God's Invisible Hand The Life and Works of Francis Cardinal Arinze

by Arinze, Francis Cardinal; O'Connell, Gerard

• ISBN13: 9781586171353
• ISBN10: 1586171356
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-30
• Publisher: Ignatius Press

Summary

Cardinal Arinze tells his amazing life story, and how he was guided by "God's invisible hand" through many challenging and dangerous moments, to become one of the world's leading Catholic prelates, and one of the top candidates for the Papacy in the recent conclave.

In the style of an interview, Arinze responds to a host of wide ranging questions from journalist Gerard O'Connell. Arinze talks about his life and experiences growing up in Nigeria, becoming the world's youngest Bishop, being on the run during the Nigerian civil war, and as an outspoken Cardinal who led the way for inter-religious dialogue with non-Christian religions, particularly Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus.

The charismatic Cardinal, also tells about his years of working inside the Vatican under three different Popes, and of his close relationship with John Paul II. Arinze and John Paul worked together on various important projects and documents that have had an impact on the Church and the African culture.

Author Biography

Francis Cardinal Arinze is the former Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The Nigerian prelate has written many books and articles on theology, spirituality, and pastoral practice, including Meeting Jesus and Following Him, Radical Discipleship: The Layperson's Distinctive Role, Marian Veneration, and God's Invisible Hand, all published by Ignatius Press.

Table of Contents

Introduction	7	(4)
The Early Years (1932--1955)	11	(22)
The Student Years in Rome and Ordination to the Priesthood (1955--1960)	33	(14)
Return to Nigeria and First Ministry as a Priest (1960--1963)	47	(5)
A Year in London (1963--1964)	52	(3)
The Youngest Bishop at Vatican II (1965)	55	(19)
The Nigerian Civil War (1967--1970)	74	(19)
Fostering Religious Life in the Diocese (1965--1984)	93	(15)
Working for the Canonization of West Africa's First Native-Born Saint (1974--1998)	108	(16)
From the Death of Paul VI to the First Visit of John Paul II to Nigeria (1978--1982)	124	(12)
Return to Rome to Work in the Vatican (1984)	136	(15)
A Young Cardinal	151	(19)
God's Providence in Life	170	(17)
Building Bridges in Morocco, Assisi, and Algeria	187	(27)
Reflections on the Synod for Africa (1994)	214	(35)
The Beatification of Father Tansi in Nigeria (1998)	249	(6)
Pastoral Activities	255	(21)
From Mount Sinai to the United Nations	276	(25)
With the Pope in Greece, Syria, and Malta	301	(12)
From Oxford and Cardiff Universities to the World Economic Forum and Ground Zero (2002)	313	(23)
The Only African Cardinal in the Vatican	336	(23)
Postscript	359	(2)
Photographs	361