Examines the life of Karol Wojtyla, tracing the events which led him to become the first Polish pope and the first pope from a nation under Communist rule and providing insight into his personality and views

Diary of the young Italian peasant priest whose dedication and humility led him to the Papacy

A portrait of the Pope, his convictions, and his approach to his dual role as leader of the Catholic Church and of humanity as a whole, as expressed in ten major pastoral journeys

The first in-depth biography of the first non-Italian pope in more than four hundred years chronicles his youth in Poland, his service in the Polish church, and his historic activities as pope

Follows the Pope's life from childhood to his election as Pontiff and reveals his views on Poland and Eastern Europe and his concerns about secular problems in a troubled world

A detailed look at papal diplomacy examines how the Catholic Church formulates and implements its foreign policy

Drawing on new sources, this biography illuminates the life, beliefs, and character of the 'simple peasant' who transformed the Catholic Church by calling the Second Vatican Council

Shows the Pope in his travels around the world, and recounts the major events in his reign

Traces the life of Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope in over 400 years, describes his childhood in Poland, and looks at the qualities that gained him the papacy.

Product Description: The lives of ten Greek Popes of Rome.

Offers profiles of Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul II and describes how they have handled the problems facing the Catholic Church

Traces the life of the first Polish pope, discusses his childhood, war experiences, and decision to become a priest, and describes his accomplishments as pope

Product Description: Book by Frossard, Andre

Product Description: Book by Kleinz, John P.

Julius II was one of the most remarkable and colourful men ever to sit on the papal throne. His vigour, determination, ambition, passion for action and notorious temper were more suited to the soldier he would probably have preferred to be, than to the ecclesiastical potentate he became under the patronage of his uncle, Pope Sixtus IV. A cardinal for 30 years, "eminence grise" to Innocent VIII, and a declared enemy of the Borgia pope, Alexander VI, long before his own election Julius was already an important figure in the political life of Renaissance Italy. After becoming pope in 1503, he revived the temporal authority of the papacy by his military campaigns, some of which he conducted in person. He was also an outstanding patron of the arts and commissioned major works from Raphael, Michelangelo and Brammante, including the Vatican Stanze and the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Many of his actions, however, compromised the papacy's spiritual authority, attracting the satire of Erasmus (who portrayed Julius arriving with his army at the gates of heaven only to be turned away by St Peter) and contributing to Martin Luther's crisis of conscience. This biography is based on extensive use of archival sources. Shaw's account includes new material about Julius' career as a cardinal, which should give fresh perspectives on his policies as pope. The reports of those who negotiated with him, those who observed him and spied on him, ridiculed him and admired him, are used to depict the vivid, powerful and humorous personality of the "papa terribile" and the impact he made on his times.