20th Century #10: John Paul II & the Papacy Since Vatican II

1. POPE JOHN PAUL II (KAROL WOJTYLA): WRITINGS

Note that the official texts of Pope John Paul II are available in English in printed form from the United States Catholic Conference ("USCC") (Washington, DC). They can now be accessed on-line at the Vatican's website:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/index.htm.

The following is only a partial listing of John Paul's vast output:

Karol Wojtyla, Love and Responsibility, trans. H.T. Willetts (New York: Farrar, Strauss, & Giroux, 1996) paperback. Originally published in 1960.

John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis (“The Redeemer of Man”) (Encyclical Letter, March 4, 1979).

John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia (“On the Mercy of God”) (Encyclical Letter, November 30, 1980).

John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (“On Human Work”) (Encyclical Letter, September 14, 1981).

John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio (“On the Family”) (Apostolic Exhortation, December 15, 1981).

John Paul II, Dominum et Vivificantem (“On the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church and the World”) (Encyclical Letter, May 18, 1986).

John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater (“The Mother of the Redeemer”) (Encyclical Letter, March 25, 1987).

John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (“On Social Concern”) (Encyclical Letter, December 30, 1987).

John Paul II, Christifideles Laici (“The Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World”) (Apostolic Exhortation, December 30, 1988)

John Paul II, Ex Corde Ecclesiae (“On Catholic Universities”) (Apostolic Constitution, August 15, 1990).

John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio (“On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Missionary Mandate”) (Encyclical Letter, December 7, 1990).

John Paul II, Centesimus Annus (“On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum”) (Encyclical Letter, May 1, 1991).

John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor (“The Splendor of Truth”) (Encyclical Letter, October 5, 1993).

John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (“On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life”) (Encyclical Letter, March 25, 1995).

John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, trans. Jenny McPhee and Martha McPhee (New York: Knopf, 1995) paperback.

John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint (“On Commitment to Ecumenism”) (Encyclical Letter, May 25, 1995).

John Paul II, Orientale Lumen ... to Mark the Centenary of Orientalium dignitas of Pope Leo XIII ("Light of the East") (Apostolic Letter, 1995).

John Paul II, Mulieris Dignitatem (“On the Dignity and Vocation of Women”) (Apostolic Letter, August 15, 1998).

John Paul II, Fides et Ratio (“On the Relationship between Faith and Reason”) (Encyclical Letter, September 14, 1998).

John Paul II, Incarnationis mysterium ("Bull of Indiction of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000)

John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae ("On the Most Holy Rosary") (Apostolic Letter, 2002).

John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia ("On the Eucharist") (Encyclical Letter, 2003).

John Paul II, The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan (Boston: Pauline Books, 1997).

Joseph G. Donders, ed., John Paul II: The Encyclicals in Everyday Language, updated ed. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001) paperback, $20.

Gerald O’Collins, Gerald, Daniel Kendall & Jeff Labell, eds., John Paul II: A Reader (New York: Paulist Press, 2007) paperback, $20. NEW.

2. POPE JOHN PAUL II: BIOGRAPHIES & BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES

New Catholic Encyclopedia: Jubilee Volume: The Wojtyla Years (Gale Group, 2000). The New Catholic Encyclopedia, prior to its recent revision, issued this very informative supplementary volume. There is a long biographical section on John Paul II, articles on each of his encyclicals, chronology charts, and articles on major events and figures during his pontificate. Now (obviously) dated because of the recent death of John Paul, it is still a good place to start one's research.

Carl Bernstein & Marco Politi, His Holiness: John Paul II and the Hidden History of Our Time (New York: Doubleday, 1996) paperback.

Jo Renee Formicola, Pope John Paul II: Prophetic Politician (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2002).

Tad Szulc, Pope John Paul II: The Biography (Pocket Books, 1996) paperback.

George Weigel, Witness to Hope: The Biography of John Paul II (New York: Cliff Street Books, 1997) paperback, $25.

David Willey, God’s Politician: Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church, and the New World Order (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992).

3. POPE JOHN PAUL II: STUDIES OF HIS THEOLOGY & ITS IMPACT

Michael E. Allsopp & John J. O’Keefe, eds., Veritatis Splendor: American Responses (Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1995) paperback.

Gregory Baum & Robert Ellsberg, ed., The Logic of Solidarity: Commentaries on Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical On Social Concern (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1989).

Peter Berger, ed., Aspiring to Freedom: Commentaries on John Paul II’s Encyclical Social Concerns of the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. Eerdmans, 1988).

Carl E. Braaten & Robert W. Jenson, ed., Church Unity and the Papal Office: An Ecumenical Dialogue of John Paul II's Encyclical Ut unum sint (That All May Be One) (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001).

James Thomas Byrnes, John Paul II & Educating for Life: Moving Toward a Renewal of Catholic Educational Philosophy (New York: Peter Lang, 2002).

Charles E. Curran, The Moral Theology of Pope John Paul II (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2005) paperback. NEW.

Charles E. Curran & Richard A. McCormick, eds., John Paul II and Moral Theology, Readings in Moral Theology #10 (New York: Paulist Press, 1998) paperback.

Avery Dulles, The Splendor of Faith: The Theological Vision of John Paul II (New York: Crossroads / Herder & Herder, 1999) paperback.

Geoffrey Gneuhs, ed., The Legacy of Pope John Paul II: His Contribution to Catholic Thought (New York: Crossroad, 2002).

Derek S. Jeffreys, Defending Human Dignity: John Paul II and Political Realism (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2004).

