The Legacy of John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI has written: "I consider it my essential and personal mission not so much to produce many new documents but to see to it that John Paul's documents are assimilated, because they are a very rich treasure, the authentic interpretation of Vatican II." This volume responds to that challenge in helping readers and students to understand the important themes in John Paul II's theology, which is crucial because his influence is already as great as that of almost any other Pope, and his teachings and writings need to be studied carefully by Christians of all denominations. John Paul II's writings were prolific, covering topics as important as ethics, politics, theology, and comparative religion as well as a number of philosophical works published before he became Pope.