Pope Benedict XVI

Children's Literature - Kristy Lyn Sutorius

Coming in on the coattails of one of the most revered and beloved Catholic popes of modern times, Joseph Ratzinger has had difficult shoes to fill. Not only is he more outspoken, but as the former head of the Inquisition, the new Pope Benedict XVI has a reputation for being unwavering. Mills takes us back to the Pope's idyllic childhood in the mountains of Bavaria, to Munich and Innsbruck during WWII and south to Rome. Ratzinger stood out as a religious prodigy early on in his career. Mills refers to him as a "theological rock star," one with a near- photographic memory and the ability to draw a crowd. Initially quite a mover and a shaker in the Church, his modernist views shifted to more traditional ones as he moved up within the Vatican. Mills caps off Ratzinger story shortly after he becomes the head of the Catholic Church. His summary of a day in the life of the pope is particularly interesting. This straightforward and captivating look at the pope's life is recommended for both school and public libraries. Part of the "Modern World Leaders" series.