Benedict XVI's Book Coming Next Week

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 2, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's new book, "Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week -- From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection," will be presented in the Vatican on March 10.

The Pope's book is being released in Italian by the Vatican Publishing House, and in English by Ignatius Press. It will also be published in German, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Polish.

A press conference will be held for the presentation of the book, with the participation of Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and Claudio Magris, a writer and German scholar.

The book has nine chapters and an epilogue. Chapter One is titled "The Entrance into Jerusalem and the Cleansing of the Temple."

Chapter Two, which focuses on "Jesus' Eschatological Discourse," is subdivided into three sections: "The End of the Temple," "The Times of the Gentiles," and "Prophecy and Apocalyptics in the Eschatological Discourse."

Chapter Three has as its subject "The Washing of the Feet" and contains the following six subheadings: "The Hour of Jesus," "You Are Clean," "Sacramentum and Exemplum -- Gift and Task: The 'New Commandment,'" "The Mystery of the Betrayer," "Two Conversations with Peter" and "Washing of Feet and Confession of Sin."

The title of Chapter Four is "Jesus' High-Priestly Prayer," and the subdivisions are: "The Jewish Feast of Atonement as Biblical Background to the High-Priestly Prayer," and "Four Major Themes of the Prayer."

Chapter Five is entirely dedicated to "The Last Supper," which is analyzed under the headings: "The Dating of the Last Supper," "The Institution of the Eucharist," "The Theology of the Words of Institution," and "From the Last Supper to the Sunday Morning Eucharist."

"Gethsemane," the subject of Chapter Six, includes sections titled: "On the Way to the Mount of Olives," "The Prayer of Jesus," "Jesus' Will and the Will of the Father," and "Jesus' Prayer on the Mount of Olives in the Letter to the Hebrews."

Chapter Seven, "The Trial of Jesus," includes sections on "Preliminary Discussion in the Sanhedrin," "Jesus Before the Sanhedrin" and "Jesus before Pilate."

Chapter Eight, on the "Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus," begins with a reflection on "Word and Event in the Passion Narrative," and continues with "Jesus on the Cross," concluding with "Jesus' Death as Reconciliation (Atonement) and Salvation."

The ninth and final chapter is titled "Jesus' Resurrection from the Dead" and is subdivided as follows: "What Is the Resurrection of Jesus?" "The Two Different Types of Resurrection Testimony," "The Confessional Tradition," "The Narrative Tradition," and "Summary: The Nature of Jesus' Resurrection and Its Historical Significance."

The Holy Father's book concludes with an epilogue titled: "He Ascended into Heaven -- He Is Seated at the Right Hand of the Father, and He Will Come Again in Glory."