Pope Benedict XVI's goodbye to Cardinal Avery Dulles

Avery Cardinal Dulles passed away at about 6:30 on the morning of December 12th, 2008, at Murray-Weigel Hall, the Jesuit infirmary, located at Fordham University, Bronx, New York. He was 90 years old.

A reknowned theologian -- and the first ever American theologian to be appointed Cardinal -- he is mourned the world over. A compilation of articles recognizing his passing, as well as many personal tributes, has been collected on the Cardinal's online archive.

The Cardinal's passing is noted by the Holy Father as well, who conveyed the following statement in a telegram to Cardinal Egan of New York:

"Having learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal Avery Dulles, I offer you my heartfelt condolences, which I ask you to kindly convey to his family, his confreres in the Society of Jesus and the academic community of Fordham University. I join you in commending the late Cardinal's noble soul to God, the Father of Mercies, with immense gratitude for the deep learning, serene judgment and unfailing love of the Lord and his Church which marked his entire priestly ministry and his long years of teaching and theological research. At the same time I pray that his convincing personal testimony to the harmony of faith and reason will continue to bear fruit for the conversion of minds and hearts and the progress of the gospel for many years to come. To all who mourn him in the hope of the resurrection I cordially impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Readers might recall that during the Pope's visit to New York City in April 2008, Benedict XVI took time out to visit with Cardinal Dulles personally. The following account (by way of America magazine) is taken from the New York Jesuits' newsletter, written by Anne Marie Kirmse, O.P., Cardinal Dulles's longtime assistant:

"The Pope literally bounded into the room with a big smile on his face. He went directly to where Avery was sitting, saying, 'Eminenza, Eminenza, I recall the work you did for the International Theological Committee in the 1990's.' Avery kissed the papal ring and smiled back at the Pope. Then the Pope looked at the people in the room who had accompanied Avery to the Seminary: Fr. Tom Marciniak, who served as Cardinal Dulles's priest-chaplain for the meeting; Sr. Anne-Marie Kirmse, O.P.; and Francine Messiah and Oslyn Fergus of the [Jesuit infirmary's] medical staff. After this warm and friendly exchange of greetings, the Pope sat down next to Avery to hear the remarks that Avery had prepared and which were read for him by Fr. Tom Marciniak. During the presentation, Fr. Tom handed the Pope a copy of Avery's latest book, Church and Society: The Laurence J. McGinley Lectures, 1988-2007, which was published earlier this month by Fordham University Press. The Pope expressed great interest in the book, and even interrupted the reading of the remarks to ask again when the book had been published. He eagerly looked through it, and was touched by Avery's inscription to him. Before leaving, the Pope blessed Avery, assuring him of his prayers, and encouraging him in his sufferings. He then said good-bye in turn to each of the four persons who accompanied Avery."

Commenting on his passing, Cardinal O'Malley of Boston recalled a passage from Cardinal Dulles' final lecture, "A Life in Theology", which was read for him:

"Suffering and diminishment are not the greatest of evils, but are normal ingredients in life, especially in old age. They are to be accepted as elements of a full human existence. As I become increasingly paralyzed and unable to speak, I can identify with the many paralytics and mute persons in the Gospels, grateful for the loving and skillful care I receive and for the hope of everlasting life in Christ. If the Lord now calls me to a period of weakness, I know well that his power can be made perfect in infirmity. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Peter Seewald's "Pope Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait"

Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait by Peter Seewald. Ignatius Press (October 30 2008). SAN FRANCISCO, December 15, 2008 – Almost four years after Joseph Ratzinger’s election to the papacy, many people are still trying to understand who Benedict XVI really is. Though most would agree the Church has a Pope who is among the most significant of Europe’s intellectuals, German journalist Peter Seewald unveils a rendering of Benedict which recounts little-known details about him in the newly released Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait (260 pp., Ignatius). “Joseph Ratzinger is a born teacher,” says Seewald of his subject. “But he did not want to become pope. Even after the conclave [in 2005], on the loggia of St. Peter’s, his face showed the traces of an inner struggle. And he probably felt like crying, so disturbingly moved was he by the condescension of the great God who entrusted him … with the keys to the kingdom of Heaven.” For the first time, Seewald paints the vivid and complex picture of the world’s new Pope taken from his many interview encounters with then-Joseph Ratzinger over the past 16 years. Describing intensive face-to-face encounters with the Pope in great detail, Seewald draws an engaging portrait of this brilliant theologian and pastor. That story changed Seewald’s own life – he abandoned atheism and returned to his Catholic faith. A man of contradiction Seewald describes the new pope as unassuming, yet decisive. Slight and strong at the same time. Unobtrusive and preeminent, a weak voice that is loud. An intellectual, yet completely down-to-earth. A man of reason who is pious. Intellectually brilliant – but of childlike simplicity. He does not fit any of the clichés,” says Seewald. Against all media and secular predictions – and even of some within the Church – Benedict XVI has given new life to the Church, despite its recent and unprecedented crises. He attracts crowds even greater than those of his predecessor, John Paul II. After all, says Seewald, “a pope is not a politician. There is no next election for him, but only the Last Judgment. ‘What is it like to sit opposite a man like Joseph Ratzinger?’ In this new provocative biography, Seewald examines “what it is like to sit opposite a man like Joseph Ratzinger for many hours, alone in a monastery, and discuss things with him, asking a thousand questions.” He shows how he came to know the Pope personally, “… as a great man for patience, as a spiritual master who can give answers.” Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait looks at the recent papal transition, but also at Ratzinger’s entire life – his family, childhood, youth and priesthood, companions and opponents, and how journalists have been accustomed to covering him. Significant ‘change’ “This man from Bavaria, contrary to all the projections dumped onto his shoulders, is a revolutionary of the Christian type,” says Seewald. He calls the new Pope ‘an inconvenient man who can seize on the spirit of the times, who warns people against the aberrations of modern life.” Seeking what is lost and saving it is the constant element of his life, notes Seewald. The Pope himself says, according to Seewald, “Anyone who really wants change needs a change in his consciousness and his personal behavior – anything else is insignificant.” Seewald sees the new pope “as the most powerful German at the beginning of the third millennium.” He says Benedict may offer a new opportunity for Europe’s change and especially for that of his homeland. The Pope has fearlessly given his life to God and to the world for the good of the Christ’s mission – even as he assumed the Papacy at the age of 78. “Anyone who has come to Christ seeking what is comfortable has indeed come to the wrong address,” says Pope Benedict – as quoted by Seewald in the book. From Pope Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait Press Release -- Ignatius Press. Excerpts "A Revolutionary of the Christian Type" (Preface). Reviews Shelf Life, by Michael Potemra. National Review, Jan 26, 2009.

