Benedict XVI Defends Celebacy in New Book

Edit: NPR mad. Thanks to Damian. Some bishops resent defenders of celibacy, because they want to perform a same-sex marriage on themselves.

[NPR] Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who promised to remain silent when he resigned as head of the Roman Catholic Church seven years ago, has stepped back into the ongoing debate over priestly celibacy with a new book defending the traditionalist view.

The surprise move is seen as a rebuke to Pope Francis, who is weighing the possibility of a revolutionary move to relax the strict celibacy requirement for ordination in some South American countries where the shortage of priests is particularly acute.

In the as-yet-unpublished book, whose title translates as From the Depths of Our Hearts, Benedict and his co-author, Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, defend the "necessity" of celibacy in the priesthood. On Sunday, the French newspaper Le Figaro printed excerpts, which were also obtained by The Associated Press.

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/13/795826955/in-new-book-retired-pope-benedict-breaks-silence-to-speak-out-on-priestly-celiba

AMDG

Tendentious Church Journalism

Edit: it's like there's an editorial template for this sort of thing that journalists in the Western world are expected to use when it comes to distort the public's understanding of these power struggles. Never mind that they're like the ritual combats of professional wrestling.


What has recently been read in aggressive commentaries and reports against conservative bishops brings to mind the papal expression "explosive hostility." This is how Pope Benedict XVI. had complained in 2009 complained of media reactions to his statements.

A guest contribution by Hubert Hecker.

At the Spring General Assembly, the majority of German bishops adopted a paper on pastoral care for sectarian marriages. Thereafter, a Protestant spouse should then approaching Holy Communion would be admitted if they affirmed the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist and at the same time disallowing Communion would plunge the spouses into a "serious spiritual emergency".

Campaign for Intercommunion [In this corner, weighting in at 130 kilos!]

Pope Benedict Warns Church is in Collapse

July 15, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Pope Benedict XVI sent a sobering message at the funeral of Cardinal Joachim Meisner today, saying he was moved at the dubia cardinal's ability to "live out of a deep conviction that the Lord does not abandon His Church, even when the boat has taken on so much water as to be on the verge of capsizing."

The Church "stands in particularly pressing need of convincing shepherds who can resist the dictatorship of the spirit of the age and who live and think the faith with determination," Pope Benedict said in a message read by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, his personal secretary and head of the papal household. Because of this "pressing need," Meisner "found it difficult to leave his post." 

"What moved me all the more was that, in this last period of his life, he learned to let go and to live out of a deep conviction that the Lord does not abandon His Church, even when the boat has taken on so much water as to be on the verge of capsizing," the pope emeritus concluded.

AMDG

Pope Francis Visits Pope Benedict With the Neo-Cardinals in the Monastery

(Rome) The Consistory where Pope Franzcis created 17 new Cardinals on Saturday, brought two innovations.

The head of the church renounced the previous practice, which Francis himself had cultivated during the cardinal ceremonies of 2014 and 2015, to spend the two days before, together with the cardinals who came from all over the world.

The deletion of this point was considered an attempt by the pope to avoid "embarrassing" situations. Since it is considered obvious that the pope does not wish to address the ambiguities in the controversial post-synodal Letter Amoris laetitia, this  could embarrass him with the Cardinals. The four signatories of the formal objection against Amoris laetitia are also in the College of Cardinals. But other Cardinals may ask the Pope for information or clarification to the Dubia  (doubts) of the four cardinals Brandmüller, Burke, Caffarra and Meisner.

The second innovation was a visit by Pope Francis with the Neo-Cardinals at Benedict XVI. the monastery Mater Ecclesiae .

The reigning pope led the 17 newly created cardinals to the Vatican Gardens to give his official predecessor a courtesy visit. The same had not happened so far.  At the express request of Benedict XVI, , the former Pope personally took part in 2014 and 2015  in the Cardinal Consistory in St. Peter's.This should signal continuity. The role of Benedict XVI. remained, however, that of an extra for the eyes of those present and the lenses of the photographers and comedians.

Benedict XVI had declined participation, this time for age reasons. For this reason Francis led the new Cardinals to the monastery. 

The corresponding pictures were published by the Vatican. ROMEreports reported on the visit.

Link to Katholisches... AMDG

A Photographic Comparison --- Urbi et Orbi: Easter 2010 and Easter 2015

Photo Comparison of Urbi et Orbi

 (Rome) The Italian journalist Antonio Socci, known for his book "Non è Francesco" (He is not Francis), in which he questions the legality of the papal election, published a comparison of two photographs of the image service of the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano.

They each show identical perspectives from St. Peter's Square at the blessing Urbi et orbi by Pope Benedict XVI at Easter 2010, and by Pope Francis for Easter 2015. These two years were chosen by Socci because the same weather conditions were present. At both Easter Sunday it was raining heavily in Rome.

One can question the usefulness of such a comparison. More should take care not to try to interpret into it too much.The pictures should speak for themselves.

The comparison may recommend  that  the nexus of attraction because of the "openness"  is stage managed in connection with the ruling Argentine Pope, while during the tenure of Pope Benedict XVI., they moderately campaigned representing the Pope as a "minus", indeed an obstacle to the Church, who is supposed to have deterred believers and those interested because "conservative."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Antonio Socci (Facebook)/vatican.va
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Benedict XVI: Interfering in the Divorce Debate "Nonsense"

It was "utter nonsense" that he had wanted to influence the Synod of Bishops in autumn, said the 87-year-old retired Pope. Rather, he was trying "to be as quiet as possible."

Frankfurt (kath.net/KNA) Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. has rejected speculation about interfering in the debate on the admission of remarried divorcees to Communion. It was "utter nonsense" that he had wanted to influence the Synod of Bishops in autumn, said the 87-year-old to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". Rather, he was trying "to be as quiet as possible."

His successor, Francis, was "more of a powerful presence physically and mentally than I with my feeble powers could ever be," said the former head of the Church (2005-2013). Even to the faithful it is clear, "who is the true pope." To avoid misunderstandings, he had wanted the salutation "Father Benedict» for his resignation, but he was too weak to enforce it.

