By the photographers of Contact Press Images: David Burnett, Chuck Fishman, Frank Fournier, Gianfranco Gorgoni, James Hill, Kenneth Jarecke, Gary Matoso, Dilip Mehta, Olivier Rebbot, Alon Reininger Introduction by Lech Walesa ~ five brief texts excerpted from the writings of John Paul II ~ biography of the pope combined with an extensive chronology ~ list of the 104 foreign travels by the pope ~ detailed captions for the 159 images Pope John Paul II: His Remarkable Journey (de.MO 2005) follows the twenty-six year reign of the most influential pope of the modern era, John Paul II (né Karol Jozef Wojtyla), from the day of his inauguration on October 16, 1978 to his death on April 2, 2005 and the election, seventeen days later, of Pope Benedict XVI. Comprised of images by ten of the world’s most acclaimed photojournalists — including David Burnett, Dilip Mehta, and Olivier Rebbot — the book revisits the defining moments in the tenure of the Pope from Poland: the attempt on his life in St. Peter’s Square in 1981, his epic travels to Latin America, the Middle East, India and the USA; and his dramatic returns to his homeland in 1979 and 1983 which fueled the rise to the Solidarity Labor Movement. The book includes an introduction by the organization’s leader, former president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize-winner, Lech Walesa — whose historic role in the unraveling of the Soviet empire was directly tied to the figure of John Paul II. Edited by Robert Pledge, recipient of the Overseas Press Club of America’s “Olivier Rebbot” Award for 2003’s Li Zhensheng: Red-Color News Soldier (Phaidon), and designed by Giorgio Baravalle, publisher of Lori Grinker’s “AFTERWAR: Veterans from a World in Conflict” (de.MO 2005), Pope John Paul II: His Remarkable Journey eschews the “behind-the-scenes” glimpse, concentrating its focus exclusively on the pontiff’s public persona, his superstar-like charisma, the ecstatic crowds, and the uncanny and intimate connection he managed to establish with millions of devoted followers around the world. Pope John Paul II: His Remarkable Journey will be released in the United States in September 2005 in separate English and Spanish editions. It will retail for a price of 32 US dollars. Specs: Format: 14 x 22 cm (5 1/2 x 8 3/4 in.) Pages: 288 Photography: 144 color – 15 duotones Cover: Hardbound For more information please contact Jeffrey Smith in New York at 1-212-695-7750, Dominique Deschavanne in Paris at +33-1-43-14-8100, or mail@contactpressimages.com