
Pope John XXIII
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Narrated by:
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Grover Gardner
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By:
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Thomas Cahill
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Cahill’s “dark history” of the papacy might offend some, but it is largely accurate. Indeed, Cahill offers some papal highlights amid all the gloom, most notably the reign of Gregory the Great. Any objective history of the papacy will turn up just as much dirt, maybe even more—papal executioners, concubines, wars, excesses, and so on.
As a contrast to much of this debauchery or well-intended inaction, Cahill offers the wise and compassionate papacy of John XXIII. His anecdotal history of John’s family life and struggles through the priesthood make for especially enjoyable and spiritual listening. Current world affairs make John’s lifelong commitment to peace resonant and urgent. John’s equanimity and focus on Jesus, while making his way through well-meaning, but closed-minded bureaucrats, also offers a model of sanctity and compassion in the midst of disagreement and misunderstanding.
“Conservative” Catholics will probably dislike this book. “Liberal” members will most likely nod along. And the open-minded will probably learn a few things about a remarkable man and a model of sainthood.
Also Recommended on Audible: Hans Kung, -The Catholic Church-
John XXIII, The Greatest Pope
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Enlightening Biography
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Christ Bringing Redemption
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Would you listen to Pope John XXIII again? Why?
Yes, for the information is provided and for the insight into the man. At this time we need more than ever a picture of a renewed and warm humanity.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No ... I want to savor parts of it. It brought me down memory lane. It reminded me that hope is a choice you have to make; and joy is its promise.Wonderful, inspiring!
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I believe this is biased, though I very much enjoyed the account of Joh’s life and suffering. I have to disagree strongly on the author’s judgment of recent popes, and the anger expressed. Each of these men is holy in his own way. This does not give that impression.
Interesting take on other popes
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The narrator does a great job telling the story. For once there are no faux accents when quoting sources from various countries and backgrounds.
Had he lived longer perhaps John XXIII would have transformed the Church into a better institution that would have met the needs of many more people across the world.
Opinionated and important book
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Perhaps the title ought to have reflected that much of the book contained histotrical context of the papacy, but folks! What else can be written about popes at a time when society was such that the papacy was more about polity than faith and morals? I don't think Cahill meant his work as definitive history of the Catholic Church - even Kung's much longer and more serious audiobook on the subject does not pretend to that. (That's also a pretty good listen, but not exactly "entertaining" as is Cahill's)
Cahill tells of the good news from Popes also - what there was - And he tells the whole tale with a dry humour (like the reference to Calvinist Geneva being "not much fun" alluded to above).
Cahill may have been too easy on John XXXIII, though - Surely no human could be that good - why he'd be a...saint?
Humorous, informative, inspiring, well narrated from a a well-written text, this audiobook goes particularly well accompanied by the autobiographies of Simone Veil, Dorothy Day, and Deitrich Bonhoeffer also available on this site.
It's not the sentimental
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Unfortunately this book's flaws overwhelm its virtues. The first couple of hours on the history of the papacy cast nearly everything about the church and the popes in a harshly negative light. It comes off as awesomely arrogant and judgmental, and unfair even where it is right.
Not being expert on that history, I decided to judge Cahill's judgment based on his treatment of the great John Paul II. In one word, it is SAVAGE. Huh????
Ignore this guy. He is not trustworthy.
Consider the source
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Extremely biased and one sided
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The book begins easily enough with a brief introduction of a few sayings of Pope John XXIII. The author then decides to update the reader on the history of the papal lines to give you some "background" as to the papacy that John XXXIII was entering into. What then proceeds from this is a two and a half hour diatribe on every bad thing every pope did up to the time of Pope John XXIII. The reader is left with a sense that every pope in the Catholic Church was driven by lust, power, or greed. Even the very rare instances where the author attempts to shine a good light on the papal reform, it is downplayed with comments to make the reader feel that his efforts were futile due to the corruption in the entire church.
Additionally, the "colorful" language of the book adds comments to fundamental Catholic doctrine as "off the wall" and "unbiblical". This is especially true when the doctrines of Marry the blessed mother of Jesus are mentioned. I also found it ironic that the book spends about 20 minutes on the protestant reformation and how Protestantism turned some towns into places of "not much fun".
If you are Catholic and are truly interested in church history, I highly suggest you pass this one by.
Anti-Catholic or Completely Atheistic?
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