Remarried divorcees should be imposed upon "no more than absolutely necessary" in the Church, they should "really feel the love of Church," he further stressed. The debate was recently triggered by the publication of the fourth volume of the Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger / Benedict XVI. The emeritus pope had revised a more than 40-year-old text.

In 1972 Ratzinger wrote, in view of the indissolublity of marriage between baptized persons from a Catholic perspective, the Church could "clear in emergency situations, to allow limited exceptions to prevent something worse," namely, if the first marriage had been "broken in an irreparable way for both sides" and the second is "proven themselves over a longer period of time as a moral reality." Benedict XVI. withdrew this proposal in the revised version. However, he argued for allowing those affected, participation in Church bodies or the adoption other official roles. (C) 2014 CBA Catholic News Agency. All rights reserved.

Edit: this is the Neoconservative kath.net after all.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Benedict XVI Reworks Essay of 1972 and Positions Himself as "Anti-Pope"

Pope Francis

 "From Saul to Paul?" Asks the Regensburg weekly.The Süddeutsche Zeitung has its pejorative judgment already at hand: " The Anti-Pope ". The reason for the excitement? Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. has given word again from his internal exile. He revised an essay on the sacrament of marriage and the indissolubility of marriage in 1972 and published it again. The revisions are the ones which provide for politico-ecclesiastical  dynamite.

Joseph Ratzinger had published the essay in his time as a professor of theology in Regensburg. Now, it has appeared   in the Collected Works, issued by the Pope-Benedict Institute under the direction of Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg.

1972: The Proximity to the Position of Cardinal Kasper

In 1972 Joseph Ratzinger had written something similar, as Cardinal Walter Kasper has represented at  the Cardinal Consistory and at the Synod of Bishops on the Family. It was about  civil remarriage, which should find some recognition in the Church. There was talk that "the opening of Communion in the community after a period of probation of not less than the time fairly and fully in line with the Church's tradition."   Of course, if  "successful, a second marriage for a long time  proves its moral significance" and had been "lived in the spirit of faith" and if "there are moral obligations towards children and wife" in the new civil marriage.   This was the original Ratzinger essay, as it was cited by  the Süddeutsche Zeitung, whose difference is now noted.

2014: The Distancing of Cardinal Kasper

Now Pope Benedict XVI. no longer shares the view he held in 1972. For this reason he underwent a major rewriting of the essay prior to its publication in the collected writings. The conclusion that Benedict XVI. draws in 2014, is completely different than the theologian Joseph Ratzinger in 1972 drew. Not to recognize  the second marriage and grant admission to Communion, but to check the condition of  nullity on the marriage and streamline the process.  This is a position he had already proposed as Pope during his reign.

The revised version is binding and thus Benedict XVI. has distanced himself to Cardinal Kasper and the attempts undertaken in this year  within the Church to enforce the recognition of  a second marriage and the Communion for remarried divorcees. Instead  Benedict XVI. strengthens the position of those cardinals who are  attempting to confront this,   Cardinal Prefect Gerhard Müller, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, Cardinal George Pell and others.

Benedict XVI. take sides as "Counter-Pope" of Pope Francis

The date of revision can hardly be considered random. Thus, the retired head of the Church took an active part in the ongoing discussion and clearly sided with one party. According to Church tradition that would negate the demand. However, the facts speak for themselves. Also, that the "against" of Benedict XVI., which  the Süddeutsche Zeitung attributed him as "The Contrast-Pope"  with their word game, is actually directed against  Pope Francis and Benedict XVI. in the latest and most heated inner-Church debate, is positioned  as "anti-pope".

So it would never be said  in the Vatican. The battle takes place at a distance and without naming the counterparts. However, the picture is clear, Benedict XVI. defends the teaching of the Catholic Church. His position is not directed against anyone, but takes the side of the deposit of faith, which he sees clearly at risk. In other words: He takes position against all who oppose the Church's teaching  whether it be Cardinal Walter Kasper and be it even Pope Francis.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: InfoVaticana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

When Benedict XVI Breaks His Silence and Corrects His Successor

Pope Benedict XVI in Great Britain 2010

(Rome)   Since the end of February 2013  Benedict XVI who is in the unprecedented situation of an emeritus pope, has engaged more and more often in recent times in taking up his feather to send public messages. These messages appear as corrections to mistakes, without mentioning the originator by name. The corrections relate to the dialogue with atheists, criticism of Cardinal Kasper and praise for his opponent Cardinal Burke, publicly expressed joy over the traditional rite over which Pope Francis has kept silent till now, in clear criticism of his successor. Benedict XVI. sent four messages   in the month of October alone. A brief synopsis.

Greetings to the Proscribed "Ecumenism of Return"

The most recent example is a greeting message on the fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, with the establishment of Personal Ordinariates for former Anglicans who have returned in full unity to the Catholic Church. Benedict XVI.'s message came to the Ordinary of the oldest of these Personal Ordinariates, that for England and Wales Our Lady of Walsingham. With this the emeritus pope sent four messages in the month of October alone.

Benedict XVI. has broken his silence more frequently of late.  For example, to say that in the Church that each renunciation of the truth is "fatal" for the promulgation of the Christian faith. Strong, clear words in a rich dialectical angle  appropriate to these times that more or less engage in nice talk and allow everything. The emeritus pope is especially saying that the program so proclaimed by his successor Pope Francis in Gaudium Evangelii, namely, that it does not convey the joy of the Gospel. 

Francis' Praise for Benedict: "Discrete" - But  his predecessor is not so silent 

"He is discreet, modest, does not want to interfere," said Pope Francis recently about his predecessor, Benedict XVI. The occasion was the blessing of a bust, which has been dedicated to the German Pope. "I can feel it, as if I had a grandfather in the house, because of his wisdom. It does me good to hear him. And he encourages me very much," said the reigning Pope with perhaps a not wholly accurate comparison, especially since Francis will be 78 years old in a few weeks  and so belongs to the same "grandfather generation" as Benedict XVI..

Occasionally, this much is known,   Benedict XVI.  is in the role of a  "cloistered monk" as he himself says, advises, comments and contacts the reigning Pope with his view of things. Not much is known about it,  but it is all done with the utmost discretion. But it was announced that Benedict XVI. sent his Argentine successor a four-page commentary on the controversial interview in the Jesuit journal La Civiltà Cattolica  which appeared on 19 September 2013.

