Benedict XVI: A Life, Volume One cover art

Benedict XVI: A Life, Volume One

Volume One: Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council, 1927–1965

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Benedict XVI: A Life, Volume One

By: Peter Seewald
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
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About this listen

The long-awaited and authoritative biography of Pope Benedict XVI, a giant of the Catholic Church

Benedict XVI: A Life offers insight into the young life and rise through the Church’s ranks of a man who would become a hero and a lightning rod for Catholics the world over. Based on countless hours of interviews in Rome with Benedict himself, this much-anticipated two-volume biography is the definitive record of the life of Joseph Ratzinger and the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI.

This first volume follows the early life of the future pope, from his days growing up in Germany and his conscription into the Hitler Youth during World War II to his career as an academic theologian and eventual Archbishop of Munich. The second volume, set to be published in 2021, will cover his move to Rome under Pope John Paul II, his ascension to the papacy, and his controversial retirement and news-making statements under his successor, Pope Francis I.

This necessary companion to Benedict’s own memoir, Last Testament, is the fullest account to date of the life of a radical Catholic leader who has continued to make news while cloistered in retirement in the Vatican gardens.

©2020 Peter Seewald (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing Christianity Pope

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This is an excellent bio, however the audiobook is ruined by the fact that the narrator is mispronouncing almost every German word (and there are many in this book, including names of people and places and titles of books).

The narrator cannot pronounce German!

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Wonderful book, providing a vivid and engaging portrait of the man who became Benedict XVI. Great to find out about the true story of a man of God so much misunderstood and misportrayed by the media of our time.

An encounter with the real Benedict XVI

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Excellent book! However, the narrator was extremely poor when it came to either technical words in English or any word in a foreign language. It’s extremely easy these days to look up correct pronunciation, so there is no excuse for this, quite frankly.

Excellent work, but poor narrator

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An important analysis which helps us understand why the Church is in such a crisis now. An historical approach, which is what the Pope Emeritus would advocate himself! Seewald makes Ratzinger the central force at the 2nd Vatican Council. His assessment of Ratzinger's weaknesses is summarised in the last minutes/pages of the book. I expect that this will be expanded in future volumes for our understanding of today's issues.

How the Putsch at the Council came about

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An extraordinary insight into a compelling and significant life. It is thorough, engaging and entertainingly read. Thoroughly recommended.

Wonderful

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Josef Ratzinger has one of the greatest minds in Church history, and is one of the great European 'intellectuals'. Volume one is an admirable portrait of the man and his thought, and was highly enjoyable on audio.

A thorough and engaging study of the early years

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An overly dramatic Californian accent does nothing for this otherwise interesting biography. The tone destroys the text. It’s written by a German journalist. Is there no German narrator who could deliver a gram of authenticity to the text?

Poor choice of narrator

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