Pope Benedict Roundup!

• The Marian Papacy of Benedict XVI, by John Allen Jr. NCRcafe.org (September 8, 2008):

  In part, perhaps, Mary has been a lightning rod precisely because she is such a uniquely Catholic figure. Catholics share Christ, the gospels, prayer and sacrifice, even the sacraments, with many other forms of Christianity. Yet even though other Christians treasure Mary in their own ways, she is strongly associated in the popular imagination with the Catholic church.

  Mary’s centrality in Catholic tradition may help explain why the last two popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, have been so committed to reawakening Marian devotion in the church. For both popes, defending Catholic identity in a highly secular age has been job number one, and nothing says ‘Catholic’ quite like the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• Finding the Word in the word", by Tania Mann. (The Catholic World Report). "Throughout the Synod of Bishops, Pope Benedict XVI stressed the need to read Scripture under both a historical and a spiritual light."

News

• September 2008: In an interview by Andrea Tornielli for the Italian newspaper Il Giornale, Pope Benedict XVI’s brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, revealed several unknown details from the childhood of the Pontiff, such as when he said one time that Benedict would be a good name for a pope, and that he never attended Hitler Youth meetings he was obliged to sign up for. Catholic News Agency has a detailed report.

• October 2008: German publishing house Verlag Herder (in Frieburg) has embarked on the "Opera Omnia" -- a comprehensive publication of the works of Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. According to Sandro Magister, the organization of the works, previously published or not, will be determined by the Pope himself, together with the specific arrangement of each of the 16 volumes:

  Volumes I and II will include Ratzinger's undergraduate and doctorate theses, as well as other writings concerning Augustine and Bonaventure, the two doctors of the Church who are the subjects of his theses.

  Volume III will open with Ratzinger's inaugural conference as a professor: "The God of faith and the God of the philosophers," delivered in Bonn in 1959, followed by writings on faith and reason and the historical-intellectual foundations of Europe.

  Volume IV will open with the famous "Introduction to Christianity" of 1968. It will be followed by other writings on the profession of faith, baptism, following Christ, and the fulfillment of Christian existence.

  Volume V will collect writings on creation, anthropology, the doctrine of grace, Mariology.

  Volume VI will be on Christology, and will open with "Jesus of Nazareth," the only work in the collection that was written and published after the author's election as pope.

  Volume VII will collect the writings on Vatican Council II, including notes and comments from that period.

  Volume VIII will deal with ecclesiology and ecumenism.

  Volume IX will collect essays on theological epistemology and hermeneutics, in particular on the understanding of the Scriptures, Revelation, Tradition.

  Volume X will open with "Eschatology," published in 1977, followed by other writings on hope, death, resurrection, eternal life.

  Volume XI is the one that has been published first, in the past few days. It is entitled "Theology of the Liturgy."

  Volume XII, dedicated to the doctrine of the sacraments and to the ministry, will be entitled "Proclaimers of the Word and Servants of Your Joy."

  Volume XIII will collect the many interviews conducted with Joseph Ratzinger, including the ones published in book form, with Vittorio Messori in 1984, and with Peter Seewald in 1996 and 2000.

  Volume XIV will collect homilies from before his election as pope, many of which are little known and previously unpublished.

  Volume XV will open with the book "My Life," published in 1997, followed by other writings of an autobiographical and personal nature.

  Volume XVI will close the series with a complete bibliography of the works of Joseph Ratzinger in German, plus a comprehensive index of all the preceding volumes. The individual volumes will also be equipped with detailed indexes.

  The Preface to the nitial volume of the Opera Omnia is available online, courtesy of Sandro Magister.

• On November 12, a group of Joseph Ratzinger's former doctoral and postdoctoral students, known as the Schülerkreis (Circle of Students), gathered in Munich for the first event of the Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI Foundation. The official launching ceremony begun with sung vespers in the chapel of the Catholic Academy in the evening, followed by a paper delivered by Professor Siegfried Wiedenhofer entitled “Key Issues in the Theology of Professor Dr. Joseph Ratzinger” and a podium discussion on “Ratzinger as Theologian and Teacher.”

• November 2008: An Italian foundation has created five Middle Ages-style copies of Benedict XVI's first encyclical, one of which was given him as a gift, reports Zenit News Service:

  Marilena Ferrari, president of the Italian Franco Maria Ricci Foundation, presented the Pope on Monday with one of the handwritten manuscripts of "Deus Caritas Est" in Latin.

  The five unique copies are reminiscent of monastic scripts prepared in the Middle Ages, and were made using the materials and techniques of those centuries, Ferrari explained to the Pope, according to L'Osservatore Romano.

  This initiative is part of the foundation's "Civilization of Beauty" cultural project, which aims to "promote a cultural renewal that gives back to beauty its central place as an ethical and aesthetic value."

New Books By / About Pope Benedict XVI

• Pope Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait, by Peter Seewald (Ignatius Press, October 2008)

  In the person of Pope Benedict XVI, one of the most significant of Europe's intellectuals is heading-up the Vatican. The journalist Peter Seewald, who has known Ratzinger since 1992, conducted the "longest interviews in church history" with him, for two books which were best-sellers world-wide, Salt of the Earth and God and the World.

  Now he describes these intensive encounters in detail for the first time, and draws a portrait of this brilliant theologian who has put his life entirely at the service of the Catholic Church. Above and beyond that, this book is also the story of a long dialogue which changed Seewald's life.

  Many people are trying to understand who Benedict XVI really is. On one point they are all agreed: in the person of Joseph Ratzinger, the chair of Peter is occupied by one of the most brilliant minds in the world. Peter Seewald's portrait of Benedict recounts details about the personality and life of Benedict which were hitherto completely unknown.

  See also: "A Revolutionary of the Christian Type", (Preface).

• The Church Fathers: From Clement of Rome to Augustine, by Pope Benedict XVI. (Ignatius Press, October 2008):

  This rich and engrossing survey of the early Church includes those churchmen who immediately succeeded the Apostles, the "Apostolic Fathers": Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyon. Benedict also discusses such great Christian figures as Tertullian, Origen, and Cyprian of Carthage, the Cappadocian Fathers, as well as the giants John Chrysostom, Jerome, Augustine, Leo the Great, and Benedict of Nursia, the Pope's namesake.

On a Lighter Note ...

• A Clerihew (or Two) for Küng, by Carl Olson. Ignatius Insight May 24, 2008.

• Pope Benedict asked to begin blogging at Synod October 14, 2008.

• Pope Benedict's Bookstore (National Catholic Register):

  Aside from being a prolific author himself, Pope Benedict XVI loves books.

  After he was elected Pope in 2005, renovations were undertaken to the papal residence to accommodate his personal library of 20,000 books.

