Just released, Benedict of Bavaria is a ground-breaking look at Pope Benedict XVI just as he makes his first visit to the United States.

Two years ago, author Brennan Pursell set out to write a biography of Joseph Ratzinger which would reveal the true nature of the man—how his mind works, what his heart loves, and where his loyalties lie. Unlike other books about Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict, Pursell shows that like his Catholic faith, Benedict's Bavarian heritage is an inextricable part of who he is. Bavaria is the most Catholic region of Germany, a place where the local culture is steeped in all things Catholic. Joseph Ratzinger absorbed these influences unconsciously and came to treasure them. He also acquired other Bavarian traits—reverence for tradition and continuity; a style of worship in which the focus is always on God and not on one's self; a love for beauty; and a steadfastness devotion for one's homeland.

For a well-rounded portrait of his subject, Pursell  visited every town where Joseph Ratzinger lived, every school where he studied and taught, and the churches and shrines—particularly the shrine of Our Lady of Aloetting—where Ratzinger prayed. The result is the most personal, most authentic account of the life of the man who became Pope Benedict XVI.

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