the impact of his papacy. The companion CD-ROM is divided into nine comprehensive segments that chronicle a specific time period in the papacy of Pope John Paul II, and features thousands of photographs, video footage, published newspaper and magazine articles, and original text written and compiled by the Chicago Tribune's award-winning editorial and design staffs.

God and Ronald Reagan

God and Ronald Reagan PDF Author: Paul Kengor
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 006174431X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 600

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Book Description
Ronald Reagan is hailed today for a presidency that restored optimism to America, engendered years of economic prosperity, and helped bring about the fall of the Soviet Union. Yet until now little attention has been paid to the role Reagan's personal spirituality played in his political career, shaping his ideas, bolstering his resolve, and ultimately compelling him to confront the brutal -- and, not coincidentally, atheistic -- Soviet empire. In this groundbreaking book, political historian Paul Kengor draws upon Reagan's legacy of speeches and correspondence, and the memories of those who knew him well, to reveal a man whose Christian faith remained deep and consistent throughout his more than six decades in public life. Raised in the Disciples of Christ Church by a devout mother with a passionate missionary streak, Reagan embraced the church after reading a Christian novel at the age of eleven. A devoted Sunday-school teacher, he absorbed the church's model of "practical Christianity" and strived to achieve it in every stage of his life. But it was in his lifelong battle against communism -- first in Hollywood, then on the political stage -- that Reagan's Christian beliefs had their most profound effect. Appalled by the religious repression and state-mandated atheism of Bolshevik Marxism, Reagan felt called by a sense of personal mission to confront the USSR. Inspired by influences as diverse as C.S. Lewis, Whittaker Chambers, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, he waged an openly spiritual campaign against communism, insisting that religious freedom was the bedrock of personal liberty. "The source of our strength in the quest for human freedom is not material, but spiritual," he said in his Evil Empire address. "And because it knows no limitation, it must terrify and ultimately triumph over those who would enslave their fellow man." From a church classroom in 1920s Dixon, Illinois, to his triumphant mission to Moscow in 1988, Ronald Reagan was both political leader and spiritual crusader. God and Ronald Reagan deepens immeasurably our understanding of how these twin missions shaped his presidency -- and changed the world.

U.S.-Vatican Relations, 1975–1980

U.S.-Vatican Relations, 1975–1980 PDF Author: P. Peter Sarros
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Pess
ISBN: 0268106835
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 601

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Book Description
This book explores the bilateral relations between the United States and the Vatican from 1975 to 1980, a turbulent period that had two presidents, three presidential envoys, and three popes. This previously untold story shows how the United States and the Vatican worked quietly together behind the scenes to influence the international response to major issues of the day. Peter Sarros examines the Iran hostage crisis, the tensions of the Cold War, the Helsinki process, and the Beagle Channel dispute, among other issues. These interactions produced a tacit alliance in the foreign policies of the United States and the Vatican even before the establishment of full diplomatic relations. This unique book is based largely on official documents from the archives of the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy of the United States to the Vatican, supplemented by Sarros's contemporaneous diaries, notes, and other unpublished sources. The confidential consultations at the Vatican by three special envoys and by Sarros in his role as chargé and ambassador at the Vatican were critical in obtaining Vatican support on major international issues. The Vatican also derived substantial benefits from the partnership through U.S. support of Vatican initiatives in Lebanon and elsewhere, and by U.S. policies that gave Vatican diplomacy the flexibility to play a larger role in the international sphere. Sarros concludes that American diplomacy was successful at the Holy See during this period because it took advantage of the Vatican's overarching international strategy, which was to increase its influence through support for the global balance of power while blocking the expansion of Soviet power and communism in Europe. U.S.-Vatican Relations, 1975–1980 will be of interest to students and scholars of history and political science, especially in the fields of diplomatic relations and church history.

My Brother the Pope

My Brother the Pope PDF Author: Georg Ratzinger
Publisher: Ignatius Press
ISBN: 1681493454
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 279

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Book Description
Be sure to check out the for more information. It wasn't always the case that Msgr. Georg Ratzinger lived in the shadow of his younger brother, Joseph. Georg was an accomplished musician, who for over 30 years directed the Regensburger Domspatzchor, the world-famous boys choir of the Regensburg cathedral. Brother Joseph was a brilliant young professor, but mostly known in German academic circles. Now Georg writes about the close friendship that has united these two brothers for more than 80 years. This book is a unique window on an extraordinary family that lived through the difficult period of National Socialism in Germany. Those interested in knowing more about the early life of Benedict XVI will not be disappointed. They will also learn of the admirable character and inspiring example of the parents, and see how the Catholic faith can shape not just a family, but an entire culture-in this case, that of Bavaria. Georg's reminiscences are detailed, intimate, and warm. And while they begin with the earliest years of the Ratzinger family, they continue right up to the present day. This is not simply a book to satisfy curiosity about a "celebrity", though it certainly does that. It's a beautiful portrait of Catholic family life and, in the most literal sense, of enduring fraternal charity. Georg has a talent for telling a story, and the co-author fills in some of the larger historical background. The many photographs, both in black and white and in color, round out a thoroughly enjoyable and inspirational book. Illustrated with 47 photographs.

Francis: A Pope for Our Time

Francis: A Pope for Our Time PDF Author: Luis Rosales
Publisher: Humanix Books
ISBN: 1630060054
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 239

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Book Description
The Catholic Church has been undoubtedly going through a period of profound crisis. Endless scandals and conspiracies have plagued the Church in recent years, and with resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, the Catholic community was left in dire need of direction and spiritual renewal. Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio, elected to Saint Peter’s Throne on March 13, 2013, in one of the briefest conclaves in history, represents a rekindled sense of hope for the Church’s 1.2 billion followers. The first Jesuit to occupy the papacy, Pope Francis I is also the first pope ever to hail from the Americas, and has inspired an enormous sense of pride, especially among Latin Americans and his native Argentina. Francis: A Pope for Our Time, The Definitive Biography incisively chronicles Pope Francis’ ancestry, youth, call to faith, humble beginnings with the Society of Jesus, and rise through Argentina’s ecclesiastical ranks, all the way to the Vatican. The book emphasizes His Holiness’ Jesuit background of humility, poverty, and service that stands to reform the Vatican’s long history of lavish excess and removed otherworldly style of leadership. This concise biography also details Jorge Bergoglio’s coming of age during the Peronist years, the challenges he faced throughout Argentina’s brutal military dictatorship, as well as his political stance against the progressive policies of the Kirchners. Known as the “Black Pope” (for his Jesuit garb), the “Pope of the Poor,” and the “Third World Pope,” such monikers exemplify Pope Francis’ original and primary mandate: his pastoral commitment to society’s most underprivileged and disenfranchised. His dedication to interreligious dialogue, accessibility to his community, and rejection of pomp in favor of simplicity promises to bring real-world leadership to a modern Church desperate to emerge from old-world precepts.