  So it’s especially fitting that the Vatican opened a new bookstore this week dedicated to the Holy Father.

Apostolic Journey to France on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes

• Official Program
• Photo Gallery

Spoken Words / Addresses by Pope Benedict XVI

• Interview of the Holy Father during the flight to France (September 12, 2008)
• Meeting with authorities of State at the Elysée Palace in Paris (September 12, 2008)
• Meeting with representatives of the Jewish community (September 12, 2008)
• Meeting with representatives from the world of culture at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris (September 12, 2008)
• Celebration of Vespers with priests, religious, seminarians and deacons gathered at Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris, 12 September 2008)
• Greeting to young people gathered in the esplanade in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris, 12 September 2008)
• Greeting by the Holy Father from the balcony of the Apostolic Nunciature (September 12, 2008)
• Greeting by the Holy Father during the visit at the Institut de France (September 13, 2008)
• Eucharistic Celebration on the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris (September 13, 2008)
• Homily of the Holy Father at the torchlight procession in Rosary Square (Lourdes, 13 September 2008)
• Eucharistic Celebration on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Prairie (Lourdes, 14 September 2008)
• Recitation of the Angelus Domini in the Prairie (Lourdes, 14 September 2008)
• Meeting with the French Bishops in the Hemicycle Sainte-Bernadette (Lourdes, 14 September 2008)
• Meditation during the Blessed Sacrament Procession in the Prairie (Lourdes, 14 September 2008)
• Eucharistic Celebration for the sick in the Esplanade in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes (September 15, 2008)
• Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées in Lourdes (September 15, 2008)

Coverage by John Allen, Jr.

• 9-10-08: Cardinal Tauran on the pope's trip to France
  On September 10, L’Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference, published an interview with Tauran by noted journalist Gianni Cardinale. Among other topics, Tauran discussed the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to France. The following is an NCR translation of that interview.
• 9-10-08: Extracts from Sarkozy on church/state relations in France
  On Dec. 20, 2007, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was inducted as an Honorary Canon of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, a traditional privilege of the French head of state since the era of Henry IV in the 16th century. During the ceremony, Sarkozy delivered an address on church/state relations in the famous Hall of Conciliation at St. John Lateran, the room in which Benito Mussolini and Cardinal Pietro Gasparri signed the Lateran Pacts in 1929 healing the rift between the Vatican and the Italian state. Sarkozy’s speech has been cited as a turning point in French attitudes towards the public role of religion.
• 9-12-08: The case for 'healthy secularism'
  Pressing the case for what he called a “healthy” form of laïcité, Benedict XVI today said the time has come to reopen the debate over the relationship between church and state in France. (The concept of laïcité is usually rendered in English as “secularism.”)
• 9-12-08: No reference to Muslims, but a call to resist 'disaster for humanity'
  Despite the symbolic resonance of both the date and the place, Benedict made no reference in tonight’s address [at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris] to Regensburg or, more generally, to Christian-Muslim relations. Instead, the pope focused on a topic that, at first blush, might seem of merely intra-Christian interest: the legacy of monasticism.
• 9-13-08: Pope tells shrunken church, 'Don't be afraid'
  If yesterday Pope Benedict XVI addressed the broader culture of both France and Europe, today he spoke directly to the French Catholic church – a church which, by all accounts, embodies the famous prediction of the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger that the future of Christianity in the West is as a “creative minority.”
• 9-13-08: Explaining Benedict's discretion on Islam
  Pope Benedict XVI is anything but a careless thinker, and even his omissions are usually significant. In that light, as the pope winds up the Paris leg of his first trip to France, one cannot help but wonder about his basic silence on the subject of Islam.
• 9-13-08: Nothing says 'Catholic' like the Virgin Mary
  A papal visit to Lourdes, arguably the premier Marian shrine and healing center in the Christian world, inevitably beckons reflection on two topics: the Virgin Mary and the theology of suffering. This evening, Benedict XVI delivered vintage versions of both.
• 9-14-08: Pope in France: Traditionalists deserve 'a place in the church'
  Catholicism is legendarily keen on tradition, which means there’s a traditionalist wing of the church pretty much everywhere. Nowhere else, however, are traditionalists so visible, and, at times, so fractious, as in France, making it all but inevitable that Pope Benedict XVI would address their signature issue while here – the old Latin Mass.
• 9-14-08: Eucharist is Jesus 'past, present and future'
  Pope Benedict XVI offered a prayerful mediation on the Eucharist this evening in Lourdes, calling the consecrated host “the eternal presence of the savior of mankind to his church.”
• 9-15-08: Pope in France: A lesson in 'Marian cool'
  As an orator, Pope Benedict XVI generally does not, unlike his predecessor John Paul II, mine his own biography. For John Paul, the dramatic events of his life were staples of his public rhetoric. Not so with Benedict, who prefers to emphasize the song rather than the singer.

Zenit News Coverage

• 9-10-08: George Weigel Part of France's Papal Preparations - The Pope will visit Paris and Lourdes this weekend, and French editing house Mame-Edifa-Magnificat has released -- just in time for the occasion -- the translation of Weigels' book God's Choice: Pope Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Church.
• 9-10-08: Papal Message Ahead of France Trip: "I Go As a Messenger of Peace and Fraternity" translation of the greeting Benedict XVI gave at the end of today's general audience to the people of France.
• 9-11-08: Press Conference with Pope Benedict XVI - translation of a 10-minute press conference Benedict XVI gave while en route to France on Friday. Benedict addresses the concern that "France is losing its Christian identity because of laicism"; his affection for France and its intellectual heritage; the criticism that the motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum" is a step backward from the Second Vatican Council, and reflections on his pending visit to Lourdes:

  ... It is very important for me to experience this reality, this presence of the Virgin Mary in our lifetime, to see the path of this young person who was a friend of the Virgin Mary, and on the other hand to meet the Blessed Virgin, her mother. Naturally we are not going there to see miracles. I am going to find the love of the Mother, which is the true cure for every pain and to be united to those who suffer, in the love of the Blessed Mother. This seems to me an important sign for our times.

• 9-12-08: President Sarkozy: "It's Crazy to Take Religion Out of Society"
• 9-12-08: Roots of Europe Sunk in Monasteries, Says Pope; Notes How Science Became Important in Search for God
• 9-12-08: Pope Urges Rethinking Church-State Relationship: Reminds France That Their Roots Are Christian

Benedict, Sarkozy and "Positive Secularism"

A prevalent topic in Benedict's apostolic journey to France is (understandably) the role played by religion within the context of France's longstanding enforcement of secularity, or laïcité.

