In new book, pope says his experience in Poland shaped his papacy

Published: 2004-05-18

ROME (CNS) -- In a new book about his 20 years as a bishop in Poland, Pope John Paul II identified the roots of some of his practices as pope, presenting his papal style as an adaptation of what he felt worked successfully in Krakow. An effective bishop, he said, must know personally as many members of his flock as possible; he must see where and how they live; and he must read voraciously and meet frequently with scholars and scientists in order to bring Gospel values to bear on new problems. In the introduction to "Get Up, Let Us Go," the pope said he wrote the book with the hope that people would appreciate how busy and difficult a bishop's job is, "but also the joy" that comes with episcopal ministry. The pope's new work was on sale in bookstores May 18 -- Pope John Paul's 84th birthday -- in the original Polish and in Italian, French, Spanish and German translations. A spokeswoman for Mondadori, the Italian company handling publication outside of Poland, said May 14 that the company was still working on details for the English release.

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