The content of the comment is not known. However, one can imagine the polite and respectful tone of the dense criticism. The words can not have been missed   for  lack of clarity. What is between the two popes, brings us ever to absurdity, are exchanged subject to a strict confidentiality.

Francis - Benedict: Different "Dialogue" with Atheists

Sometimes Benedict XVI breaks. his monastic seclusion and is visible. From his message to the Coetus Internationalis Summorum Pontificum on the occasion of the Third International pilgrimage to Rome of Tradition, he explains that he does so  only at the request and invitation of the reigning Pope. The most recent example was his participation on 19 October at the beatification of Pope Paul VI. There has been no word  if  Benedict was moved by these performances.

He breaks silence  but occasionally in written form, has his say and does so with the clarity of language and thought that is usual for him. It never involves mere polite words or meaningless collections of words, as the written messages of some ecclesiastical dignitaries seem to be.

The first of these public written statements of Benedict took place last fall coinciding with the "dialogue" of Pope Francis with the atheists Eugenio Scalfari, Benedict XVI replied to another atheist, Piergiorgio Odifreddi (see . Benedict XVI Responds to Atheists Piergiorgio Odifreddi: "Your Religion Mathematics Remains Empty" ). While Francis' interview with Scalfari is controversial in form and content, and as it later turned out,  Scalfari had formulated their responses with the pope's approval,  Benedict significantly answered atheism. Scalfari could triumphantly concur at the end of the conversation that because the Church supposedly renounced Her mission to convert others to Christ and lifted the subjective conscience to the highest standard, while Benedict XVI. showed his "interlocutor"  Odifreddi that the "religion of mathematics remains empty" and defended the Catholic Church and the priesthood against the "sport" of the irreligious, who furthermore, try to put the clerical state generally under the shadow of child abuse and homosexuality.

Note to Overcome the Crisis in the Church Ignored Magisterium

 Benedict XVI. also broke his silence last March in connection with a book about Pope John Paul II. The former Prefect of the CDF  prefect  particularly emphasized the encyclical Veritatis Splendor from the year 1993 on moral issues and the declaration Dominus Iesus in 2000 "on the unicity and universality of redemption by Jesus Christ and the Church"  and recommended not only their thorough study, but to learn the content. Benedict XVI. then named   key documents of the recent Papal Magisterium, pointing to the two most ignored and disregarded **documents** within the Church. Benedict's note thereby designates a barometer for the state of the Church and provides instruments, that can provide the remedy.

So Benedict is not confined to prayer  and sacrifice. He responds not only to atheists, but also offered advice to the Church. 

In October,  the same four messages followed, three short but dense  messages and a longer message.

Message to Strengthen Tradition: Traditional Rite not "Fashion"

The first bears the date of October 10 and was sent to the above mentioned Coetus Internationalis Summorum Pontificum, which organized the pilgrimage of tradition to Rome founded in 2012, with the aim to show the solidarity of traditional Catholics with the Pope and celebrate the traditional Rite in St. Peter's Basilica at the  most visible church in Christendom at the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, Peter and the tombs of the popes. High-ranking cardinals participated. This year  Cardinal Raymond Burke participated who has become, in the course of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, a spokesman for the defense of the marriage sacrament and the Catholic teaching on marriage. In addition, Cardinal Burke Cardinals George Pell [Who was ill] and Walter Brandmüller were present, who are also among the cardinals who publicly opposed the "New Mercy" of Cardinal Walter Kasper obviously supported by Pope Francis.

Pope Benedict XVI. stressed the importance of the traditional rite in his message. A more meaningful gesture so, especially since Pope Francis has so far not publicly expressed anything contradictory or unofficially, but in the majority, however, has sent negative signals. Quite different from his predecessor: "I am very happy that the usus antiquus now lives in full peace in the Church, even among the young, with support and the celebration by great cardinals."  A single sentence with a huge message. Benedict XVI.'s observers  especially noticed the choice of words. The emeritus pope has   no longer speaks using his Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum definition  where the Old Rite is called the  "extraordinary form" of the Roman Rite, but speaks of "usus antiquus". He so used that definition, not as it is represented tradition and enhanced the traditional rite so well with Motu proprio, rather, he actually raised it to its rightful position. Benedict XVI. is too wise a man not to weigh the importance of words exactly.

This includes the statement that he is "happy" about the fact that the youth are finding the traditional Rite. A clear response to his successor, without mentioning this of course, who commented at the ad limina visit of the Czech Bishops in February, not being able to understand how young people love and appreciate the old Rite could and  in this context of spoke of mere "fashion", therefore,  which should not "do not pay so much attention." During his stay in Brazil for World Youth Day, the Pope referred to traditional  Catholics as Pelagian ideologues. What the Church leader said exactly, remains unclear. The two statements, taken together, seem to have recognized a "ideological" reservation against the traditional Rite by the Pope. 

Praise for Cardinal Burke and the Opponents of Cardinal Kasper

Another important statement can be found in Benedict's short message, that when he was "happy" estimates that the "usus antiquus" is supported and celebrated by "great cardinals". Words that can be construed as a fairly unambiguous partisanship against Cardinal Kasper and the "opening arguments". Above all, it is an expression of the highest appreciation for Cardinal Burke, one of those church leaders, whom Pope Francis will not only deny any role in the Roman Curia, but also the leadership of a diocese.

While Pope Francis would dearly love to shoot the American Cardinal  to the moon,  but is not too sloppily inaccurate that at least he would like to  banish him to a lonely monastery on a remote island,  Benedict XVI.  honored him as a "great" cardinal (see Malta exiles? Final Papal Purge of Cardinal Burke? ).

"Any Waivering from the Truth is Fatal" for the Mission, Faith and Church

The second message was sent by Benedict XVI. at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, which named the ballroom after the emeritus pope. The ceremony for the naming took place on 21 October, but Benedict XVI. did not take part in it. He gave the reason in the greeting message of 19 October. In his place,  he sent Curia Archbishop Georg Gänswein, his personal secretary to offer  greetings.

Amazingly, the University did not publish the message on its website. Neither did the Osservatore Romano , which only made a brief note of the event. Thus it was held under lock and the text was finally made ​​public only on 23 October, with the approval of Benedict and thanks to the Vaticanist Armin Schwibach.