During a brief press conference on Friday, when asked whether "France is losing its Christian identity because of laicism" -- Pope Benedict responded in the negative:

It seems evident to me today that laicism does not contradict the faith. I would even say that it is a fruit of the faith, since the Christian faith was a universal religion from the beginning. Therefore it did not identify itself with a state and it was present in all the states. It was always clear to the Christians that religion and faith were not political, but rather they formed part of another sphere of human life. ... Politics, the state, were not a religion but rather a secular reality with a specific mission, and the two of them should be open to each other.

In this sense, I would say today that for the French, and not only the French, but also for us, Christians of today in this secularized world, it is important to joyfully live the freedom of our faith, live the beauty of the faith, and show today's world that it is beautiful to be a believer, that it is beautiful to know God; God with a human face in Jesus Christ, show that it is possible to be a believer today, and even that society needs there to be people who know God and who, therefore, can live according to the great values that it has given us and contribute to the presence of these values that are fundamental for the building and survival of our states and societies.

Later, during a meeting with French politicians at the Elysée Palace, after reminding his audience of France's Christian heritage and roots, the Holy Father again urged a rethinking of the relationship between church and state:

Many people, here in France as elsewhere, have reflected on the relations between Church and State. Indeed, Christ had already offered the basic principle for a just solution to the problem of relations between the political sphere and the religious sphere when, in answer to a question, he said: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mk 12:17). The Church in France currently benefits from a “regime of freedom”. Past suspicion has been gradually transformed into a serene and positive dialogue that continues to grow stronger. A new instrument of dialogue has been in place since 2002, and I have much confidence in its work, given the mutual good will. We know that there are still some areas open to dialogue which we will have to pursue and redevelop step by step with determination and patience. You yourself, Mr President, have used the fine expression “laïcité positive” to characterize this more open understanding. At this moment in history when cultures continue to cross paths more frequently, I am firmly convinced that a new reflection on the true meaning and importance of laïcité is now necessary. In fact, it is fundamental, on the one hand, to insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion in order to preserve both the religious freedom of citizens and the responsibility of the State towards them; and, on the other hand, to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences and the contribution which it can bring to – among other things – the creation of a basic ethical consensus in society.

Benedict's discussion of the issue has found a sympathetic listener in the person of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The Christian Science Monitor reports:

Unlike any French president in decades, Mr. Sarkozy sees a more open role for religion in French society. And he seized upon the conservative German pope's four-day trip to directly challenge French secularism, one of the most prized traditions of La République and a strict legal and cultural sanction against bringing matters of church and faith into the public realm.

Secularism, or laïcité, is central to the modern French identity. It's a result of hundreds of years of efforts to remove the influence of the Roman Catholic church from French institutions and reduce its moral authority. French media don't discuss religion. At offices or work, most French believers don't tell colleagues they are going to mass or church. It is seen as a private matter.

Yet here on Friday Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, broke protocol and met the pope at the airport. They hosted the pontiff at the Élysée Palace, attended a papal talk at a newly restored Cistercian monastery in downtown Paris in front of 700 intellectuals and artists – where Sarkozy openly argued that while secularism is important, it should not be a hostile force that forbids all talk of God, faith, and transcendence. Sarkozy called for a "positive laïcité" that allows religion to help forge an ethical society.

"It would be crazy to deprive ourselves of religion," remarked Sarkozy, condemning such repression as "a failing against culture and against thought" (Zenit News Service):

Religion, began Sarkozy, "and in particular the Christian religion, with which we share a long history, are living patrimonies of reflection and thought, not only about God, but also about man, society, and that which is a central concern for us today, nature."

It would be crazy to deprive ourselves of religion; [it would be] a failing against culture and against thought. For this reason, I am calling for a positive secularity," he said. "A positive secularity offers our consciences the possibility to interchange -- above and beyond our beliefs and rites -- the sense we want to give to our lives."

The president explained the areas in which this vision of secularism could take root: "France has begun, together with Europe, a reflection on the morality of capitalism.

"Economic growth doesn't make sense if it becomes it's own objective. Only the betterment of the situation of the greatest number of persons and their personal fulfillment constitute legitimate objectives.

"This teaching, that forms part of the heart of the social doctrine of the Church, is in perfect consonance with the challenges of the globalized contemporary economy. Our duty is to listen to it."

"Positive secularism, open secularism, is an invitation to dialogue, to tolerance and respect," Sarkozy acknowledged. "It is an opportunity, an encouragement, a supplementary dimension to the political debate. It is an encouragement to religion, as well as to all currents of thought."

According to the papers, Sarkozy is twice-divorced and a "lapsed Catholic", in light of which I find it most encouraging to see him taking a stand in this manner against stiff opposition from militant secularists.

Related

• Pope to French Catholics: Don't be afraid Jamey Keaten. Associated Press. Sept. 12, 2008.
• Sarkozy attacked over Pope's red-carpet welcome, by Ben Hall. Financial Times September 13, 2008.

Benedict in Bressanone

Pope Benedict XVI sits on a bench on July 31, 2008 in the garden of his holiday residence in Bressanone. Source: Getty Images

Benedict XVI's Journey to Sydney (Australia) / World Youth Day 2008

[NOTE: This post will be continually updated throughout Benedict XVI's visit to Australia July 12-21, 2008].

Websites

• Intinerary of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Australia / World Youth Day 2008
• WYD2008.com [Official Website]
• Pope2008.com daily blogging by Tim Drake @ National Catholic Register
• World Youth Day 2008 Virtual Pilgrimage MyCatholicVoice.com
• The Daily Telegraph: World Youth Day 2008 Newspaper hub.
  

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims after the Final Mass at Southern Cross Precinct during World Youth Day Sydney 2008 [Source: Getty Images]

Spoken Words / Addresses by Benedict XVI

Message of the Holy Father to the Young People of the World on the Occasion of the XXIII World Youth Day, 2008 Lorenzago, 20 July 2007.

• Interview of the Holy Father during the flight to Australia (July 12, 2008)
• Welcoming ceremony at Government House of Sydney (July 17, 2008)
• Welcoming celebration by the young people at Barangaroo, East Darling Harbour of Sydney (July 17, 2008)
• Ecumenical Meeting in the Crypt of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney (July 18, 2008)
• Meeting with representatives of other religions in the Chapter Hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney (July 18, 2008)
• Prayer at the beginning of the Way of the Cross in the square in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney (July 18, 2008)
• Meeting with a group of disadvantaged young people of the rehabilitation community of the University of Notre Dame in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Sydney (July 18, 2008)
• Holy Mass with the Australian Bishops, seminarians and novices (with the Consecration of the new altar) at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney (July 19, 2008)
• Vigil with the young people at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney (July 19, 2008)
• Holy Mass for the 23rd World Youth Day at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney (July 20, 2008)
• Recitation of the Angelus Domini at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney (July 20, 2008)
• Meeting with benefactors and organizers of the 23rd World Youth Day at the Reception Hall of Cathedral House and in the Chapter Hall of St. Mary's Cathedral (July 20, 2008)
• Greeting to the volunteers of the 23rd World Youth Day in the Domain of Sydney (July 21, 2008)
• Farewell ceremony at the International Airport of Sydney (July 21, 2008)

Pope Benedict XVI travels in his Pope mobile through the Southern Cross Precinct as part of the motorcade preceding his Final Mass at Randwick Racecourse [Source: Getty Images]

Coverage by John Allen, Jr.

