It is now official: Benedict XVI’s third volume on the Infancy Gospels - the
texts written by the evangelists Matthew and Luke describing the events
surrounding Jesus’ birth - will be published by Italian publishing
house, Rizzoli, as was the first volume of the “Jesus of Nazareth” trilogy. Readers may recall that the publishing house had made the Vatican an offer, asking for the right to edit the essay, which is apparently shorter than the previous two in the series.
“The Vatican publishing house and Italian Publisher Rizzoli signed an agreement Friday for the third volume in Pope Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth trilogy.
According to the agreement Rizzoli will manage the worldwide rights to the book,” reads the statement released this morning by the Vatican.
In Italy, the volume which is due to hit bookstores in time for Christmas, is a joint edition by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV) and Rizzoli. The German language edition, published by Herder, long time publisher of Joseph Ratzinger’s works, will also be ready for publication at Christmas.
The aim is for other major language versions to also be published at the same time.
Although the Vatican statement does not mention any figures Vatican Insider can confirm that Rizzoli offered two million Euros to the LEV for the book’s distributions rights.
The first volume, (“Jesus of Nazareth”, 2007), on Jesus’ public life, was also published and sold abroad by Rizzoli. The second volume (“Jesus of Nazareth. From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection”, 2011) about the key events in the Christian faith: the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, was published directly by the LEV. Now a lay publisher has been chosen again. Why? Who decided this? How much did the cost aspect influence the decision?
As with the first and second volumes in the series, in this case too, the decision was taken by Benedict XVI himself after listening to the views of his closest collaborators. What made the pendulum swing towards Rizzoli were the advantages that only a big editor could guarantee, meaning wider distribution and the ability to meet tight publication deadlines.
This is crucial given that the aim is to have the volume on bookshelves by Christmas, just as the second volume in the series came out just in time for Easter.
After a brief round of consultations and having weighed up the pros and cons of the various available options, the Pope decided to go for Rizzoli.