3 books on new pope stand out among a dozen

GOD'S CHOICE, POPE BENEDICT XVI AND THE FUTURE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, by George Weigel; HarperCollins; 271 pages. $26.95.

Don't be misled by the subtitle of George Weigel's new biography, "God's Choice." The words "Pope Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Church" aren't entirely accurate.

In fact more than half of this book is not about the future at all. It is actually a history of the Catholic Church, including a description of the conclave that chose Ratzinger.

In Weigel's defense, it must be said that he does put the future in perspective by explaining the past. He also illuminates Pope Benedict's role by detailing the life of John Paul II.

For example, both popes took part in the Second Vatican Council. When Benedict dies, he will no doubt be replaced by someone who was too young to be part of that important discussion.

And another example: Both popes grew up under Nazism. Ratzinger's critics have tried to play up the fact that he was a Hitler Youth. But if there was anyone who understood those days in Europe, it would have been the Polish-born Pope John Paul who proceeded this German-born Pope Benedict.

The reader comes to appreciate how the war and the church forged Pope Benedict's character. He was taken from a religious school and put into the German army, and as soon as he could get free, he returned to the seminary. He continued to study theology throughout his life, and longed to return to his studies, even as John Paul kept asking him to stay in Rome. Weigel describes Ratzinger's scholarship, and is obviously impressed. In the end, the reader is impressed, too.

Weigel shows the reader that the new pope hasn't chosen to be the type of priest he is, the man who has been labeled "conservative." Pope Benedict believes — that's all. He believes sincerely and devoutly that God's will has been revealed and that the only way to live is in submission to God's will.

At the end of the book, Weigel includes a fascinating chapter about the future of the Catholic Church. He talks about youths and evangelism and liturgy. Unfortunately, he does not address all the questions the biography brings up.

One question Weigel might have explored is this: In describing how John Paul worked tirelessly for reunification of Christianity and how Benedict can be expected to do the same, Weigel observes that the Church of England put itself beyond reunification, in the 1980s, when it chose to ordain women. Apostasy, Weigel calls that.