The Pope as Professor with His Students: More on Schülerkreis

Editor: the meeting is interesting, as we've said before, in light of the talks currently taking place each month with the Society of Pius X. It is hard to see, given the previous statements about statements which appear to capitulate the Church's previous positions to the modern world, will square with the resistance shown to the Society's representatives. The fact is, we don't know what is being said about Vatican II, but there is almost no doubt that the concerns that were realized by the Society of Pius X will be dealt with in this meeting and that whatever the Holy Father says, it promises to be met with the ire and contempt of the world press, which has certainly besieged the Castel Gandalfo in search of a premonition of what the Holy Father will conclude as a result of this meeting.

It's safe to say that the Pope will surprise and confound the media, whatever is decided here. The following is a report from kath.net in translation.


We are all always excited about the short view, which he, prizes from the respective themes, describing the Church throughout the world," said Bishop Jaschke. "Kathpress" - Report from correspondent Johannes Schidelko


Rome [kath.net/KAp] The regular meeting with the earlier students occured on loosely defined dates, which the earlier Professor Joseph Ratzinger has finally secured within the Papal Palace.

On each end of August Benedict XVI gathered-- each year at his summer residence Castelgandalfo -- more than a dozen theologians around him, who were advanced to the doctorate, who were promoted to doctoral degrees or collaborated as his assistants. Those who are in teaching or working as pastors, some as Bishops or Cardinals -- like Cardinal Christoph Schönborn.


For the 83 year old Pontiff, who has also written books and written scholarly works on the elevation of Cardinals and the election of Popes, the meeting with the Schulkreis is a reunion with old friends and companions. But it is also a brief return to old times, where he disputes in the academic Milieu, orders scholarly themes, answers and receives questions.

One of the participants is the Hamburg Auxiliary Bishop Hans Joachim Jaschke. Benedict XVI. had -- according to Jascke's estimation -- has hardly changed after five years on the throne of Peter. "He is always Joseph Ratzinger just as we know him: friendly and attentive", said Jaschke to the internet platform 'katolisch.de'. "The Pope remains a man of science with a high ability to absorb and is the best informed."

At these meetings held since 1977, scholarly controversies moved to the background, said the Auxiliary Bishop further. "We were always excited for the quick overview, which he prized from the respective themes about the situation of the Church throughout the world." At those times the summations and great assessments of the Pope were "genius", said Jaschke.

According to his impression, the Pope enjoyed being the professor again at these meetings. "I am very thankful therefore, that Benedict XVI. holds the trust of his students. He has a good view of each individual and shows him his personal esteem", said the Bishop.

The meeting will take place behind closed doors. But since the only teacher is the Pope, there is a great deal of interest outside. For on the agenda there are questions and themes, which (also) are important to the Pope himself. In the last years they dealt with Darwin and Evolution, on Islam or on Missions.

This time the Second Vatican Council and its reception in the contemporary time. One theme, that the only council adviser was completely occupied; he who even as Archbishop of Munich warned against an uncritical Conciliar Euphoria, which opposed the spirit and the letter of the Council against one another.

And there was little sympathy for the call for a third Council, because the second had not been thoroughly studied.

Reform, not a Break

As guest speaker this time Head of Ecumenical Office Archbishop Kurt Koch will speak for the Ratzinger-Schülerkreis. In both of his lectures on the Council between Tradition and Innovation demonstrates a correct meaning and interpretation of the Council in the net of reform, continuity and rupture.

Benedict XVI. had received a difficult reception and for which he prepared the correct layout of the Vatican Council Documents, ready for his first great speech to the Roman Curia. At the beginning of Christmas 2005 he spoke of a "Hermeneutic of Reform", which stood against a "Hermeneutic of Discontinuity". Firstly he worked for the renewal of the Church in Her time, while defending her continuity despite the risk of a second mountain between the pre-Conciliar and post-Conciliar Church.

Benedict XVI. refused to accept suppositions that the Conciliar text still didn't express the spirit of the Council, and that for this reason must necessitate further development with Elan.

His conclusion: The Second Vatican Council has newly affirmed the relationship between Faith and Church with fundamental elements of modern thought and several incorrect decisions of the past, newly reconsidered or even corrected.

But besides these apparent discontinuities the Church has protected and deepened Her real nature and her identity. "The Church was and is before and after the Council the same one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which has found Its way through time," said the Pope.

The Dialogue with time must proceed, and namely in "the great openness to the Spirit, but also with clear discernment of spirits"; this is exactly what the world expects of the Church, warned Benedict XVI..

Indeed the Public and Media must not passed by. But in earlier years the texts of documentation was conclusively documented. Whether that is the case today or not remains unclear.

But the Schülerkreis is working for continuity. This time there are some young Doctors of theology becoming accredited, who are laboring on Ratzinger's publications, themes and theses. Shortly after, many students of the current Pope are gradually nearing retirement, then the circle will make of that new perspectives in the future.

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