This little pocket booklet is the story of John-Paul II, the Polish priest whose name was Karol Wojtyla before he became Pope in 1978. Only this year has he been created Blessed by the present Pope which is a step on the way to final canonisation and sainthood. First we have a brief biography of Wojtyla detailing his early life working as a labourer under the Nazis and the clandestine courses in theology he took before being ordained priest at the end of the war. He was soon a bishop, then at 44 an archbishop and three years later a cardinal. In 1978 he was elected Pope as John-Paul II and served for twenty seven years before he died in 2005. The rest of the book consists of short excerpts from his writings as worker, priest and pastor. There is also a selection of messages and prayers left at his tomb by young people which are very moving. Facing every page there is an illustration of John-Paul in various situations. There are not many pages but what we have are illuminating and stimulating.

John Irvine for TheGoodBookStall (Posted on 28/10/2011)