This is a timely and courageous study of the power and relevance of the simple yet vital phrase people of God . The church as People of God was one of the most striking images to emerge from Vatican II. It set in motion a dynamic revolution in Catholic self-understanding, opening the church to the role of the laity, the dignity of the poor, and the unfolding of history. Yet many sectors of the church preferred fairly quickly to shelve this term, favouring instead the image of the church as communion. Jose Comblin, one of the great Latin American theologians, believes that the agenda implied in People of God remains vital and necessary for the church today - especially at the dawn of a new pontificate. Progress in the church, according to Comblin, must begin with a recovery and return to the principles of Vatican II.