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Book review: The Vatican Diaries, by John Thavis

Benedict XVI sprang a huge surprise when he stepped down from his papal office, the first pope in 600 years to do so; he no longer had the energy for his task, he said.

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Book review: The Vatican Diaries, by John Thavis

by John Thavis

Viking

Benedict XVI sprang a huge surprise when he stepped down from his papal office, the first pope in 600 years to do so; he no longer had the energy for his task, he said.

Now, author John Thavis provides the background for the decision in his excellent The Vatican Diaries, which concludes just before Benedict's renunciation.

Thavis, who was the Vatican correspondent for the United States Catholic News Service for more than 25 years, recounts the frustration of a journalist dealing with an organisation that remains hamfisted about its press relations.

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