One of the volumes of Jesu of Nazaret by Pope Benedict XVI

The Vatican Publishing House announced that it has made an agreement with the Italian publisher Rizzoli for the third and final volume of Benedict XVI’s book on Jesus. This last portion of the work is expected in Italy by Christmas.

It was announced last month that the Pope had completed Volume 3, on the infancy of Jesus.

Benedict XVI finished the first volume of “Jesus of Nazareth” in late 2006. That volume focuses on Jesus’ public ministry and was quickly an international bestseller.

“Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 2,” on the Passion and Resurrection, was released in time for Lent 2011.

The Vatican Publishing House gives Rizzoli the mandate to sell the rights to Volume 3 throughout the world. In Italy the book will be published as a joint edition of the Vatican Publishing House and Rizzoli.

The original German edition is to be published by Herder, which has previously published the books of Joseph Ratzinger. Work is continuing on translations into other major languages.

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 21, 2012 (Zenit.org)