The Pontifical University, the University Mission of the Catholic Church par excellence, since it is under the Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which is also known as Propaganda Fide.

Here Benedict XVI expressed the central message, that any waiver from the truth of the Christian mission, faith and  Church is "fatal". The German Pope spoke of the doubt, which threatens the principle of the mission ad gentes  today. The emeritus pope contradicts the convenient thesis,  that one could replace  mission through a "dialogue of equals" between religions and this convenience to abandon mission and conversion, justified by the "common commitment to peace". To put it crudely: Most important is that the people do not beat their heads against the wall, everything else is secondary.

With such an attitude, however, the Church would move away from what the first Christians did, is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Benedict XVI. disagreed especially with the equality of religions,  which are just different expressions for something, that God had, ultimately for people ,is not really detectable in any case and that the religions simply represent just attempts of detecting and thus are only variations of the same reality. "This renunciation of the truth seems realistic and useful for the peace among the religions of the world. And yet it is fatal to the faith.  Because the faith loses its binding character and its seriousness, if everything is reduced to ultimately interchangeable icons that are able only to point distantly to a point of  access for the inaccessible mystery of godliness. "

Once again Dominus Iesus and again Cardinal Walter Kasper

Also in this opinion swings unspoken declaration of Dominus Iesus which provoked fierce criticism outside but also within the Church in the Holy Year 2000, because it stood in the way of  the attitude of capitulation, as it was called by the late legal philosopher Mario Palmaro, in parts of the Church and it was perceived by these accordingly as annoying and cumbersome, who want to embrace all religions and ideologies, because they want to throw away their own job and no longer believe in the final analysis of their own faith. This form of the apostasy in the Church is not a new phenomenon, but occurs today more than ever, without being previously addressed within the Church.

Among the fiercest critics of Dominus Iesus  were included Cardinal Edward Cassidy, then chairman of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and his successor in that office, Cardinal Walter Kasper, who again is unastonishingly part of the circle again.  Even more amazing and worrying is that Cardinal Kasper under Pope Francis became the papal house theologian, relied on by the reigning Pope and aligns himself to his theology that he ebulliently praised as "theology on his knees"  last February 21 in the cardinal consistory ,

Clear Order of Mission Against "Waivering From Mission"

Above all, Benedict XVI replied. in concise and clear language to the confusing designs of Pope Francis with a no to proselytism and a mission without conversion (see No to conversions, Yes to Mission - the Pope Contradicts Himself? as If "dialogue process" is confused with "missionary going out" ) , Statements, which he made, inter alia, in the dubious first interview of atheist Scalfari. As mentioned, the answers come from  Scalfari's pen, but he sent them to the Pope before going to press and received the imprimatur from  his secretary. Answers that were never denied by the Holy See, and can hardly be doubted in their authenticity of content, especially since the Pope has repeated them in other contexts.

In the end, Benedict XVI. makes the title of the Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis, Gospel gaudium, his own, albeit in a somewhat modified form of content. Whoever has received the "joy" of faith, could not do otherwise, as they pass through life. The Emeritus grasped this "going out", which is so important to the reigning pope,  in its slightly different context, namely that it is without  an actual or apparent renunciation of the truth, which could be "fatal  ".

Benedict affirms "Non-Negotiable Values" Against Incomprehension of His Successor

The third message even bears the date of August 4, but was released on 23 October. It is a letter Benedict sent to the the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger -Benedikt XVI. ,attending a meeting organized by them in Medellin in Colombia, called "Respect for Life, a Way for Peace".

In this letter, Benedict XVI underlined the "unconditional respect of the created in the image of God and thus equipped with an absolute dignity of human life". For this reason, said Benedict, "the theme of peace and the issue of respect for a human life of faith in God the Creator are bound to be the true guarantee of our dignity."

Benedict XVI.  affirmed without any ifs and buts, a renewed commitment to the non-negotiable values, which his successor Francis has "never understood" in his own words and about which he has remained silent for long months of his pontificate and does it in the public at large effectively to this very day (see A Non-Negotiable Pope - Francis Smashed Another Key Element of Benedict XVI. ).

Personal Ordinariate Serves an Important Task

The fourth message, also dated 10 October, but only now published, was written by  Benedict XVI. in German. Seat of the ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is the "Bavarian chapel" in London, which then reminds us of the former Duchy's  diplomatic representation of the Kingdom of Bavaria in England. A symbolic connection between the Ordinariate and the Bavarian Pope.

Benedict XVI. writes that the Personal Ordinariates serve an "important job in the whole of the Church of God".

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: AsiaNews

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Benedict XVI. Penned a Critique of Francis Interview

(Rome) Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI wrote an extensive critical commentary on the controversial interview of Pope Francis in the Jesuit magazine Civiltà Cattolic a 19 September 2013.

This was disclosed by his personal secretary and Prefect of the Papal Household, Archbishop George Gänswein  in the context of a broadcast on ZDF on the first anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. Four pages include the critical remarks to that controversial interview. Pope Francis explained himself at the time to the criticism that he is not taking a position on abortion and "gay marriage": "We can not always deal with the issue of abortion, homosexual marriage, and birth control methods. That can not be."  Among the enthusiastic omissions   regarding atheist Eugenio Scalfari about personal conscience as the autonomy of conscience, he stated affirmatively: "Listening to the conscience and  obeying it actually means to choose a thing known in the face of good or evil. And from this decision it depends on whether our actions are good or evil."

When Francis. gave to Benedict XVI the copy of the Jesuit magazine, the interview was already published.  Benedict underwent  a critical  analysis of the interview to a critical and transmitted to his successor the desired criticism "Pope to Pope," a total of four pages with "interesting" comments. What criticism Benedict XVI. directed to the interview, isn't  known to Archbishop Gänswein "naturally".

