The collapse of communism in central and eastern Europe - the revolution of 1989 - was a singularly stunning event in a century already known for the unexpected. This work is an exploration of how the Catholic Church might have shaped the moral revolution inside the political revolution.

"An incisive historical reconstruction that is as spiritually uplifting as it is politically significant."--Zbigniew Brzezinski "George Weigel's analysis of the 1989 revolution in Central and Eastern Europe offers evidence that it was the power of nonviolent force and citizens' conscience, not the guns and bombs of warfare, that ended Sovietism."--Washington Post Book World "An extremely interesting, important contribution to the greatest mystery of the century: how Communism collapsed and 'who done it.'"--Jeane Kirkpatrick "Argues the primacy of the spirit."--The Washington Times "If a disconsolate KGB agent were looking for an explanation as to why Communism fell apart so fast, he would probably turn first to the Vatican and to the first Polish Pope. George Weigel has done some very useful sleuthing to help us figure out how something of a miracle was actually pulled off."--E.J. Dionne, Jr. "An incisive historical reconstruction that is as spiritually uplifting as it is politically significant."--Zbigniew Brzezinski "George Weigel's analysis of the 1989 revolution in Central and Eastern Europe offers evidence that it was the power of nonviolent force and citizens' conscience, not the guns and bombs of warfare, that ended Sovietism."--Washington Post Book World "An extremely interesting, important contribution to the greatest mystery of the century: how Communism collapsed and 'who done it.'"--Jeane Kirkpatrick "Argues the primacy of the spirit."--The Washington Times "If a disconsolate KGB agent were looking for an explanation as to why Communism fell apart so fast, he would probably turn first to the Vatican and to the first Polish Pope. George Weigel has done some very useful sleuthing to help us figure out how something of a miracle was actually pulled off."--E.J. Dionne, Jr. "The spiritual dimension had been largely overlooked in accounting for the Revolution of '89. No longer. Weigel's brilliant demonstration of the relationship between faith and revolution gives us a new window on the miracle of '1989.'"--Charles Krauthammer

A noted Catholic thinker offers a unique perspective on the collapse of Communism Asserts that the key to the western Revolution of 1989 was the Catholic Church Documents the role of the Christian churches in making the Revolution civil, nonviolent, and democratic Analyzes the importance of religion to such figures as Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel Considers the ongoing role of the Church in the process of democratic consolidation

George Weigel is President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington D.C. A graduate of St. Mary's Seminary and University of Baltimore and the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto, he is the author of editor of twelve books on religion and public life, and is in frequent demand as a lecturer, columnist, and media commentator on American politics, foreign policy, and Catholic affairs.

A noted Catholic thinker offers a unique perspective on the collapse of Communism Asserts that the key to the western Revolution of 1989 was the Catholic Church Documents the role of the Christian churches in making the Revolution civil, nonviolent, and democratic Analyzes the importance of religion to such figures as Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel Considers the ongoing role of the Church in the process of democratic consolidation