• 7-19-08: WYD: 'New Age' spirituality, Benedict XVI style In language that was at turns almost lyrical, Pope Benedict XVI today offered a paean to “new age” spirituality – though, to be sure, certainly not of the “tune in, turn on and drop out’ variety.
• 7-19-08: WYD: Benedict the theologian offers seminar on Spirit Benedict XVI delivered what amounted to a theological exposition on the Holy Spirit – sometimes, as the pope put it, the “neglected person of the Blessed Trinity” – to a throng of young pilgrims estimated at 235,000 gathered for a vigil at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse.
• 7-18-08: WYD: Pope on sex abuse: 'I am deeply sorry' Pope Benedict XVI today offered a direct apology for the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and religious, saying he is "deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured," assuring them that "as their pastor, I share in their suffering."
• 7-18-08: WYD: Benedict paints his own shade of green Pope Benedict XVI continued to paint his distinctive shade of green in Australia yesterday, repeatedly voicing environmental concerns while linking them to a broader range of Christian doctrines and moral teaching.
• 7-16-08: WYD: Novelty in the air, but a classic 'Ratzingerian' message Novelty was in the air in Sydney tonight, as Pope Benedict XVI kicked off his first-ever trip Down Under by arriving in Sydney harbor aboard a cruise ship, accompanied by a 13-vessel “boat-a-cade.”
• 7-16-08: WYD: Pope lauds reconciliation with aborigines In his first public act since arriving in Sydney on Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI today praised Australia’s efforts to reconcile with its indigenous population, saying it offers “hope to peoples all over the world who long to see their rights affirmed and their contribution to society acknowledged and promoted.”
• 7-14-08: In Sydney, 'Ratzinger rules' but controversy persists Sometimes dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock," World Youth Day is the largest youth gathering held on a regular basis anywhere in the world. The event was founded by the late Pope John Paul II as a way of evangelizing young people and reenergizing the Catholic church.
• 7-13-08: WYD: Benedict XVI's family ties to Australia One Australian woman is watching Pope Benedict XVI's arrival in Australia with special interest this week: 83-year-old Erika Kopp of Melbourne is first cousin to the pontiff, and says that while others may address him as "Holy Father" or "Your Holiness," to her he will always be "Joseph."
• 7-12-08: WYD: Down Under, Benedict continues to 'go green' Pope Benedict XVI has barely arrived Down Under, and already environmentalism is emerging as one key theme of his visit to Australia for the 2008 edition of World Youth Day.
• 7-12-08: WYD: Once again, papal flight features talk of abuse crisis For the second time in a row, Benedict XVI has opened a papal trip by tackling the issue of sexual abuse in comments to reporters aboard the papal plane.

Pope Benedict XVI (R) embraces an Australian Aboriginal elder after arriving at a World Youth Day welcoming ceremony at Barangaroo [Source: Reuters]

Coverage from Catholic Bloggers

• Blogging from Down Under. With the Holy Father in Sydney for WYD, by Cardinal Sean O'Malley (Boston, MA).
• Ciao, Oz! - Roundup from Wheat & Weeds 7-14-08.
• Australian Catholic John Heard on what to expect from the Holy Father. July 3, 2008.
• The New Liturgical Movement has photographs from the July 15th Mass for the Feast of St. Henry from St Augustine's Church in Balmain, Sydney as part of Juventutem's activities at World Youth Day. Glorious!
• Benedict enters Sydney - live - Stills from Benedict XVI's arrival in Sydney. What Does Prayer Really Say? (Fr. John Zuhlsdorf)

Pope Benedict XVI enters St Mary's Cathedral for Holy Mass with Australian bishops, seminarians and male and female novices [Source: Getty Images]

Media

Catholic News Service

• 7-18-08: Religious differences can't stop dialogue, pope tells Australians, by Cindy Wooden.
• 7-18-08: Youths join pope for lunch, present gifts, including Mickey Mouse hat, by Cindy Wooden.
• 7-17-08: For some, absence of Iraqis dampens joy of welcoming pope to WYD, by Dan McAloon and Cindy Wooden.
• 7-16-08: Amid the freebies, young people gravitate toward booths of religious, by Cindy Wooden.
• 7-14-08: Pope says he will apologize to Australian victims of clergy sex abuse by Cindy Wooden.

Thousands of World Youth Day pilgrims hold candles at an outdoor evening vigil [Source: Getty Images]

Zenit News

• 7-20-08: Cardinal: Youth Day Isn't "Catholic Woodstock"
• 7-20-08: Pope Prays Closing Mass Will Be New Pentecost: Urges Youth to Open Hearts to Spirit's Power
• 7-19-08: Pontiff Uses Augustine to Explain Holy Spirit: Gives Theological Explanation of Trinity
• 7-19-08: 235,000 Attend World Youth Day Vigil: Pope Tells Pilgrims Unity Is Key to Changing World
• 7-19-08: Youth Day Offers Community Life for Consecrated - Australian Nun Notes Joy at Meeting Young Religious
• 7-19-08: On a Boat With the Pope: Unforgettable - Chileans Recount Arriving With Pontiff for Youth Day
• 7-18-08: Rabbi: Youth Day Attests to Faith's Significance - Jewish Leader Welcomes Pontiff at Interreligious Gathering
• 7-18-08: Inmates Share in Youth Day Experience - Benedictine Leads Meditation to Bring Spirit Inside Prison
• 7-18-08: Cardinal Pell Making Friends - Interview With Founder of Youth Day Social Networking Site
• 7-18-08: Pope Urges Troubled Youth to Choose Life - Says They Can Be Ambassadors of Hope
• 7-17-08: Pope Arrives by Boat to World Youth Day - Tells Pilgrims: Christ Offers Everything, by Anthony Barich and Catherine Smibert
• 7-17-08: Australia's Bishops are Hoping for a Renewal
• 7-16-08: Muslims Welcome Pontiff to Sydney
• 7-16-08: Confession, Confession Everywhere - Cardinal Says Youth Day Is Reviving the Sacrament
• 7-15-08: Cardinal Pell's Homily at Youth Day Opening

Spanish pilgrims rejoice after Madrid was announced as the next venue for World Youth Day [Source: Getty Images]

AsiaNews.it

• 7-18-08: Sydney and WYD wrapped in beauty and Via Crucis prayers The Stations of the Cross were placed across the city in front of the city’s better know monuments. One hundred young actors silently mimed the Passion of Christ. Music and commentaries as well as symbols and lights guaranteed the silent participation of 200,000 young people.

