As one of the most distinguished figures in the Catholic Church and the only man to have been in daily interaction with two popes simultaneously, Archbishop Ganswein presents an array of profound observations about the state of the Church and its likely future in an increasingly secular society. He offers a vigorous and convincing argument for the indispensability of the Catholic Church as a civilizing force in culture, and how she alone can, and must, serve as a bulwark against the growing cultural totalitarianism seizing the West.
Ganswein also interprets what the "expanded papacy" means for the Church and explains how Pope Benedict's resignation has played a critical and necessary role in demythologizing the office of the papacy.
Finally, he offers a framework for spiritual renewal, beginning with the personal reform of priests and bishops. To save the Church, the archbishop explains, we need clerics who prioritize and epitomize the proclamation of God's Word in their own lives and work. The "pastoral approach" of today is important, but only if it recaptures its original, evangelical dimension.