Archbishop George Gänswein told ZDF television interview:

"When Father Spadaro had then given the first copy of the interview booklet to  Pope Francis, Pope Francis had then given it back and said that you should now bring this to Pope Benedict, and you will see the first page after the table of contents is empty because Pope Benedict should write in anything he has in criticism when he reads it, and then pass on to me or back to me, which I then returned, sorry, I then brought it to Pope Benedict, so now I had only to repeat what Pope Francis had said, so you see Holy Father, here is a blank page, and here is a space for all   considerations, suggestions and  criticisms  and then I will return the packet back to Pope Francis. Three days later he says to me, here I have 4 pages, of course not by hand, but now dictated to sister in a letter and please give this letter to Pope Francis. He has done his homework. So then he says he has read it and has accommodated his  successor's request and had confirmed in fact, yes we say so, some considerations and also made some comments on certain statements or on specific issues, which he means  that,    perhaps what he would have said something elsewhere in addition.  Of course I will not say what, but it was interesting."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: UCCR

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmai.com

Link to Katholisches....

AMGD

"Pastoral Care Must be Based in Reality" -- Benedict's Answer to the Speech of Cardinal Kasper

(Vatican) Cardinal Walter Kasper received the exclusive right to address the Consistory on February 20-21  to explain his "new ways" in the pastoral care of the divorced and remarried. The publication of Kaasper's "secret speech"   seems to have been intended from the outset, as already demonstrated by  the notice given by Herder Publishing House. Thus, it is determined as the only "official" opinion in the discussion.

But already in 1998 Benedict XVI.,  had then still given as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Prefect of the Congregation, a response to Kasper's speech.

On 29-30. November 2011  the "Osservatore Romano" published n various translations a little-known text by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger , then Prefect of the Congregation of Faith "to some objections to the Church's teaching on the reception of Communion by divorced and remarried believers."  The text written by the future Pope Benedict XVI. was an introduction to the book "Pastoral Sulla dei divorziati Risposati" (On the Pastoral Care of Divorced and Remarried), which is published as Volume 17 of the series "Documenti e Studi" by the Congregation in the Vatican publishing house.

The translation into different languages ​​(German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian versions of the first edition), their footprint in "L'Osservatore Romano" and the publication on the website of the daily newspaper of the Vatican was was made by request of Benedict XVI. to face attempts within Church  to overturn Catholic doctrine and practice in this area, to explain and reaffirm the Catholic position.

Due to the resignation of Benedict XVI. these inner-Church forces have burst forth stronger than ever, which is why the text is now of even greater relevance.

The publication of 2011 had resulted in   the addition of three footnotes. 

Concerning some objections to the Church's teaching on the reception of Holy Communion by divorced and remarried members of the faithful In 1998 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, introduced the volume: "On the Pastoral Care of the Divorced and Remarried", published by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana in the dicastery's series "Documenti e Studi", 17. Because of its interest in our day and its breadth of perspective, we reproduce the third part along with three additional notes. This text is also available on the newspaper's website (www.osservatoreromano.va) in English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.

The Destruction of a Papacy? -- Gänswein: Benedict XVI. Watches "Kommissar Rex"

(Rome) A year ago today the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI by came into force by eight o'clock in the evening. The Catholic Church reflects gratefully on his pontificate. An open wound, however, is still his spectacular resignation, which is without precedent in the history of the Church in this particular context. Benedict XVI. was then expected to become "invisible" to   the World   and to lead a life of prayer. Literally, he said on 14 February in his last great speech, that he "will remain hidden to the world." Thus, however, it will not work so well. For Pope Francis, Catholic journalists and not least Curia Archbishop Georg Gänswein it is a concern. If so, it is humanly understandable. But who really wants to know that Pope Benedict XVI.  is starting to look like  "Kommissar Rex"? The dismantling of a pontificate has many faces.

Vatican Countermeasures to Ongoing Speculation

It is his successor Pope Francis, who always brings him back into the public eye and his closest collaborators who talk too much about him. All to provide continuity and unity between the two popes. This in turn depends obviously on incessant speculation surrounding the resignation and the unusual situation of two popes, a ruling one and an emeritus together. Above all, it is the leadership style of Pope Francis which is responsible for  continuing, which  irritates faithful Catholics.

In the Catholic Church one tries to counteract the discussions, in striking contradiction to the desire of Benedict XVI. to live "hidden",  by presently dragging him into the public eye. There are Church leaders and Catholic journalists and media who put him there. The most recent example is the daily Avvenire of the Italian Bishops' Conference.

The Public Spread Day in the "Hidden" Pope

They did an interview with Curial Archbishop George  Gänswein and reported in much adieu that the Pope now enjoys watching watching films from "Don Camillo" to the TV dog detective show "Kommissar Rex". Even so, it looks like trivialization. The prefect of the Apostolic House of Pope Francis and personal secretary of Benedict XVI. told the Avvenire about the"everyday" of the Emeritus Pope. It consists of "prayer, books, music and one evening one or the other the film of Don Camillo or episodes of the TV series Don Matteo or Kommissar Rex". The day will begin with Holy Mass, the breviary and breakfast. The circadian rhythm was "quite human, not a Prussian barracks". The rest of the day consisted of pray, read, receipt of occasional visits and answering the numerous letters he  has received. The only distraction was a walk in the Vatican Gardens, in which he prays the rosary. The Pope live in the midst of his beloved books of theology. But he also read history books and biographies of great personalities. He also reads German and Italian newspapers, watches the evening news on the TV and he personally tries to reply to letters. "You can not imagine how many would like to visit and see him. I submit to him in any case, all requests. He then decides. The waiting list is now very long."

Pope Benedict I listen to music "mainly classical music, especially Mozart, but also Bruckner, Liszt, Bach, Schubert, Beethoven, Brahms. But even religious music: Gregorian and polyphonic. Should not miss the shots of the cathedral choir of his brother George. "Occasionally he also play the piano itself, especially the" beloved Mozart ".

Gänswein: Relationship to Successor is "Excellent"

Benedict is attentively following says  Gänswein,  international developments and those of the Church. Of course, what his successor Francis is doing, but he is interfering in any way. "The appointments he reads, if they are published in L'Osservatore Romano." His relationship with his successor has been "excellent". The two popes talk to each other in various ways: they call, write, they meet, they eat together.  Pope Francis has already come to a lunch at the monastery many times. Once, after Christmas, Pope Benedict was also a guest in Santa Marta.

