What can the next pope learn from Benedict, and what should we seek from him? Our special series concludes with new stories from William L. Portier and Richard R. Gaillardetz. 

Sobering histories, radiant memoirs, style-bending poetry, and a biography of Branch Rickey: Four writers (and Commonweal's editor) on the books that have entertained, challenged, touched, and surprised them this year.  

Four writers (and Commonweal's editor) on the books that have entertained, challenged, touched, and surprised them this year.  

A review of Peter Seewald's book-length interview with Pope Benedict XVI