A Pope and a President

John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century

By: Paul Kengor

Narrated by: James Anderson Foster

Length: 23 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Even as historians credit Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II with hastening the end of the Cold War, they have failed to recognize the depth or significance of the bond that developed between the two leaders.

Acclaimed scholar and best-selling author Paul Kengor changes that. In this fascinating book, he reveals a singular bond - which included a spiritual connection between the Catholic pope and the Protestant president - that drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the 20th century: Soviet communism.

Reagan and John Paul II almost didn't have the opportunity to forge this relationship: just six weeks apart in the spring of 1981, they took bullets from would-be assassins. But their strikingly similar near-death experiences brought them close together - to Moscow's dismay.

A Pope and a President is the product of years of research. Based on Kengor's tireless archival digging and his unique access to Reagan insiders, this book reveals captivating new details on a relationship that changed history.

©2017 Paul Kengor (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"No Reagan biographer or scholar knows Ronald Reagan and conservatism like Paul Kengor." (Michael Reagan)

This is the best book I have ever read about Reagan.

I loved it so much I bought it in print and in audio. It is something I can read over and over again and still not tire of. I highly recommend this book.

Amazing!!

Such an inspiring and interesting read!! I couldn't stop and didn't want it to end.

Informative and inspiring

I was Born in Poland in 1968 thus I know many details of the book first hand but only from the polish point of view. The canvas on which the book is written is very broad and researched in details. I was amazed to learned all the facts regarding other Eastern European countries, 20-century papacy and Reagan. The connections the author makes between the historical facts and the Divine interventions are amazing. In the end I find myself deeply moved and inspired. I recommend this book to any Pole especially to those who think they know the story.

Exceptional!!!!

An excellent read/listen. These two men made the world a better place! We need both of them now.

Makes the heart burst with admiration and humility

This book makes a clear case for the "DP" Divine Plan. These men and those souls around them humbled themselves before God, which gave them the grace to save the world. Let us all strive to take up that mantle. Many thanks to the author.

Encyclopedic yet fascinating

What did you love best about A Pope and a President?

This is not a work of popular history, or that of a dilettante, but a scholarly presentation of one of the 20th century's most unexamined but interesting subjects - the relationship between Pope John Paul II, President Ronald Reagan, and the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal in 1917.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Despite it's length, he book is fascinating and kept me interested during a some long drives over the course of a few days.

Wow just wow

Absolutely love and recommend this book. The history, Divine Providence, friendship, and love that is woven throughout these two unmistakably remarkable men astounds me.

Very interesting read

It was a little too Pro-Catholic (yes I understand it was about the Pope and the author made disclaimers about having to understand his pint of view to understand the story, but still). It felt like the author was trying to convert me to Catholicism and the Fatima claims, rather than just explain the feelings of the major players about those things. But still a very interesting book and one I would recommend.

Terrific Book

This book is a combination spy novel, history book, spiritual book, and uplifting book. It is just terrific. If you’re interested in history, spirituality and entertainment, buy this book!

This should be required reading for our youth today!

What a magnificent book! Growing up in the 80s and 90s and witnessing the conclusion of this amazing story we had no idea of all the incredible story behind the scenes. The initial explanation of atheistic communism and socialism and how it has infiltrated the fabric of our current society is a required reading for a youth so we can confront our current challenges.