Pope Benedict Roundup!

So what else has happened in the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI? -- I mean besides L’Osservatore Romano 's selective quoting from Peter Seewald's book-length interview Light of the World and causing much media hyperventilation over the Pope's remarks about condoms? Here is a roundup of some notable events, articles and commentary. ~ Christopher]

• Pope Benedict XVI will return home to his native Germany for a visit next fall (Catholic News Agency):

  The Pope's return will be "a sign of encouragement and confidence," said the head of the German bishops conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg im Breisgau, in a Nov. 19 statement.

  The Pope accepted an offer extended by German president Christian Wulff and nation's bishops to visit the Archdioceses of Berlin and Freiburg and the Diocese of Erfurt.

  Zenit reports that the Croatian Bishops' Conference announced that Benedict XVI accepted an invitation to visit the country for a pastoral visit on June 4-5, 2011.

• In the wake of Benedict XVI's visit to Spain on Nov. 6-7, the bishops of that country believe that a new stage is opening of spiritual renewal, as reflected in the many letters of gratitude received (Zenit. November 19, 2010)

• a translation of Benedict's message to the 25th international conference of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, on the theme: "Caritas in Veritate -- For Equitable and Human Health Care". Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope's secretary of state, delivered the address on behalf of the Pontiff. An excerpt:

  Health is a precious good for the person and society to promote, conserve and protect, dedicating the means, resources and energies necessary so that more persons can enjoy it. Unfortunately, the problem still remains today of many populations of the world that do not have access to the necessary resources to satisfy fundamental needs, particularly in regard to health. It is necessary to work with greater commitment at all levels so that the right to health is rendered effective, favoring access to primary health care. In our time we witness on one hand a care of health that risks being transformed into pharmacological consumerism, medical and surgical, becoming almost a cult of the body, and on the other, the difficulty of millions of persons to accede to conditions of minimal subsistence and indispensable medicines to be cured.

• The cardinals who could well be voting for the next pope now number 121 -- 40 per cent of them appointed by Benedict XVI -- following the consistory in Rome. Austin Ivereigh reports for America magazine. (November 20, 2010) | Video: Pope Benedict creates 24 Cardinals

  The Pope and Cardinals met November 19th for a a closed-door discussion of the future of the Catholic Church - Catholic News Agency:

  A day of reflection and prayer for about two-thirds of the world's cardinals began with strong words from the Pope Benedict XVI against the true "dictatorship" of relativism. It finished with an address from the Vatican official in charge of leading the fight against sexual abuse in the Church. ...

  From Salt and Light, a a rundown of the 24 prelates elevated by Pope Benedict to the rank of Cardinal. The newly announced Cardinals will receive their rings and red zucchettos from the Holy Father during a special ceremony in Rome on November 20th.

• The Pope Rattles the Bishops: "Learn from Saint Francis", by Sandro Magister (Chiesa. November 12, 2010):

  The last two popes, on numerous occasions, have pointed to the Italian Church and its episcopate as a "model" for other nations.

  There is one field, however, in which the Italian Church does not shine. It is that of the liturgy.

  This was made clear by the severe lesson that Benedict XVI gave to the Italian bishops gathered in Assisi for their general assembly from November 8-11, an assembly centered on an examination of the new translation of the Roman missal. ...

• November 11, 2010 marked the official presentation of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Verbum Domini" of Benedict XVI, on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. The Apostolic Exhortation, which is dated 30 September, Memorial of St. Jerome, is the fruit of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which was held in Rome from 5 to 26 October 2008. (More on the presentation from the Vatican Information Service).

  Jake Tawney () offers a commentary -- the fruits of careful reading:

  • Commentary on Verbum Domini, Prima Pars
    
  • Commentary on Verbum Domini, Secunda Pars
    
  • Commentary on Verbum Domini, Tertia Pars

• During his November 10 general audience, Pope Benedict reflected on his apostolic visit to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona -- he closed his reflection with the following:

  Dear friends, I thank God for the intense days I spent in Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona. I renew my gratitude to the king and queen of Spain, to the princes of Asturias and to all the authorities. I turn my grateful and affectionate thought once again to the dear brother archbishops of those two particular Churches and to their collaborators, as also to all those who spent themselves generously so that my visit in those two wonderful cities would be fruitful. They were unforgettable days, which will remain impressed in my heart! In particular, the two Eucharistic celebrations, carefully prepared and intensely lived by all the faithful, also through songs taken from the great musical tradition of the Church or from the genius of modern authors, were moments of true interior joy. May God recompense all, as only he knows how; may the Most Holy Mother of God and the Apostle St. James continue to accompany their way with their support. Next year, God willing, I will go to Spain again, to Madrid, for World Youth Day. I entrust henceforth to your prayer this providential initiative, so that it will be an occasion of growth in the faith for so many young people.

  See the Benedict Blog for a Complete roundup of Pope Benedict's Apostolic Journey to Spain November 6-7, 2010.

• Benedict XVI prays at tomb of John Paul II - Pope Benedict followed the All Souls Day tradition of praying at tombs of predecessors. [Video]

• Pope Benedict, the bishops, and the “clash of civilizations” Catholic World Report's on the Pope's opening address to the October Synod of Bishops for the Middle East:

  The meditation addressed the “false divinities” that govern modern times. Though the Holy Father did not speak explicitly in the meditation about the media-labeled “clash of civilizations” between Islam and the West, a topic central to many of the Synod’s discussions, his remarks apply to that struggle and offer the only real solution to it.

  The world suffers under two destructive idols, he suggested in the meditation, one from the East that assumes the form of false religion, one from the West that takes the form of no religion. Both idols must fall under the advance of true religion, which alone comes from the Son of God ... [more]

• The Pope and Pavement, by Stratford Caldecott (Beauty for Truth's Sake October 23, 2010):

  When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United Kingdom in September, one of the most striking images was of him sitting side by side with the Archbishop of Canterbury, trading polite speeches, on the Cosmati Pavement of Westminster Abbey. That pavement is worthy of some attention, especially if, like me, you are interested in the symbolic meaning of geometrial forms and their role in the great cathedrals of Christendom.

• Fr. Joseph Komonchak and David Gibson discuss the notion of a "smaller, purer church" attributed to Joseph Ratzinger (Commonweal October 21, 2010).

• October 18, 2010 - From Zenit, the test of the letter Benedict XVI wrote to seminarians on the occasion of the end of the Year for Priests, which ended in June. The letter is dated Oct. 18, the feast of Luke the Evangelist.