Pope Paul VI was a pivotal figure in Roman Catholic history, presiding over most of the Second Vatican Council as well as the turbulent decade which followed. In the popular mind, he has perhaps been remembered primarily as the pope who issued Humanae Vitae, the encyclical which re-affirmed the Church's opposition to artificial methods of birth control. Yet he did much more than that, and Hebblethwaite's subtitle, 'The First Modern Pope', does seem justified. If he was criticized for Humanae Vitae by the liberal wing of the Church, he was also attacked bitterly by conservatives who thought he had permitted too much change. As Pope he tried to steer a middle path, holding fast to what he saw as the essentials of the faith while implementing the program of 'aggiornamiento' shaped by the Council. Paul VI was also an important witness for peace in the modern world.

Hebblethwaite does an admirable job with the mountain of pertinent source material. At times, however, he does not seem to have a very good grasp of some of the theological issues and nuances that were important to Paul and the rest of the Church at the time, leading to questionable and heavy-handed comments in places. But the book is useful for the basic facts of the life and work of Paul VI. It is worth reading, especially if you are interested in Vatican II and the changes and controversies it left in its wake.

An excellent read, giving insight into Pope paul's life and pontificate. ( )