John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in over 500 years, and the first Slavic pontiff in history. Shortly after his election to the papacy in 1978, he launched a series of visits to his native Poland, then in the midst of dramatic social changes that heralded the end of Communism. In this groundbreaking book, James Ramon Felak carefully examines the Pope’s first four visits to his homeland in June of 1979, 1983, 1987, and 1991 in the late Communist and immediate post-Communist period. Careful analysis of speeches, press coverage, and documents from the Communist Party, government, and police show how the Pope and the Communist authorities engaged one another. Felak gives equal attention to John Paul’s political and religious messages, highlighting how he astutely maneuvered between the rising hopes of the Polish people and the dangerous fears of a dying regime. The Pope in Poland recreates and explicates these dramatic visits that played a major role in the collapse of Communism in Poland as well as laid out a papal vision for Poland’s post-Communist future.

With over 150 glossy color photos by his official photographer and many images which have never been viewed outside of the Vatican, "John Paul II: A Light for the World" serves as both a celebration and a memorial of the world's most-celebrated divine leader.

An inspirational memoir from the recently canonized Pope Saint John Paul II. Following the success of the international bestseller Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Pope John Paul II provides the world with a glimpse into his past in Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way. Chronicling the years he spent as a bishop and later archbishop in Krakow, Poland through his election as the first Polish Pope in 1978, he recounts everything from communist efforts to suppress the church in Poland to his efforts to adopt a new and more open style of pastoral ministry. With recollections on his life as well as his thoughts on the issues facing the world now, Pope John Paul II offers words of wisdom in this book that will appeal to people of any faith looking to strengthen their spirituality.

Pope John Paul II has made a lasting impression not only on those belonging to the Catholic faith but also to people of differing religious backgrounds. An unlikely candidate for the papacy, Karol Wojty?a ascended St. Peter’s throne as the first non-Italian pope in 450 years. A harbinger of modernity and religious reform, Pope John Paul II revolutionized the Church during his reign—one of the longest in papal history. This book features an exploration of Pope John Paul II’s pontificate as well as a brief history of the papacy.

John Paul II, the most charismatic religious leader of our time, is a man whose actions truly reflect his beliefs. At the dawn of the new Millennium, AN INVITATION TO JOY brings together a selection of John Paul's messages with the most poignant photographs documenting his life both before and after his election to papacy. For the first time, here is an illustrated devotional keepsake album that distills the essence of his message and shows the intimate connection between his words and deeds. Three main sections, THE HUMAN FAMILY, THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON, encompass the themes that are most important to the Pontiff. Resonant passages on everything from love and family, suffering and evil, freedom and human rights, other religions and the role of women are coupled with striking photographs. A fourth section, A LIFETIME OF DEVOTION, provides a portrait of the Pope's entire life in pictures, from his early childhood to his current day-to-day activities in the Vatican. Reflecting the Pope's all-embracing outreach to people around the world, AN INVITATION TO JOY will inspire both those inside and outside the Catholic Church.

John Paul II¿s landmark apostolic letter on the dignity and vocation of women, with insightful commentary by Genevieve Kineke.

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.

The Late John Paul II was portrayed by admirers as one of history's great popes. But in The Pope in Winter, leading Vatican expert John Cornwell seriously questions the workings of his papacy and points to fundamental flaws - exacerbated by age and infirmity - that have alarming consequences for both the Catholic Church's future and John Paul II's successor.