《纽约时报》畅销书作家佩吉·努南（Peggy Noonan）为读者献上“关于历史上最受敬重的教皇的文笔优美的传记”（《图书馆杂志》）。佩吉·努南凭借广受好评的《性格即是国王》（When Character Was King）一书成为最活跃和受尊重的评论家。现在她献给我们一幅直面时代最惨烈悲剧的精神巨人和思想巨人的动人肖像。努南翻阅了大量文献，采访了著名的天主教徒，并加入个人见解，成功地书写了教皇约翰·保罗二世的人生轨迹。文章充满深刻见地又不失客观，发掘出教皇值得学习的方方面面：领导才能、外交风采、谦逊性格和神性光辉。约翰·保罗二世热情又平易近人，如同他所信奉的天主一样，闪耀着爱的光辉。

From New York Times bestselling author Peggy Noonan comes a beautifully written testimony about . . . the most historically recognized pope ( Library Journal )

With such accla imed books as When Character Was King , Peggy Noonan has become one of our most eloquent and respected commentators. Now she offers a stirring portrait of a spiritual and intellectual giant who personally confronted all of the worst tragedies of his age. Drawing on scholarship, interviews with prominent Catholics, and her own experience, Noonan traces the extraordinary life and struggles of Pope John Paul II with characteristic insight and probityand explores how much we can learn from his leadership, diplomacy, humility, and holiness. Passionate and often deeply personal, John Paul the Great is as exceptional as the man it celebrates.