The essential thoughts of Pope John Paul II on matters of belief and conscience have been culled from his encyclicals, speeches, homilies, and statements to fellow bishops and collected in one volume. Throughout his more than two decades as the leader of the world’s Catholics, John Paul II has spoken both officially and informally on all aspects of life in the modern world. Whether defining the Church's teachings or passionately espousing the basic human rights of all people, whether speaking from his throne in the Vatican or from a platform set up on a soccer field, the Pope has always eloquently and clearly stated his thinking, vision, and hopes for the Church and the world. For this new edition, the compilers have added significant new material, including the pontiff's thoughts as we enter the third millennium of Christianity.