Jaroslaw Kupczak, Destined for Liberty: The Human Person in the Philosophy of Karol Wojtyla / John Paul II (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2000)

John P. Langan, ed., Catholic Universities in Church and Society: A Dialogue on Ex Corde Ecclesiae (Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 1993) paperback.

John R. Quinn, The Reform of the Papacy: The Costly Call to Christian Unity (New York: Crossroads, 1999) paperback.

Herminio Rico, John Paul II and the Legacy of Dignitatis humanae (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2002).

Kenneth L. Schmitz, At the Center of the Human Drama: The Philosophical Anthropology of Karol Wojtyla / Pope John Paul II (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1993).

Mary Ann Walsh, ed., John Paul II: A Light for the World: Essays and Reflections on the Papacy of John Paul II (Lanham, MD: Rowan & Littlefield, 2003) hardcover, $35.

George Weigel, ed., A New Worldly Order: John Paul II and Human Freedom (Washington DC: Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1992).

Kevin Wm. Wildes & Alan C. Mitchell, eds., Choosing Life: A Dialogue on Evangelium Vitae (Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 1997) paperback.

John Wilkins, ed., Considering Veritatis Splendor (Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 1994) paperback.

4. POPE BENEDICT XVI (JOSEPH RATZINGER): WRITINGS

The official Vatican website listing the addresses, homilies, and other texts of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/. Prior to his elevation, Joseph Ratzinger was well known for his contributions as a leading historical and systematic theologian. During the Vatican II, he played a key (behind-the-scenes) role as a peritus ("expert") for Cardinal Frings, who was one of the leading figures at the Council. Under John Paul II, the then-Cardinal Ratzinger served as the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; he was unusually active (and often controversial) as the "Vatican's enforcer of the faith" (to use John Allen's often-quoted phrase). Here is a partial listing of his works:

Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth (New York: Doubleday, 2007) hardcover, $25. NEW.

Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Church: General Audiences, 15 March 2006-14 February 2007 (Ignatius Press, 2007) paperback, $15. NEW.

Pope Benedict XVI, God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est) (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2006) paperback, $7. Pope Benedict's inaugural encyclical.

Pope Benedict XVI, Saved in Hope (Spe Salvi). NEW as of November 2007. To access the this new encyclical, go to the Vatican's website: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

Joseph Ratzinger, Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today [Zur Gemeinschaft gerufen], trans. Adrian Walker (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1996) paperback, $12.

Joseph Ratzinger, Dogma and Preaching [Dogma und Verkundigung], trans. Matthew J. O'Connell (Chicago, IL: Franciscan Herald Press, 1985) paperback, $6.

Joseph Ratzinger, Eschatology, Death, and Eternal Life, trans. Michael Waldstein (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1988) paperback, $15.

Joseph Ratzinger, The Feast of Faith: Approaches to a Theology of the Liturgy [Das Fest des Glaubens] (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1986) paperback, $12.

Joseph Ratzinger, Introduction to Christianity [Einfeuhrung in das Christentum: Vorlesungen uber das apostolische Glaubensbekenntnis, 1968], trans. J.R. Foster (reprint of 1970 edition: San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990) paperback, $19.

Joseph Ratzinger, The Nature and Mission of Theology: Essays to Orient Theology in Today's Debates [Wesen und Auftrag der Theologie], trans. Adrian Walker (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1995) paperback, $13.

Joseph Ratzinger, New Outpourings of the Spirit: Movements in the Church (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2007) paperback, $15. NEW.

Joseph Ratzinger, Principles of Catholic Theology: Building Stones for a Fundamental Theology (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1987) paperback, $32.

Joseph Ratzinger, Theology of History in Saint Bonaventure (Franciscan Herald Press, 1989) paperback, $12.

Joseph Ratzinger, Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief and World Religions (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004) paperback, $18.

Joseph Ratzinger, Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam (New York: Basic Books, 2006) hardcover, $22. NEW.

Karl Rahner & Joseph Ratzinger, Revelation and Tradition, trans. W.J. O'Hara (New York: Herder & Herder, 1966).

Karl Rahner & Joseph Ratzinger, The Episcopate and the Primacy, Quaestiones disputate 4, trans. Kenneth Barker (New York: Herder & Herder, 1962).

John F. Thornton & Susan B. Varenne, The Essential Pope Benedict XVI: His Central Writings and Speeches (New York: HarperOne, 2008) paperback, $16. Forthcoming

5. POPE BENEDICT XVI: STUDIES (Biographical & Theological)

John L. Allen, Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger (New York: Continuum, 2005) paperback, $30.

John L. Allen, The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of How the Pope Was Elected and Where He Will Take the Catholic Church (New York: Doubleday, 2005) paperback, $20.

John L. Allen, Cardinal Ratzinger: The Vatican’s Enforcer of the Faith (New York: Continuum, 2000).

Heinz-Joachim Fischer, Pope Benedict XVI: A Personal Portrait (New York: Crossroad, 2005).

David Gibson, The Rule of Benedict: Pope Benedict XVI and His Battle with the Modern World (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2007) paperback, $15. NEW. A highly critical assessment.

Aidan Nichols, The Thought of Pope Benedict XVI: An Introduction to the Theology of Joseph Ratzinger, 2nd ed. (London: Burn & Oates, 2007) paperback, $25. NEW edition. The first major theological analysis of Benedict's work.

Tracey Rowland, The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008) paperback, $25. NEW. To be published in March, 2008; traces out Benedict's Augustinian theological outlook.

Juan Luis Segundo, Theology and the Church: A Response to Cardinal Ratzinger and a Warning to the Whole Church (New York: HarperCollins, 1987).

D. Vincent Twomey, Pope Benedict XVI: The Conscience of Our Age (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2007) paperback,$20. NEW. An account by one of the pope's former doctoral students.