The Next Pope: A Behind-The-Scenes Look at the Forces That Will Choose the Successor to John Paul II and Decide the Future of the Catholic Church. This item is unavailable.The Next Pope: A Behind-The-Scenes Look at the Forces That Will Choose the Successor to John Paul II and Decide the Future of the Catholic Church

An examination of the papal election process reviews the trends that have shaped previous elections and profiles the most likely candidates for succession to Pope John Paul II. 35,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

The question of who will succeed the aging and frail Pope John Paul II is increasingly pressing for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Hebblethwaite, Vatican affairs correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and author of five books on the Vatican and the papacy, is eminently qualified to discuss the subject. He does so thoroughly and systematically, clearly presenting and explaining the mechanisms and procedures of selecting a pope. His brief review of papacies and selection of successors over the past thousand years illuminates the thinking that will inform the conclave selecting John Paul II's successor. He explores the specific issues that will be faced by the conclave in chapters on Paul VI's reforms and Vatican II, the papacy of John Paul II, the College of Cardinals as a whole and important individuals in it, and a final chapter on new factors introduced by actions of the pope in the last several months. While Hebblethwaite looks at the strengths and weaknesses of present possible selections, he is careful to avoid any hint of predicting the next pope. Recommended for all collections.
Eugene O. Bowser, Univ. of Northern Colorado, Greeley
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.