To maintain a contrast between the two Popes, "is a favorite game of some journalists. I resent that. I have the grace with which to live and work with both of them. So I can be allowed to say, to know both fairly well. I do not see them competing but complementary. It is clear that the style, the gestures and the way of the government of Pope Francis is quite different than that of Pope Benedict. But you can not just build on an opposition. To do things differently, does not mean to it becomes inconsistent. One must always keep present what the Pope Emeritus wrote to Professor Hans Küng  and which Andrea Tornielli repeated, as he wrote of 'conformity of viewpoints and the heart of friendship' regarding Pope Francis." 

This explicit naming and interpretation of two controversial documents of the past few weeks, that  were given to Tornielli was all announced  as recently as last Monday that was  amazing after all. The question is: Cui bono? It reinforces the impression that behind the recent events: the presence of Benedict XVI. the extraordinary consistory, the alleged Tornielli letter and now the Gänswein interview, there is a common language. The resignation of a pope, the life of a retired, "retired" Pope as normality? All very "human".

Various "Sensitivity for Liturgy" an "Objective Fact"

Some undeniable differences between the two should not be read maliciously. So they are different, for example, the sensitivity to liturgy: "This is an objective fact and it is not offensive to say so. But even in this case, I repeat, it doesn't mean it's  contradictory. "True to his announcement, Pope Benedict was not included to   mix in the decisions of Pope Francis:" He takes note of what is written, what is said, what is decided. Passively ad extra and ad intra in an active way. He hears and reads what you could hear on the Consistory or the questionnaire that was sent out by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. But he doesn't call anyone "up" to give advice or tips. He has retired. He no longer takes part in the government of the Church. That was not said once and then forgotten. It applies and will apply in the future. "

That Benedict XVI. also announced he would remain "hidden from the world", doesn't only seem to have been forgotten by Curia Archbishop Gänswein.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: Tempi

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches....

See also Rorate...
AMGD

Archbishop Gänswein Denies Making Statements to "Die Zeit"

Curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein has denied the alleged quotes by "Die Zeit". 

By Petra Lorleberg

Vatican (kath.net / pl) "That is nonsense, if I were against the Pope, he would not have confirmed me [in my office]." With this devastating judgment, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Prefect of the Papal Household, commented on a report in "Die Zeit" about his alleged difficulties with Pope Francis. "I had not read the article. This morning I received some mail that criticized me. I do not know what I said. I spoke a few months ago with a journalist, but it was not an interview." The Archbishop stated this during the presentation of a Bible-app in the headquarters of Vatican Radio, as the Italian newspaper "La Stampa" already reported.

The German weekly newspaper "Die Zeit" had previously tried an in an article with alleged Gänswein quotations, to create a conflict in Gänswein's conscience between the current Pope Francis and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Gänswein, both private secretary of the Pope Emeritus is also at the same time, the Prefect of the Papal Household in close collaboration with the current Pope, who had sentences placed sentences in his mouth like: "I must be as honest with myself, which is a pain, to live up to the new role." He had the impression that he was supposed to be "living in two worlds," unsure of what he expected from Pope Francis' "every day anew, what will be different today". For example, he is already supposed to have felt "insulted" by the Pope's refusal to take up residence in the papal living quarters in the Apostolic Palace. In general, the resignation was like a "amputation" for him. A Quote from the "Die Zeit": "Nevertheless, he also reveals himself as faithful to Benedict. 'There is only one Pope '"

These alleged statements Gänswein is supposed to have been made ​​were in respect to the "Die Zeit", but they stay on the safe side as to when, how and to whom.

These alleged Gänswein-statements have now been hastily spread by various national media in Germany. Internationally they were little addressed. That these phrases in no way fit to other explicit Gänswein statements, was not discussed. Neither has the denial of Archbishop Gänswein - which after all, has already taken place at 5:12am, and has been distributed by an Italian news agency - which is used by the media in Germany.

Involuntarily one wonders: What interests are behind such false reports? If you want to actually play to those German Catholics who appreciated Benedict and appreciate, by hook or by crook and are using unacknowledged quotations against the current pope? Cui bono?

And the next question arises: would, even if it's wrong, it's correct - i.e. that Benedict-inclined Catholics have a hard time with Francis, even then we could ask: Yes? And?

For in the Catholic Church is not required that one must put on hold representing the normal interpersonal processes of sympathy or personal struggle, of approval or constructive criticism entirely, not even against popes. The Catholic Church has never been a monolithic block. Contrary to many predictions, it remains that there is a place in the Catholic Church for many voices. If they present their criticism in a moderate, constructive, well-meaning way. However, this condition is more happily felt than clearly fulfilled!

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Link to kath.net...

Romano Guadini, the Teacher, Bergolio (Sadly) Never Had

(Rome) in the official biography of Pope Francis, which the Vatican published after his election to the website of the Holy See, there is an inaccuracy which we have already pointed out months ago. Now, the Vatican expert Sandro Magister came back to it because the statement has not been corrected. It is: "In March 1986, he goes [Jorge Mario Bergoglio] to Germany to complete his dissertation."

The statement was interesting because the new Pope's stay in Germany is of particular interest. Many media outlets in the German speaking, therefore, broadcast the message widely in the first weeks after the election. The completion of a thesis at a German University had a familiarity with German culture, to suggest knowledge of local conditions and an especially a good knowledge of German. At least for 1986, this could be accepted. The self-amputation of German as a language of science is now so far advanced that this may not necessarily be assumed for the year 2013. It is now well known that Pope Francis speaks "only" Spanish and Italian.

The reason why Magister has returned to the inaccuracy, is a publication of the Osservatore Romano of the 19th of October, in which the information was still adjusted incorrectly. In reference to the publication of a book of the writings of Romano Guardini on Saint Bonaventure, a portion of the book presentation by Professor Silvano Zucal, Chair of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Trent was printed, which previously had appeared in the Catholic newspaper Avvenire.

"That really unprecedented fate of Romano Guardini is to have been a kind of 'master' to three popes. Paul VI. personally sponsored the first translations starting with the little book The Good, The Conscience of the Whole, which he recommended to his pupils of the Catholic University Youth Society. Benedict XVI. understood himself even as a kind of spiritual and intellectual disciple of the great thinker. And Pope Francis, finally, spent almost two years in Germany to read Guardini and study ... ".

