Weighing in on the new papal book

In the new issue of OSV, now available online, contributing editor Russell Shaw shares insights on the new book focusing on Pope Benedict XVI, “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church, and the Signs of the Times,” giving us a view beyond the condom controversy that has dominated headlines surrounding the book this week. Here is is...

By Russell Shaw

Tough and resilient may not be the first words most people would use to describe Pope Benedict XVI, but this scholarly, reserved man of 83, who once said his preferred retirement job would be Vatican librarian, lately has been giving lessons in toughness and resilience that just about anyone might envy.

Pope Benedict is no stranger to being attacked. For many years before becoming pope, and especially as prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he was targeted with epithets like “Grand Inquisitor” and “Panzer Cardinal.” Since his election in 2005 to the highest office in the Church, the assault has continued off and on.

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