Pope John Paul II (pocket GIANTS)

The world was stunned when Karol Wojtyla became the first non-Italian pope for 450 years. He revolutionized the office, fighting totalitarianism and inspiring millions. In the process, he dismayed many with his autocratic style and inflexible stance on issues such as contraception and women priests. This book explores what made John Paul such an important and divisive figure. What were the forces that shaped his ideas? What clues in his early life can help us understand this most contradictory of men? What gave him the strength to survive an assassination attempt and a very public battle with Parkinson’s disease with his authority and—among many—his popularity undiminished?