In reality, as the Philosophical-Theological College St. George of the Jesuit Order in Frankfurt explained after the election of Pope Francis, Bergoglio came in 1986 for a short time actually to St. Georgen, "in order to discuss with some professors the project for a dissertation," which did not come to pass.

"It was not, nearly two years, 'but a few months'. And especially not a doctorate, not even close to the end, because the thesis was in the planning stages," said Magister.

He continued: "That Guardini could be regarded as a 'master' of Pope Bergoglio is a thesis that sounds very novel."

In the Civiltà Cattolica interview of Pope Francis, in which he devotes extensive space to his favorite authors, the name Guardini does not occur. Neither did he mention him in his other writings and speeches.

"Above all, there is a large distance between the point of view of Bergoglios and that of the great German-Italian theologian, both in the liturgy (On the other hand, where there is very strong influence on Joseph Ratzinger), and in the critique of modern society and the conception of personal conscience (which is the book Giovanni Battista Montini had translated, has nothing to do with the superficial definition of conscience in the letter of the Pope on St. Francis and then talking with Eugenio Scalfari). The work, which the Pope read and admired by Guardini, was The Lord . In that he thought to deepen his thinking, at which he then did not succeed," said Magister.

Text: Settimo Cielo / Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Settimo Cielo
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

Guillaume Ferluc: "It is Not Possible to Exile the Old Mass Back to the Closet Any More"

Edit: Guillaume Ferluc is an organizer with the Traditional Pilgrimage to Rome. Here's an interview which has appeared in German, but nowhere else on line in English.  Rather than scan the Remnant, we just translated this:

(Rome) After the surprising success of the First International Pilgrimage if Tradition to Rome last year, is the Second International Pilgrimage, from the 24th-27th Held in Rome in October 2013, already in the intensive preparation phase. The American journal The Remnant published an interview with Guillaume Ferluc, the Secretary of the Coetus Internationalis Summorum Pontificum (CISP), Who Organizes Pilgrimages.

How Far Has the Organization Progressed?

We have just completed the writing of the final program with the announcement of the celebrant of the Pontifical Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday, the 26th of October at 11 clock:

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, which day coincides exactly on the of the 61st Anniversary of his ordination. The presence of Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos on this day is a great pleasure and an honor for us, for all the people of Summorum Pontificum. As President of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, the Cardinal had no shortage of pity for the rights of believers and priests who are connected to the traditional Liturgy, and adhered with great enthusiasm and loyalty to the publication of the Motu Proprio of Pope Benedict XVI. As the first point to note is the general dynamics of the pilgrimage that this year a great calm reigns over all the pilgrims, the religious and the individual institutions of Coetus. Last year there had been some the impression that we would speak out of nowhere to represent a new reality, they were a little surprised, even though they belong to the same traditional family. The surprise was perhaps also the fact that we ourselves were unable to to convey our initiative sufficiently. Also, they had little time to prepare for the pilgrimage. This year there is a greater openness on the part of all who deem it an important witness to our Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Faith. Roman in the sense, to express to him "ad Petri sedem, cum Petro et sub Petro". Of course there is also resistance, especially by those Church leaders who, because of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation from office would like to take advantage of in order to put the Mass of St. Pius V back in the closet.

Besides Bishop Athanasius Schneider will also Msgr Rifan, the Ordinary of the Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney of Campos in Brazil as celebrant: Why him exactly?

We see in Msgr Rifan a reality that we want to have more in the Church today, that is a bishop who has the mission to celebrate the traditional Liturgy of the Church, to teach and to preserve, but also the ability and the duty to ordain priests in and for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. In order to advance our religious practice to our parishes to visit the Mass in the traditional rite, we need priests and therefore seminaries that train them in a logical sequence and also bishops, who can ordain. As Monsignor Rifan is currently the only bishop whose pastoral use is exactly that, it seemed natural to have him with us. In addition, we received excellent testimonials from the recent World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, where Msgr Rifan held the catechesis for the traditional youth from Juventutem, a group that supports their apostolate to the traditional liturgy. The Church was packed, the Pontifical Liturgy was very worthy and they appreciated the sermons. Who would have dared to think not so long ago that hundreds of young Catholics in Brazil would participate for three days of preaching and witness the Masses, and could confess to priests who are connected to the tradition of the Church? And all with the official imprimatur of the Apostolic, Roman Church? Sure, someone could argue that it was only one of 300 bishops, but there already is an important goal that has been reached. Also the place was very impressive. The place allocated for Catechesis was the old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, a place full of history and faith of past generations and therefore of special symbolic significance. World Youth Day shows in a special way how much the traditional Liturgy attracts the youth. Therefore, we can not stay in our little fort, but must go to meet all who seek a greater solemnity and greater holiness in their lives of faith.

A Recent Report stated that a Mass in the Extraordinary Form is to take place even in the Helsinki Cathedral regularly.



Further proof of growth in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and that the new priests who celebrate their first Mass in the Extraordinary Form [Immemorial Mass of All Ages], increasing from year to year. And not just those connected to Ecclesia Dei Institutes, but also among those being educated in the diocesan priests seminaries. It's a way for many priests to express their affiliation to what we do, what we call Generation Benedict XVI., just as you spoke of the John Paul II generation. This generation of Pope Benedict could also be called the generation of Summorum Pontificum. Starting next year, the majority of the newly ordained priests will belong to those who entered the seminaries after the publication of Summorum Pontificum. And here we are, as I believe, going to experience further growth of the traditional Liturgy. Of course, we hope that these priests will also make use of their rights and celebrate the Traditional Rite in their future parishes. It is also to mention the beautiful practice that many priests consecrated to the Ecclesia Dei Institutes celebrate their first Mass in their home parish and home diocese. I am thinking of Father Massimo Botta of the Fraternity of St. Peter, his first Mass on June 23rd, 2013 was celebrated in the Cathedral of Velletri and therefore the Old Mass was permitted to return, where had no longer been celebrated for 40 years.