Sydney Morning Herald

• One little red coat to stand out in a crowd In a sea of pilgrims, one-year-old Claire Hill, dressed in a little red coat, caught the eye of the Pope.
• From a theologian to Pope of the people The Herald's European correspondent, who will return to Rome today on the papal flight, charts the Pope's transformative week.
• First the fervour, now the reckoning Cardinal George Pell, expressed the hope that the seed planted in the Great South Land would "please God, yield a hundredfold harvest".
• Police officer's dying wish fulfilled A terminally ill police officer blessed by Pope Benedict before World Youth Day celebrations died in a Lismore hospital yesterday morning after a prolonged illness.
• A tsunami of faith and joy Pope Benedict XVI walked in the footsteps of two popes to conduct an epic outdoor Mass at Randwick racecourse in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. It was an event the Australian Catholic Church believes will mark the reinvigoration of the faith across the nation.
• Pope declares WYD "unforgettable experience"
• Actor moved by playing Jesus Playing Jesus in front of a global audience of 1 billion was the most memorable day of Alfio Stuto jnr's life, "apart from my wedding day, of course."
• Pope acknowledges the 'shame' It was much longed for and, when it came, Pope Benedict XVI's apology to victims of clerical abuse took everyone by surprise.
• Pope echoes our Mary, Pope Benedict XVI quoted Blessed Mary MacKillop, Australia's saint-in-waiting, last night in a call to World Youth Day pilgrims to embrace the Holy Spirit and fulfil Christ's work.
• Overwhelming demand for confessionals.

Misc. Media

• Bella the cat keeps Pope Benedict company July 14, 2008:

  A special cat has been brought in to make the devout animal lover feel completely at home during his stay at the Kenthurst retreat. It is hoped the 11-month-old kitten, named Bella, will ease any bout of homesickness the Pontiff would have felt being away from his most beloved of all pets.

Pope Benedict Roundup!

[I have not blogged a "papal roundup" in quite some time -- January 2008, in fact. What follows is a compilation of news, stories and commentary which caught my eye over the past several months. Enjoy!]

• Ratzinger's Thesis Seen as Key to Understanding His Papacy: Translation of '57 Work on Bonaventure Published:

  To understand the papacy of Benedict XVI, one should become familiar with his formation as a theologian, affirmed the publishers of Father Joseph Ratzinger's thesis on St. Bonaventure.

  This month in the Antonianum Pontifical University, an Italian translation of young Father Ratzinger's study of St. Bonaventure's theology of history, published in 1957 as part of the priest's preparation for becoming a professor, will be presented by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.

  Father Pietro Messa, director of the Antonian's faculty of medieval and Franciscan studies, which collaborated in the publication of the translation, explained to ZENIT that current interest in this study is motivated by a desire to understand the thought of the man who is now Pope.

  Cardinal Ratzinger himself discussed his thesis in a Nov. 13, 2000, address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, saying his study of the 13th century theologian uncovered untold aspects about the relationship of the saint "with a new idea of history." ... (Read more).

• Spe Salvi and Vatican II, by Brian A. Graebe. Homiletic & Pastoral Review March 2008:

  For all of Spe Salvi’s theological depth, however, it is what the encyclical does not say that has engendered no small amount of controversy. As numerous commentators quickly recognized, Spe Salvi contains not a single reference to any of the documents from the Second Vatican Council. Moreover, for one of the four major constitutions of the council, the very title of which contains the word hope (Gaudium et Spes), to be entirely absent from an encyclical devoted to hope begs consideration. Indeed, the omission is glaring: since the close of Vatican II, the four encyclicals of Pope Paul VI and all fourteen encyclicals of Pope John Paul II cite the conciliar documents in abundance. A brief look at the statistical compilation underscores the uniqueness of this omission. ...

• Exclusive: The Words that Benedict XVI Adds Spontaneously, When He Preaches to the Faithful, by Sandro Magister. www.Chiesa. March 11, 2008. "Textual analyses of five of his most recent Wednesday catechesis, on Saint Augustine. The words that the pope added spontaneously, beyond the written text, are underlined. They're on the themes closest to his heart."

• "Summorum Pontificum" in the Seminary: Cardinal Rigali on Introducing Seminarians to the 1962 Missal March 14, 2008. Since Benedict XVI has said that the Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal promulgated by Blessed John XXIII should be available to those who prefer it, seminarians should be taught to say it, says Cardinal Justin Rigali. To learn what some bishops are doing to implement the document in seminaries, ZENIT spoke with Cardinal Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, about his plans to introduce seminarians at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary to the extraordinary form of the Mass.

• Holy Week: The Hidden Homilies of Pope Benedict www.Chiesa March 26, 2008. Hidden, except for those who were able to listen to them in person: a few thousand out of 1.2 billion Catholics in the world. Here are the complete texts. Required reading for understanding this pontificate.

• When Your Little Brother Is the Pope Part I of an exclusive interview by Robert Rauhut with Pope Benedict XVI's brother, Georg Ratzinger. National Catholic Register April 15, 2008. "My Brother, The Pope", Part II. May 6, 2008.

• What do Joseph Ratzinger, Walter Kasper, and Hans Küng have in common?"

  If you said, "They're all German," you'd be wrong: Küng is Swiss. All three, of course, are Catholic theologians and priests. But, to the point: all three also had Dr. Thomas Loome as a student some forty years ago. In an article posted by Press Publications, Dr. Loome—who holds a doctorate in Philosophical Theology from the University of Tübingen, Germany—talks about studying under Fr. Ratzinger ...

  Carl Olson @ Insight Scoop has the story.

• Pope's Opposition to Euthanasia is Personal: Cousin had Down's and Was Taken by the Nazis LifeSiteNews. April 11, 2008:

  NORTH HAVEN, Connecticut, April 11, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Many people are expecting Pope Benedict XVI to speak out in defense of human life and against abortion during his visit to the United States next week. What few people realize, however, is that the pope knows first-hand what happens when a society refuses to defend the most defenseless of its citizens.

