A Pope and a President: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century

In this book, author Paul Kengor draws parallels between Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan. Not only in their great desire to rid the world of the threat of communism but also in events that happened during their lives. The focus is mainly on the history of these two individuals and their combined efforts against what they saw as the greatest threat to liberty and faith but there is considerable thought and room given to the historical stance of the leadership of the Catholic Church. As I am a Christian but not a Catholic, much of this information was new (and informative) to me.The events the two leaders shared start with their childhood influence of a deeply religious parent (father with the Pope and mother with President Reagan) to their first careers as actors to the loss of their fathers mere weeks apart in 1941 and then to their attempted assassinations (again weeks apart) in 1981. The two men, once they met in 1982, developed a good relationship in their efforts and became close friends with what President Reagan called a shared “Divine Plan”.The book also chronicles some of the history of the Catholic Church's stand against Communism when the rest of the world seemed to see it as less of a threat. It also touches on the history of Nazi Germany and other totalitarian movements but the main focus of the book is the relationship and the actions that two of the foremost Christian leaders of their time took to bring down what President Reagan dubbed “the evil empire”.While I generally read historical accounts of much older events than these (some of which happened during my lifetime), I found the book both interesting and thought provoking.

Before I read this monumental book, the best book I had read on Ronald Reagan and Reagan and winning the Cold War was The Crusader, Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, also by Paul Kengor. It greatly covered in specific detail the precise steps and the risks Reagan took to bring down the "evil empire" and the Berlin Wall. It included Reagan's defense build-up, including missile defense, and his efforts to bankrupt the Soviet Union, all playing a pivotal in Reagan bringing down communism. It's been a while since I have read the book, but, as I remember there was much about Saint John Paul II's major role as well, especially of course in Poland, that proved the be the linchpin in the eventual fall of communism in eastern Europe and Soviet Union. And it was in that book that I first heard that President Reagan considered Pope John Paul II his best friend.I have read a number of books on Ronald Reagan and his role in ending the Cold War, so I thought I was well informed on the subject. I had never heard though what was revealed in this great book. A Pope and a President, John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century. I knew of course that Pope John Paul was shot of the Feast of Fatima, May 13, but had no idea how much Reagan was interested in Fatima and its messages and the role it, and the Blessed Mother Mary overall, had in the Pope and the President's ongoing efforts to end communism. I also didn't realize or had forgotten how much President Reagan literally preached a faith in God in his numerous historical speeches in the Soviet Union and elsewhere in the communist world. And the confluence of dates is amazing as well. The Russian Revolution was in 1917, the same year as the Blessed Virgin appeared to the 3 peasant children at Fatima. And I had never realized that Archbishop Fulton Sheen played a role in influencing the Protestant Reagan and bringing down communism. He had given many talks on the evils of communism and how it is a Godless evil. Both Sheen and Reagan are products of the Illinois prairie. I knew that communism is of course and atheistic evil that killed over 100 million in the last century, but did not focus so much on it being a problem of spiritual desolation. Reagan and Pope John Paul II knew though that it was largely a problem of being a Godless system with a spiritual vacuum. Yes, there were specific tactics that Reagan initiated to bring down communism, but his emphasis on the spiritual aspect was what finally did it, even likely playing a role in influencing Mikhail Gorbachev to resign as head of the Soviet Union and thus make way for its demise.Reagan was a life long Protestant, though he had much Catholic influence throughout his life, starting with his Catholic father, his great friend and confidant, Judge William Clark, who served Reagan so well in many posts and played a major role in Reagan's efforts to bring down communism, a long time goal of his too.(Paul Kengor's book on Judge Clark is great as well and highly recommended.) And of course, his "best friend," Pope John Paul II. Reagan also had a great affection for the mostly Catholic Polish citizenry, and so wanted them to be out from under the shackles of communism.I'm a slow reader and rarely read books twice. Even though it is over 500 pages, I plan to make this great book an exception and read it at least one more time. There are so many great lessons, including spiritual lessons, from the examples of two of the greatest men of the millennium, Saint John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan. This book gives one hope in mankind that the world could produce two such great and good men. I cannot recommend this great book highly enough.

Fascinating read. I had no idea Reagan and the Pope interacted as they did or that Reagan's faith was such a huge part of his life and politics.There were parts of the book that delved into details to the point of boredom or redundancy, but those were written, I think, for the benefit of historians, not someone like me who just wanted the general picture. I took it as such and skimmed those parts, appreciating the fact that those details were necessary to shore up the truth of the author's purpose (I wish other authors would research their work as thoroughly).The stories were fascinating and presented with passion while keeping a scholarly tone. It was delightful to be able to peek into the hearts and minds of two of the world's greatest leaders as they grew to respect and rely on each other to tame the beast of Communism.If you're a historian, read every word of this fascinating book. If you're someone who's curious about the lives, thoughts, feelings, and political careers of two of the world's greatest leaders, read anyway. Skip parts if you must, but let Mr. Kengor bring Ronald Reagan John Paul II into your living room for a visit. And, perhaps, God as well.

a must read for everyone! Great book!!

Estoy comenzando a leer el libro que me interesó desde hace tiempo, pues ya tenía la reseña de él. Más ahora con la situación que se repite en Europa es más interesante. Es un libro que recomiendo ampliamente. Excelente!Quise comprar la versión física, no Kindle, porque quería conservar el libro en mi biblioteca. Y cuido mucho mis libros.El libro llegó a tiempo (9pm), pero me frustró mucho que el sobre de envío era tan delgado con una simple capa de burbuja que NO lo protegía y venía roto! En el manejo y tránsito de la paquetería NO indican que es un producto FRAGIL! Llegó el libro partido de la parte superior del lomo pues no sirve de nada un sobre delgado que no lo protege!Los libros anteriores que he comprado en Amazon vinieron empacados perfectamente en una CAJA bien protegidos y sin daño alguno. Es una gran frustración recibir un producto así. No quise hacer TODO el proceso de devolución con Amazon pues me causa muchos problemas y esperar a volver a tenerlo, arriesgándome a que llegue igual! Pero no es justo pagar por un libro caro especial, tan deseado y que llegue en esas condiciones. Cuánto le cuesta a Amazon invertir en enviarlo en una CAJA por favor! Y asegurarse que lleguen en perfecto estado sus productos?En esta ocasión, fue una total desilusión y desperdicio de dinero!Aunque el contenido es lo importante, no se trata de comprar libros maltratados en ese estado que se va a deshojar. Y me quedo con el coraje de esta compra inútil. Y no me van a reemplazar el libro y ni mi dinero…

Emocionante e atual! Deve ser lido por quem quer entender as forças espiritual e política que levaram o comunismo a sua maior derrocada.

Thank you for introducing me to an unexpected side to Ronald Reagan's character. I lived through those difficult times when the President was derided and laughed at by a debased Media in this Country.A fascinating and very readable book , which illustrates why we should be so grateful to both Pope and President.

A masterpiece on Faith & history involving two Great Men. A must read....Great work PAUL KENGOR!