The National Catholic Reporter editors have selected the most significant of Peter Hebblewaite's articles on the life and times and church of Pope John Paul II. They were stirring years of world change and papal trips and not a little controversy.

"Pope John Paul II has been the undisputed leader in fostering Jewish-Christian dialogue for over twenty-five years. He has labored intensely to change the hearts and minds of both sides and has never been afraid to acknowledge the sins committed by Christian people against Jews. His visit to the Middle East in March 2000, when he was able to visit the places where Jesus had lived and walked, was a moving and extraordinarily rich experience, both for him personally and for the Catholic Church. However, it also gave rise to a certain amount of rumor and misunderstanding among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim residents of the region. This book addresses these doubts and suspicions by documenting the pope's itinerary and recording the speeches that the pope gave at each stop along the journey. Replete with commentaries by Yehezkel Landau of Hartford Seminary and Michael McGarry of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, along with maps and photos, this book is a historical record of a most historic pilgrimage."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the life of John Paul II in next to no time with this concise guide. 50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of Pope John Paul II. In 1978, to widespread surprise, the Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyła was elected pope of the Roman Catholic Church. In the course of over 26 years as pope, he would modernise the Church and the papacy, making them more visible and accessible, and would play an important role in fighting totalitarianism across the world. His commitment to human rights and religious freedom make him a crucial figure of the 20th century. In just 50 minutes you will: • Find out about John Paul II’s early life and ecclesiastic career before becoming pope • Analyse his contribution to modernisation of the Catholic Church and his role in promoting democracy and human rights across the world • Learn about his frequently controversial and unpopular opinions on matters of traditional morality ABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | History & Culture 50MINUTES.COM will enable you to quickly understand the main events, people, conflicts and discoveries from world history that have shaped the world we live in today. Our publications present the key information on a wide variety of topics in a quick and accessible way that is guaranteed to save you time on your journey of discovery.