  As a boy of fourteen, Joseph Ratzinger had a cousin who had been born with Down's Syndrome, only a bit younger than himself. In 1941, German state "therapists" came to the boy's house and probably informed the parents of the government regulation that prohibited mentally handicapped children from remaining in their parents' home. In spite of the family's pleas, the representatives of the Nazi state took the child away. The Ratzinger family never saw him again. Later the family learned that he had "died," most likely murdered, for being "undesirable," a blemish in the race and a drain on the productivity of the nation. This was Joseph Ratzinger's first experience of a murderous philosophy that asserts that some people are disposable.

In April (15-20), Pope Benedict XVI made an apostolic visit to the United States of America, visiting Washington D.C. and New York City to commemorate the Bicentennial of the Catholic Church in America.

Several terrific websites were established to provide coverage of the events, including USPapalVisit.org (USCCB), Pope2008.com (Tim Drake / National Catholic Register) and Our Sunday Visitor's USPapalVisit2008.com.

The Pope Benedict Fan Club itself devoted an exclusive blog to providing day-by-day coverage of the events: BenedictinAmerica.blogspot.com, which is still being updated with post-visit stories and coverage.

• "Teacher and Witness": Benedict XVI and the United Nations, by John F. Cullinan (National Review April 28, 2008):

  So far most attention has rightly been paid to Benedict’s words and gestures in support of American Catholicsdeeply troubled by the legacy of the sexual abuse crisis and the reality of uncertain episcopal leadership. His pastoral remarks — simple, direct, and accessible — bear his characteristically forthright intellectual and moral imprint. Agree with him or not, there’s no doubt where Benedict stands.

  Benedict’s remarks to the U.N. General Assembly belong to an entirely different genre. His purpose was to explore and develop the first principles that underlie state sovereignty and the international system as a whole. It’s tempting to view these remarks merely as an academic lecture, given Benedict’s long career as a professor and theologian, but it’s more helpful to see his words as a kind of final exam for practitioners of statecraft. For it’s above all an invitation to think through his recommended first principles, apply them to specific cases, and draw appropriate conclusions regarding the proper shape of international order, law, and institutions today. And it’s especially relevant for Americans considering how best to reconcile interests and ideals in U.S. foreign policy.

  In a nutshell, Benedict sketches a familiar natural-law argument that unexpectedly points to some novel and potentiallycontroversial conclusions....READ MORE

• Deus Caritas Est entrusted to pastors Zenit News. May 1, 2008:

  There is no doubt that "Deus Caritas Est" directs itself to various groups in the Church. Nevertheless, the main burden of responsibility for its implementation in dioceses and parishes is placed squarely on the shoulders of the bishops. It is not only the pastoral realism of the Pope, but also theological reasons that make the ordained pastors the principal target group for the encyclical.

  An excerpt of the April 7 address given by Cardinal Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, to the spring meeting of the bishops' council of England and Wales. The talk titled "'Deus Caritas Est': The Splendor of Charity" is available in its entirety here.

• Lessons to learn from the papal trip, by John Allen Jr. An address given at the annual World Communications Day luncheon of the Diocese of Brooklyn, hosted by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, in which the veteran Vatican reporter was asked to ruminate on lessons to be learned from the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States:

  At the end of the day, it wasn't stagecraft or slick PR strategies that made the trip a success. It was the gut-level impression of kindness and candor that radiated from the pope. If Catholicism hopes to gain a sympathetic hearing, its capacity to project those two qualities loom as the essential prerequisite.

  Here's the thing, however: It's not enough merely to project kindness and candor. We actually have to be kind and candid -- and that, as any spiritual guide will tell you, is never a "once and for all" deal. It requires daily resolve. Living up to that standard, personally and institutionally, represents perhaps the most lasting challenge left behind by Benedict XVI's six days in America.

  
• America magazine reports on Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the ailing Cardinal Avery Dulles ("In All Things" May 16, 2008). The meeting took place in Cardinal Egan's suite in St. Joseph's Seminary, after the Pope's meeting with disabled children. The following account is taken from the New York Jesuits' newsletter, written by Anne Marie Kirmse, O.P., Cardinal Dulles's longtime assistant:

  "The Pope literally bounded into the room with a big smile on his face. He went directly to where Avery was sitting, saying, 'Eminenza, Eminenza, I recall the work you did for the International Theological Committee in the 1990's.' Avery kissed the papal ring and smiled back at the Pope. Then the Pope looked at the people in the room who had accompanied Avery to the Seminary: Fr. Tom Marciniak, who served as Cardinal Dulles's priest-chaplain for the meeting; Sr. Anne-Marie Kirmse, O.P.; and Francine Messiah and Oslyn Fergus of the [Jesuit infirmary's] medical staff. After this warm and friendly exchange of greetings, the Pope sat down next to Avery to hear the remarks that Avery had prepared and which were read for him by Fr. Tom Marciniak. During the presentation, Fr. Tom handed the Pope a copy of Avery's latest book, Church and Society: The Laurence J. McGinley Lectures, 1988-2007, which was published earlier this month by Fordham University Press. The Pope expressed great interest in the book, and even interrupted the reading of the remarks to ask again when the book had been published. He eagerly looked through it, and was touched by Avery's inscription to him. Before leaving, the Pope blessed Avery, assuring him of his prayers, and encouraging him in his sufferings. He then said good-bye in turn to each of the four persons who accompanied Avery."

• Atheist scholar is ally (with reservations) in Benedict’s fight against relativism National Catholic Reporter May 16, 2008:

  Ever since his famous warning about a “dictatorship of relativism” shortly before his election three years ago, Pope Benedict XVI has been trying to kick-start a global conversation about truth. In particular, Benedict yearns for a new look at truth within the Western secular academy, that exotic region where Jacques Derrida’s relativist maxim “there is nothing outside the text” has, ironically, achieved the status of a near-absolute.

  This weekend, in the enchanting Alpine setting of Lugano, Switzerland, a cross-section of prominent Western intellectuals is taking up the papal challenge. Organized by the Balzan Foundation, which each year awards the Swiss-Italian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, this unique gathering of scientists, philosophers, and eggheads of all stripes, most of them without any specific religious conviction, is titled, simply, “The Truth.”

  I’m in Lugano covering the event. ...

• The Pope and the Press: Is the Love Affair Here to Stay?" asks Lisa Tomeo (Zenit News May 23, 2008):

  Whether it was HBO’s Bill Maher’s irreverent and downright sacrilegious remarks calling Benedict XVI a Nazi, and referring to the Catholic Church as a cult that houses and protects child molesters -- which he did later apologize for -- or the major broadcast networks of ABC, NBC and CBS referring to the Pope as a conservative, hardliner and traditionalist, the view from the media front did not look good.

