An Italian publisher hopes to sell 300,000 copies of a new book by
Pope Benedict XVI by Christmas.
Rizzoli, the publishing house that
will bring out the 3rd volume of the Pope’s trilogy, Jesus of Nazareth, will ship 300,000 copies to bookstores in time for the Christmas season.
In the book, The Childhood of Jesus, Pope Benedict offers his
personal reflections on the few Gospel narratives about Christ’s
infancy.
The book completes the Pontiff’s trilogy on Jesus, following a
1st volume that appeared in 2007 and covered the life of Christ from his
Baptism through the Transfiguration, and a 2nd book published in 2011
that covered the events of Holy Week through the Resurrection.
Publication of the 3rd and final volume was delayed, the ANSA news
agency reports, because Vatican officials objected to the publisher’s
initial plan to sell the book for only €0.77 (just under $1), and called
for a higher list price.