Vatican to publish entire work by bestselling author Pope Benedict XVI

Richard Owen
June 6, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI is proving such a bestselling author that his entire literary output before he became Pope is to be issued in thirteen volumes, with the first volume to appear in bookshops at the end of this year.

The pontiff's last book, Jesus of Nazareth — his first major publication written as Pope — has sold 2,500,000 copies so far worldwide. But there is growing demand for the works he produced as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, when he was the Vatican's chief expert on doctrine, and even for his writings as a German theology professor in Bavaria.

"Benedict is a cerebral theologian, but far from dry" one Vatican source said. "He writes simply and lucidly, with human insight as well as profound spirituality". the rest