What would be in your opinion, the challenges related in the traditional world of the new pontificate? We are convinced that the history of the Church didn't just end in 1962, just as It did not end with the pontificate of Pope Benedict [...] In the traditional liturgy is the partecipatio actuosa in which the faithful engage in a humble participation, from silence, worship, kneeling, petitioning and thanksgiving. Many conversations are not unlike that of a man in difficulty asking for help, a man who suffers. And we think the fact that among the many great holy priests, there were many simple priests and religious, from the Holy Curé of Ars, at Don Orione or Padre Pio. [...] it was always related to a liturgy in which all belonged, from the farmer to housewife, people who had certainly not studied Latin at the Sorbonne, or at any other school of high culture, but felt nevertheless as an integrated part of the Liturgy, because this cult was offered to God.

There is another challenge to take: to refute those who think erroneously, Pope Benedict had resurrected a dead man, and do not want to be carried out for us in the peripheries of the Church, but even outside the Church. For almost 50 years those faithful, religious and priests who are connected to tradition have been ridiculed, despised and ostracized. On the 7th of July in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI. brought this situation to an end, which had oppressed many souls, by sewing together the torn dress the church. It is up to us, to reject every attempt to put a new tear in the unity of the Church, and to be real members of the flock. We are well aware we are not to be the whole herd and we are happy to accept being just one among a hundred sheep, [sic] but we believe that we deserve no less attention and care from our pastors than the others. Some fear our "ideology", but I can reassure them. We have no "ideology" but the love for Jesus in the Eucharist, the Cross and the Resurrection.

Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: CISP
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...
AMGD

Papal Dyarchy in Discourse With Atheists? Kulturkamp of Benedict XVI.,

(Rome) The daily Il Foglio addressed recently the unexpected letter from Benedict XVI. to the atheist Piergiorgio Odifreddi. A letter brings the retired Pope back from his self-imposed retreat in the current confrontation between an aggressive atheism and Christianity. One can't speak of "Retirement" of a Pope anyway. The commentary with which Benedict XVI. replied, was addressed to the militant Church opponent Odifreddi, differing from that of the reigning Pope. The question is how the unusual situation of two living popes who act in the same discourse is to be classified. Is it a supplement or an abnormal dyarchy? The historian Roberto de Mattei had doubts (see separate report), whether it would be good, so to speak, for two popes to act simultaneously, even though one is reigning, and the other an emeritus pope. Il Foglio said in the letter to Odifreddi that the actual reason for the resignation by Benedict XVI. visible. But then things had gone differently in the conclave, as originally designed by the German Pope. A contribution to the discussion.

The letter, in which Benedict XVI. Lambastes Odifreddi, Poses the Real Reason for his Resignation

"Very few people in the world, Eugenio Scalfari is one of them, can understand the surprise and emotion that one feels to receive unexpected letter from the Pope at home." It could also just take note that within two weeks, the Pope emeritus had also written an atheist at La Repubblica in secret and watched the effect it would have. One could joke about Emeritus miracle, given the feelings with which Piergiorgio Odifreddi has received the postman. One may note, that miraculous contained in the (current) media triumph of the papacy, but maybe just something artificial. One could also determine that something is overdrawn in the way La Repubblica thrilled at the papal letters, but they were judiciously published and can comment more or less intelligently.

If you read Pope Ratzinger's intelligent lashes against Odifreddi, however, after Francis had lovingly massaged Scalfari's conscience, one might also suspect the two play the game from the good and the evil Pope, one caressing, the other skinning. But it is not.

One may note that the Pax Journalistika between La Repubblica (and virtually all mass media in the world) and the Vatican began the moment when the ruling bishop of Rome decided and signaled that he is withdrawing from the harsh terrain of cultural struggle with the secularization, and instead, prefers a dialogue that emphasizes the freedom of conscience and no longer sits on the bayonets of the doctrine and the dogma (a position that however the Pope Emeritus demands Odifreddi). The crucial turning point was the first meeting of Pope Francis with the press, as he at the end of the attending journalists, "respect" only "silently" blessed.

In view of Roman Catholicism, the resistance (after Protestantism has ceased for some time to be an oblique counterpart to the modern and surrendered without much resistance), and now it appears to be crumbling, the media creates cheering for Pope Francis as a golden bridge, that it must be built for the surrender of the Catholic Church. But even so, it is not.

You could say a lot of things, by varying slightly between the important and the less clearly wrong. The key point is quite another, for whoever wants to see it. The letter of Benedict XVI. to Odifreddi is written in a tone of relaxed severity. He grants the opposite as far as possible out of academic courtesy, but then the blows are mercilessly struck. Benedict XVI. attacks his opponent on the field: "In your religion of mathematics three basic themes of human existence remain disregarded: freedom, love and evil"

All this means two things. That Ratzinger, freed from the burden of Peter, has become again as he always wanted to be, an intellectual and theologian, a thinker who is freer than it is intended for him by others. Now that he is no longer a Pope, he takes back the freedom of a tone of voice that had to suffer from the continuous bombardment of the world. This clearly also points to the dark side of the same coin. That Benedict XVI. no longer felt the power of being able to withstand the highest position in his supreme authority and Church government. The collision with the post-Christian, secular culture of the West, however, he has still grown very well into his role as a theologian. The resignation was an admission that would have been required the energy and power of another for the post that he had not. According to him, a pope should come who can take the same weapons for the same battle, but with a different momentum, force and vigor.

But instead of this, a pope has come to the scene and stage, to change whole theater even more. The Cardinals had understood the resignation of Benedict quite differently than he. As he wanted to pass on to younger hands, so the fight would continue with renewed vigor, some Cardinals saw a chance to disengage from combat. Had Benedict XVI. looked closely, he would have noticed that some Cardinals had not fought faithfully at his side, but at best are "heroic" in Rome for the "all'armi" - called to arms, but exchange the Catholic armor at home with the staid street clothes where political and cultural arrangements are reversed.

The new pope turns toward modernity to another discernment. A little naive, a little smart, he avoids it, to bring them into the field of fire. He is differently cultivated, even Ignatian. We'll see how it goes. Anyway, it would have been interesting to experience a Benedict XVI. on Peter's throne, who responded with such intellectual looseness, but the answer all of the Odifreddis this world and the friends of the false and fraudulent gods who attack the Church, and forced on to fight on their own terrain, where the debate is to take place and the Odifreddi now acknowledges: "The search for the truth."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi Image: Wikicommons Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches... AMGD