Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon

Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon

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Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon

From the best-selling author and former New York Times investigative reporter, an unprecedented look at the defining struggles of the modern Catholic Church, told through the lives of the last seven popes-carrying us from the wake of World War II up through the present day and providing essential context around the most pressing issues faced by Pope Francis

"An extraordinary accomplishment- controversial, but crucial for discussions in today's Catholic Church." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)


When the jolly Italian peasant-turned-cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli of Venice was elected Pope John XXIII in 1958, change was in the air. The Church, many said, had refused to enter the twentieth century. In response, Pope John launched Vatican II, an "ecumenical council" that summoned hundreds of church leaders to Rome. It marked one of the most progressive turns the Church had taken in centuries- "medicine of mercy," as Pope John called it. Yet not everyone in the Church was prepared to accept this modernization. The lines were drawn-in a battle that continues to rage into the twenty-first century.

In Jesus Wept, Philip Shenon takes us inside the Holy See to reveal its intricacies, hypocrisies, and hidden maneuverings, bringing all the momentous disputes and issues vividly to life- priestly celibacy, birth control, homosexuality, restoring ties with other Christians and Jews, shameful sex abuse crimes, the role of women in the Church.

In his rich portrayals of the popes from John to Francis, Shenon draws on research across four continents, including hundreds of interviews and the exhaustive archival material. He also brings to light other key figures in the Church, such as Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, the incredibly powerful, conservative, and staunchly anticommunist director of the Holy Office under Pius XII, who lived proudly by the motto semper idem-"always the same." This is a consummate, vibrant history of the modern Church.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781101946411
ISBN 10 1101946415
Title Jesus Wept
Author Philip Shenon
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher Random House USA Inc
Year published 2025-02-11
Number of pages 608
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.