Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

The definitive record of the life of Joseph Ratzinger. Peter Seewald’s first volume is brimming with theological intrigue, historical fact, and Catholic anecdote. It’s written with a flair to satisfy the faithful, but in no way panders to a dialectic of the church versus the world, or any such plight of enemies and foe. It’s an objective study of the years 1927–1965 and a stark reminder of just how eventful and transformative the 20th century was in the lives of many, not just Ratzinger and his family.

The future Pope grew up with Catholic parents in Bavaria. They partook in religious festivals and he was clearly zealous and curious for the ‘spirit’ at an early age. However, these hopes for priesthood were dashed by the horrors of Nazi Germany and its ongoing turmoil with the church. Brace yourself for a history lesson here on shocking Nazi Christian state ideology and deathly persecutions of the martyrs and many thousands of other religious denominations, including the infamous “July plot” to assassinate Hitler with the evangelical Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Ratzinger emerges into a post-war continent lost in faith, but he overcomes the odds by engaging in intellectual learning at a seminary and is soon influential in a large network of theologians across Europe.

Here the book casts in-depth knowledge of, namely, the priesthood, the beauty of divine liturgy (according to Ratzinger), and the adventure of a dialogue with God. A striking comment by Ratzinger is that a priest must above all be able to support people in pain. The “ability to accept and stand suffering is a fundamental condition for successful human living. If that is not learned, then failure is inevitable.” Benedict was well known for his serious commitment and concern towards pastoral care. And Seewald’s extensive inclusion of tapes with Ratzinger make for authoratative reading of the theology.

The last third of the book moves into Ratzinger’s role in the Second Vatican Council, in particular the ‘November crisis’ controversy. It ultimately highlights how he’s always tried to unite traditions rather than act as either a conservative or progressive. The Council’s intent and legacy has never been so clear to a lay-reader, and one is baffled at how spiritual clarity can turn into such a Herculean task for the church. But that’s the crux of tradition; it’s apparently worth fighting tooth and nail for. It would take a separate volume entirely to actually understand what really went on there…

It’s fair to say, though, in this first volume we see why Ratzinger was arguably the greatest theologian ever to sit on the chair of St. Peter. And I expect the second volume, the road to becoming Pope Benedict XVI and his pontificate, will make for even more compelling reading. But how Seewald will fit it all into a single volume is dramatic enough in and of itself. Whatever the outcome, the satisfaction of a thorough and lengthy biography can certainly be expected.

I should preface this review by saying that I already begin as a fan of Benedict’s writings, which I probably first encountered in 2006 with The Spirit of the Liturgy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, and indeed, I plan to buy a copy of it to give as a Christmas present - however, I’ve not previously read any of the similarly extended interviews that the author has done with Pope Benedict, nor have I read Benedict’s own memoirs. Hence, the majority of the content came as quite a surprise to me.

What struck me most was his age. Born in 1927, his life has taken in so much. A small-town youth, minor seminary interrupted by war, his evident intellectual brilliance at major seminary, his early doctoral work, and his meteoric rise in the German church. As is noted, he always happened to be at the right place at the right time.

I was delighted to read so much of his faith - and the profound influence of the simple Catholicism practiced by his parents. This might not be entirely expected in a man who has spent the majority of his life writing profound tomes, but the clear focus on prayerfulness and priesthood – as opposed to theological controversies and obscure arguments - I found refreshing. “Whoever works for Christ knows that it is always someone else who sows and someone else who reaps. He does not have to continually question himself; he leaves the outcome to the Lord and does what he can without worrying, freely and happily, secure as part of the whole.”

Whilst the book details his life, it has many minor strands - his intellectual influences at seminary (most of which were unknown to me); the tensions of religious life in Germany in the 1930-50s; the depths of his love for the writings of St Augustine of Hippo; his second intellectual focus in St Bonaventure; the conflicts fought against him by other theologians; and his ever-widening circles of those he encounters, works with, and promotes where we find so many names of significant 20th-century catholic theologians.

It seemed a surprise to find that for a man so dedicated to theological thought, that he really was a ‘people person’, and the depth of his spirituality was evidently both known and loved. And of course, they all have their anecdotes as to how he helped them or influenced them for the better. The vision of him giving away so much of his salary to help those in financial need, or to those who were intimidated by the intense young professor, introducing them to his childhood teddy bear, will stay with me.

It was also fascinating to read of his curacy, where two of his predecessors had met their end under Nazi persecutions. I knew relatively little about post-war continental religion, and the book details such great hope in the air, that in the light of the recent horrors, both Catholics and Protestants could rise to new and deeper spiritual awakenings. Benedict was profoundly changed by the somewhat disappointing reality which followed, and his vision of a smaller, but the more devout church is perhaps one of the common threads across his entire life. Benedict’s place as a progressive theologian, even as a radical, came as quite a surprise, and probably will to most readers who only know his more recent persona. The definition of pastoral and ecumenical I found memorable - pastoral, ‘formulated with positive concern for people today who are not helped by condemnations,’ and ecumenical, ‘full of love, ceasing to regard others just as opponents to defend ourselves against, trying to recognise them as fellow believers with whom we can talk and from whom we can learn.’

However, the third part of the book, I sadly found less engaging. This is the section dedicated to the Second Vatican Council, where Benedict was profoundly influential, at such a young age (and initially as very unofficial voice.) Perhaps the translation hit the right note less often here, but I found this section dragged, especially as it went back and forth on the changes to various documents and the intrigue amongst Cardinals. I was relieved when it returned to Benedict’s life at university.

It was a full and lengthy book which I read over the course of five evenings, and I will certainly buy this when it comes out, and will eagerly await volume 2 (although I can’t imagine how the rest of his life could be crammed into only one more volume!)