A graphic novel format biography of Karol Josef Wojtyla who later became Pope John Paul II.

Now in a single volume: the essential thoughts of Pope John Paul II on matters of belief and conscience—culled from his encyclicals, speeches, homilies, and statements to fellow bishops. Throughout his more than two decades as the leader of the world’s Catholics, John Paul II has spoken both officially and informally on all aspects of life in the modern world. Whether defining the Church's teachings or passionately espousing the basic human rights of all people, whether speaking from his throne in the Vatican or from a platform set up on a soccer field, the Pope has always eloquently and clearly stated his thinking, vision, and hopes for the Church and the world. For this edition, the compilers have added significant new material, including the pontiff's thoughts as we enter the third millennium of Christianity.

Pope John Paul II redefined the role of the papacy as an active, living presence in the lives of the diverse faithful worldwide. He accomplished this in part through the remarkable breadth of his travels, visiting every continent around the globe. In the course of an unprecedented 85 trips—with stops to lands rich and poor, at peace and strife-torn—he shared his universal message of joy, hope, and comfort. This powerful collection of over 175 of his most compelling messages is presented in chronological order around the three themes that mark the progression of his papacy: "Evangelization and Global Politics," "Solidarity and Unity," and "New Evangelization: Toward the Millennium and Beyond." Introductory notes clarifying the time and context for each selection further enhance this inspiring volume.

Includes newspaper front pages announcing the death of Pope John Paul II in a variety of languages.

Available in English for the first time, this engaging and enlightening biography of John Paul II argues the case that the late pope’s life and deeds make him a worthy saint. A number-one best seller in Italy, Why He Is a Saint is an account of the late pope’s life, highlighting his deep Christian faith, his dedication to the Church, and his role in bringing down communism. This book delves deeply into Pope John Paul’s spiritual essence, through the unprecedented light of the investigation into whether he merits sainthood. Why He Is a Saint reveals the pope’s life through vivid, intimate anecdotes. Among the book’s startling revelations are his thoughts of retirement as his health declined, and the fact that he practiced the ancient ritual of daily self-flagellation. The book includes both unpublished as well as public correspondence, such as the “open letter” of forgiveness to Ali Agka, his attempted assassin. It also examines the pope’s severe acts of penitence and documents his miracles. This impassioned plea in favor of canonizing the pope as a saint has proven to be of profound interest to Catholics worldwide, as well as to anyone interested in faith and spirituality.