Book Reviews and More: A Pope of Surprises The First Five Years of Pope Benedict XVI's Papacy

A Pope of Surprises
The First Five Years of Pope Benedict XVI's Papacy
Helena Scott
Ethel Tolansky
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860826719
CTS Booklet B731

I have been able to confirm that Helena Scott and Ethel Tolansky co-wrote 8 different books for the Catholic Truth Society. This was the seventh of the eight that I have been able to track down and read. They are all excellent read. In many ways this book continues from the CTY Biographies book, Benedict XVI, that the two wrote. The revised edition of that biography has a new final chapter with a brief paragraph summarizing each of the first five years of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy. This book takes those paragraphs and expands them each into a chapter. The sections in this volume are:

Chapter 1 A Pope of Surprises
Dialogue and Love
Theology and Liturgy
Chapter 2 A Call To Love and Dialogue First Year: 2005
Catholic and Jews - A Future of Hope
Dear Young People - WYD Cologne
Example of the Saints
Judaism and Christianity - The Path of Dialogue
Muslims and Christians
Deus Caritas Est - God is Love: First Encyclical
The True Meaning of Love
The True Nature of Charity
Chapter 3 Opening New Frontiers Second Year: 2006
Visiting Poland The Land if John Paul II
The Shoah Learning From the Past
Centrality of Families World Meeting, Valencia
Faith, Reason and Islam, Regensburg
Peace Through Dialogue Visit to Turkey
His Love of Scripture and the Apostles
Chapter 4 A Call To See The True Face Of Jesus Third Year: 2007
Sacramentum Caritatis Eucharist as the Sacrament of Love
Church Is Always Missionary, Brazil
Love for the Poor and Disadvantaged
Summorum Pontificum Extraordinary for of the Mass
Pilgrimage to Austria
Spe Salvi Saved in Hope: Second Encyclical
Responding to a Crisis of Faith
A Firm Hope in God
Jesus of Nazareth A Personal Search
The Early Christians and the Fathers of the Church
Chapter 5 A Voice for the Ethical Reasoning of Humanity Fourth Year: 2008
The Pope and the University, La Sapienza, Rome
Voice of Ethical Reasoning
The Church in America
Science and Ethics Must Work Together, UN
Year of St. Paul
Be Ambassadors of Hope WYD, Sydney
Don't Be Afraid to Stand Up For Christ
Lourdes and the Sick
The Benedict XVI Foundation
Blessed John Duns Scotus
Chapter 6 Foundation for the Future Fifth Year: 2009
The "Society of St Pius X" Offering Reconciliation
Cameroon and Angola The Church and Aids
Hope to the sick and War Weary
Jordan and Israel Pilgrimage to Holy Land
Dialogue Always Built on Mutual Trust
Year for Priests
Caritas in Veritate Charity in Truth: Third Encyclical
Love Essential to Heal Modern Ills
Rediscovery of Fundamental Virtue
Cardinal John Henry Newman
Czech Republic And the Heart of Europe
Personal Ordinariates for Convert Anglicans
Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II
Great Saints and Theologians
Chapter 7 Most Intellectual of Popes Sixth Year: 2010
Visiting the Rome Synagogue
Meeting the Bishops of England and Wales
Lay Apostolate
The Church in Ireland
The First Australian Saint
Footsteps of St Paul Visiting Malta
Entrusting All To The Lord

As can be seen this book breaks down each year and highlights travel, publications, and key focus. There is much to appreciate about and learn from through reading about these early years of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate. The section called 'The Church in America' begins with these words:

"In April 2008 Pope Benedict travelled to the United States. On the flight there, a journalist raised the question of the sex abuse of children by Catholic priests and the suffering this was causing the Church in America. The Holy Father spoke with great pain about how hard it was "to understand how it was possible for priests to fail in this way in the mission to give healing, to give God's love to these children. I am ashamed and we will do everything possible to ensure that this does not happen in the future." He outlined the specific directions these efforts would take."

Reading this passage in 2018 I too feel the sadness of Benedict. Not only that it happened in the past, but continued under his watch. The description on the back of the book is:

"The first five years of his papacy!

Pope Benedict arrives in Britain in September 2010. Despite gloomy predictions on this new papacy, in the first five years since his election Benedict has surprised everyone, accomplishing far more than was expected. One of the most intellectual Popes in history, Benedict understands that Christianity is a matter of the heart. As he said from the onset: "In all humility we will do what we can. It is God who governs the world, not we. We offer Him Our service only to the extent that we can, and for as long as he grants us the strength.""

Reading this book I was surprised. I was encouraged, and I was personally challenged. This book is a wonderful read, especially if you have read the earlier biography of Benedict XVI. The writing of Scott and Tolansky have such an engaging writing style. The book is easy to read. I raced through it and then reread it at a slower pace. Because of the booklet format it can easily be read in a sitting or two, but I encourage you to take your time.

Another incredible read by Scott and Tolansky and from the Catholic Truth Society!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.