BIOGRAPHY GRAND AND SIGNAMENT, MIMING THAT WRITTEN IN THE EXPRESSION TEMPATEM

When white smoke appears over the Vatican – the news about it spreads in Rome by lightning. The sound, which then spreads everywhere, is the slam of the fast-closed doors of shops, apartments, restaurants and offices, and the throng of an expanding crowd heading to St Peter's Square.

The desire to personally welcome the fresh Holy Father and the Bishop of Rome at the same time is simply a universal and most sincere and alive tradition for centuries. It has any function to play and curiosity about who will be the fresh pope. Since October 16, 1978, erstwhile for the first time in 455 years the head of the Church of non-Italian nationality was elected, it is besides known that the conclave may surprise with a decision that fewer people expected. Especially since Cardinals from Germany and Argentina became popes after St. John Paul. And the little the choice is expected – the little known the individual placed on the throne of the papal multitudes of believers. Hence and apparent curiosity about who he is and what he will be and what the fresh pontificate will mark.

The cover of Pope Leon XIV's most extended biography by Adam Sosnowski, with unique photographs by Michał Klag. The publication of the White Raven publication besides contains a historical survey by Fr Janusz Królikowski devoted to popes named Leon.

Robert Francis Provost joined the Cardinals' group little than a year and 10 months before his papal throne. The strength of this fact for most Catholics must have been a figure they could not know besides much about. All the more so, this choice of conclave not only in Rome, but among all the members of the universal Church around the planet must rise an highly large interest and questions about the fresh Holy Father, must be highly much. Frequent responses to them immediately appeared in the void of media messages. However, they are not able to replace reliable, mature, holistic knowledge. Only an extended book written by very competent people can service this purpose. The most real phenomenon is that the first specified publication was published in Poland.

The White Raven publishing home has utilized us to the fact that thanks to it the most essential works are presented, always great, and besides in unparalleled, beautiful artwork. Now it has besides proven that it can print a book not only with all these qualities, but besides release it – at an express rate. The fresh head of the Church was elected on 8 May. And as early as June, a large volume of more than 400 pages entitled “Leon XIV. An illustrated biography" by Dr. Adam Sosnowski and priest prof. Janusz Królikowski, illustrated primarily by photographs of Michał Klag.

Reading the part written by Adam Sosnowski, it is hard to believe that in specified a short time he managed to make a work of specified an erudite class. To any degree this mystery is explained by the frequent presence of the author in Rome. besides at the time erstwhile the choice was made, erstwhile the Eternal City was preparing for the inauguration of the fresh pontificate and in a series of first events associated with it, e.g. the Holy Mass in the Basilicas of Rome. It was besides very helpful to have a perfect cognition of everything that Papacy involves. The fact that in this subject the author moves like a proverbial "fish in water" does not change the fact that during a short time he had to gather quite a few information about the fresh pope. And it is to gather them together in specified a vast spectrum of diversity that it is possible to compose this book in a way that the title character will get to know through the prism so many points of view. In order for the fruits of this work to be as extraordinary as the reading contained in this awesome volume – a titanium work had to be done. However, even though this Benedictine effort had to be occupied with large effort (I will not believe that it would take place without breaking the night over the keyboard and stacking documents), this book is amazingly light and friendly in reading. To a large extent, this is due to the light kind and the method that makes specified books the most interesting. 1 can read the impression that the author from the first paragraphs turns into a kind of guide to the places with which our fresh pope was associated in his life. At times, the communicative of our guide reminds us of a bit of a mini – lectures of local studies. By learning about the Chicago territory where the boy years were spent today's head of the Church, we besides learn about the problems of this part of the United States, its moral color, the lifestyle of this peculiar social class, from which Robert Provost originates. Of course, the fundamental category here is the model of spiritual life and education, mostly consisting in attending Catholic schools. It is besides not meaningless where our fresh pope's ancestors came to America, who his parents were, what his household life looked like and what his household life looked like. It is different that in order to tell about it, the author can scope out to the multitude of speeches of closer and further relatives, colleagues, neighbors, friends from studies or coworkers. And all of this is not only from the treasure of cognition about the years spent in the United States, but besides in Italy and Peru, which, by the way, we besides learn a lot about. We learn everything that's truly important. The author saves us his own conclusions. And very well, due to the fact that from the many and very different statements quoted, the reader builds a image of the man whom we want to know as much as possible. Not to uncover besides many details, I will just say that it is an image that is highly sympathetic, warm, friendly and at the same time awesome and character and class of intellect.

I remember a fewer popes from my life. At the time of Paul VI the main message of the media almost did not take into account the existence of the Church. In the temples and catechesis, the Holy Father was known for the portraits and words contained in his teachings. He was a kind and crucial figure for us, but by all means – not the best known and possibly a small distant. Adults may have seen this differently, but I was fourteen erstwhile Paul VI died. And it is hard for me to perceive the figure of John Paul I, whose pontificate belonged to the shortest. What John Paul II became for me and millions of others, utilizing the quote from Edward Stachura, I will say: “I will not say, due to the fact that you – after – I know!” So all I will say is that I have been accompanied by many words, thoughts and events related to the Pope – Poles for years, thanks to my memory. And in the days of Benedict XVI and Francis I understood how large the category of specified an individual personality of the Pope is. John Paul II was an incomparable personality giant. And the large Benedict proved to his individual how large 1 can be despite his differences compared to his predecessor. How different can you act – serving the most accurately the same, top Cause. And what power lies in the wealth of specified value, which we usually bloom with 2 words: “Christian personalism”. And what do I know about our present Pope after the first months of his pontificate and above all (absolutely above all!) thanks to the book by Dr Adam Sosnowski and the priest prof. Janusz Królikowski? I know 1 thing: The Holy Spirit has effectively inspired the participants of the last conclave. The choice was made perfectly. I am truly glad that the hero of the book I am writing about has become our Pope!

Often the first part of the answer to the question of what the fresh Pope will be is his name. I remember very well how Charles Wojtyła about the names John and Paul said that these were the names of his large predecessors. In no another way did Cardinal Ratzinger motivate his choice and openly Cardinal Bergolio besides stated why he wanted to be known as Francis. And what does the name Leon mean in this pontificate? Again, the best lead to explain this mystery is simply a biography published by the White Raven. prof. Janusz Królikowski presents all namesakes of Leon XIV – from Leon I the great, who was undoubtedly 1 of the most prominent popes of ancient times to Leon XIII – a large renewer of religion and Christian civilization. 1 can say that this 1 from Leonów is the most crucial 1 for our fresh pope. This would undoubtedly mean a immense challenge. And the immediate rhetorical question is: Do we not request individual like that most today?

‘Leon XIV. Illustrated biography" is simply a book that gives us tremendously needed knowledge, but besides a book full of causes for deep reflection. So this is 1 of those works that will frequently be addressed. surely this will be done by all, for whom the substance of the present and future of the Church is important. What it besides means: the present and the future of our world.

Artur Adamski