Benedict XVI: A Life Volume One: Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council 1927–1965

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Peter Seewald

Benedict XVI

A Life Volume One: Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council 1927–1965

Peter Seewald

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English

Bloomsbury Continuum
02 May 2023

Biography: religious & spiritual; Church history; Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church

The first volume of Peter Seewald's authoritative biography.

By any reckoning, the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI was extraordinary, with moments of high drama. Not the least of these was his resignation from office in February 2013, the first papal resignation in 500 years.

But who was Joseph Ratzinger? In this definitive biography, based on meticulous historical research and many hours of taped interviews with his subject, Peter Seewald shows the exceptional circumstances in which the exceptionally talented son of a Bavarian policeman became the first German pope for 950 years.

In this first volume, covering the years 1927–1965, we witness Joseph Ratzinger’s early days, living above his father’s police station. Ratzinger came to adulthood through the years of National Socialism. Though hostile to the rise of Hitler, his family knew well about Dachau and Ratzinger himself was conscripted into the Hitler Youth. Joseph Ratzinger proved to be a man of exceptional intellectual gifts and by the time of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) he was already noted as one of the outstanding intellects present and was nominated a ‘peritus’ or theological expert. This was also the time of the start of his friendship with the Swiss theologian Hans Küng who was to become his nemesis.

Of his predecessor, Pope Francis has said: ‘Pope Benedict was a great Pope, great for the penetration of his intelligence, great for his important contribution to theology, great for his love of the Church and human beings, great for his virtues and faith’. Even in this first volume, we begin to understand how this came to be true.

By: Peter Seewald
Imprint: Bloomsbury Continuum
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781399404884
ISBN 10: 1399404881
Pages: 512
Publication Date: 02 May 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Peter Seewald has worked as a journalist for Stern, Spiegel and the Süddeutsche Zeitung and is one of the most admired authors on religion in Germany today. His previous book of interviews with Pope Benedict Last Testament was widely reviewed in the religious and international press.

Reviews for Benedict XVI: A Life Volume One: Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council 1927–1965

Seewald's passionate biography makes one sympathise with the bookish Bavarian. -Daniel Rey, Literary Review The first volume of Peter Seewald's Benedict XVI: A Life (up to Vatican II) last year was enjoyable and illuminating. The last volume is an insight into hard times. - The Tablet ... the book is crisply written, consistently entertaining and frequently thought-provoking. - First Things With Seewald's unparalleled access to the pontiff, the strength of his biography comes from bringing Benedict's personality to the forefront, helping us to get to know the great theologian-pope better, while gaining insight into the providentially guided trajectory of his life. - Denver Catholic ... enormously authoritative. - SteveReads blog