Pope John Paul II

Excerpts from the homilies and addresses of the current pope are collected in a handsome album supplemented with official, color photographs from the Vatican. In this recording of Pope John Paul II's eventful pilgrimages, his message is shown to be unvarying and yet, as Archbishop Bernardin of Chicago notes, adpated to the culture and needs of each audience. The message is of peace, hope and faith, and covers some 30 countries and five continents that the pope has visited during the almost eight years of his pontificate. The photographs capture encounters with Buddhist monks, tribal leaders, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the hugely diverse peoples that constitute the pontiff's flock. John Paul's empathy with the youth of the world is particularly captured in this vivid group portrait of the Catholic Church today. (August 8)