  That was, of course, until the Holy Father himself hit the media with a very pro-active one-two punch. Not only was it the Pope who first addressed the fallout from the priest sex abuse scandal here in the United States, but he did it before even landing on American soil. He discussed the sensitive and embarrassing issue during a question-and-answer session with reporters on Shepherd One. And then later in the week he met privately with several victims of the sexual abuse scandal.

  Tim Graham, director of media analysis for the Media Research Center, explains it was the Pontiff’s humility and directness concerning the biggest white elephant in the room that may have forced the press to take a closer look at this Pope and make at least some effort to cover him more fairly and at least a bit more gently. ...

• Ten texts help crack pope's pontificate, mission, ministry, by John Thavis. Catholic News Service:

  The collected talks are now being read and pondered by Catholics across the country who want to delve a little more deeply into the pope's message during his April visit.

  But what about the rest of his pontificate? What about the hundreds of speeches, homilies, encyclicals, messages, prayers and letters that he's produced during the first three years as pope?

  For those unable to keep up with everything Pope Benedict does and says, here is a starting point: a list of 10 fundamental texts that can help people understand the man, his thought and his ministry.

  One caveat: The list makes no claim to be a "top 10," just a useful anthology. And where the works are particularly lengthy, this list indicates specific chapters or passages. ...

• The Vatican has created an anti-terrorist unit in order to guard the Holy See and the pope from a possible attack, reports the London Telegraph:

  Vatican security forces now include an anti-bomb squad and a rapid response team, according to Domenico Giani, the head of the Holy See's 130-man gendarmerie [in an interview with L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper].

  "The rapid response team will carry out investigations across the spread of information channels and will be supported by a sophisticated technical team. It will be able to intervene immediately in case of danger," said Mr Gianni.

  "The second group is made up of highly-specialised experts, armed with sophisticated and innovative technology," he added.

  He said the two teams would not be confined to the Vatican, but would also travel with the pope.

  The Swiss Guards have also been given anti-terrorism training, and now carry SIG P75 pistols and Heckler-Koch MP5 sub-machine guns, as well as their traditional halberds.

  An unfortunate "sign of the times." Via A Catholic View).

• President George W. Bush paid a visit to the Vatican to see Pope Benedict during his European tour. (Video). To demonstrate his appreciation for the birthday party at the White House, the Pope received the President in the medieval Saint John's Tower, followed by a stroll through the Vatican gardens.

  The Pope and President Bush gave each other the same gift: a framed photograph of the Pope's visit to the White House.

  According to the Vatican, the two discussed the Middle East peace process, the food crisis and other international issues, the Vatican said. The pontiff also thanked Bush for his "commitment in defence of fundamental moral values."

World Youth Day 2008

• A website for international pilgrims has been launched as Sydney nears the 50-day mark in the countdown to World Youth Day:

  The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has launched the site http://www.ybenedict.org which will release news in English and Spanish.

  The website is a project of Towards 2008 - the national student and young adult campaign for WYD2008.

  World Youth Day, which will include a visit by Pope Benedict XVI Joseph Ratzinger, will be held from July 15-20.

  Organisers are expecting around 125,000 registered pilgrims from overseas, plus a further 100,000 from all parts of Australia, to converge on Sydney for the six-day Catholic event.

• XT3 is the official "social networking" site for World Youth Day Sydney and Beyond - Attention Catholic youth! "Xt3.com is a site to help you connect with other young people interested in knowing more about the Catholic faith, to plug in to the Church and get to know what's going on in your area. If you are going to WYD use Xt3 to connect with millions, make new friends, and keep in touch with those you meet there." Kind of like Facebook, only without the trash.

The Pope's Third Encyclical

The tentative title of the Pope's third encyclical is “Caritas in Veritate,” “Love In Truth”, reports La Repubblica. It's focus will be on Catholic social teaching, touching on issues as varied as poverty, peace, wars, international cooperation, energy sources, and globalization.

According to Cardinal Bertone, the Pope will complete his third encyclical over the European summer, with publication scheduled in the fall:

In his encyclical, the cardinal said, "[Pope Benedict] does not want to repeat obvious truths of Catholic social teaching," but will apply Church teachings to contemporary problems.

Il Giornale's Andrea Tornielli reported last week that the committee working with the Pope on the encyclical includes the Pope's recently named successor as archbishop of Munich and Freising, Reinhard Marx, a specialist in Catholic social teaching, the top two officials of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato Martino and Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, and Stefano Zamagni, a lay Italian economist.

Books

• "Oompah bands, Lederhosen, fine sausages, oversized pretzels " - That, at least, is how Rich Leonardi titles Brennan Pursell's Benedict of Bavaria An Intimate Portrait of the Pope and His Homeland Circle Press (March 31, 2008)Spero News interviews author Brennan Pursell on the motivation for writing Benedict in Bavaria:

  Why do you think the Pope’s early life and his cultural background are often mischaracterized?

  There are a number of reasons for this nasty tendency, none of them pleasant. First of all, in America today most people still immediately associate Germany with Nazism, World War II, and the Holocaust, or, if one is feeling charitable, with Martin Luther.

  The weight of evil in Germany’s past is still a very real burden, as it ought to be, but people really should acknowledge that there is more to Germany than all that. Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, is no exception.

  In his case the mischaracterization is even worse because of his two decades as head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, commonly referred to as the living ancestor of the Inquisition, something which we in American automatically loathe.

  What inspired you to write this particular perspective on the Pope?

  Mainly the problem described above. Besides, through my own research and personal experience, I know there is more to Germany than its worst crimes against humanity. Also, Pope Benedict is a first-class, bona fide genius, and most people have no idea about how smart he is.

  He is a world-class intellectual, and one who can talk to anybody and make himself understood. Too often we hear people saying that he seems cold or distant. He’s the opposite of that, actually.

• Two editions of Pope Benedict's addresses during his Apostolic Visit to the United States will be published shortly -- Pope Benedict In America: The Full Texts of Papal Talks Given During His Apostolic Visit to the United States from Ignatius Press, with an introduction by Fr. James V. Schall; Christ Our Hope: The Papal Addresses of the Apostolic Journey to the United States. It is not certain whether the Ignatius version contains the in-flight interview of the Holy Father aboard 'Shepherd One', en route to the USA -- otherwise they appear to be the same in content.
  

• "A surprising Cat-holic bestseller!" - Carl Olson (Insight Scoop) talks about Ignatius Press' children's book: Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat,. The Holy Father's fondness for the superior species was covered as well by the New York Times (Cat Lovers Appreciate Soul Mate in Vatican April 28, 2008).

Events

• The Lyceum Society of Vermont is set to host a luncheon and symposium on Pope Benedict XVI. On August 16, 2008 the Society will host “The Christian Humanism of Pope Benedict XVI” at the Hoehl Center at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. The event is set to feature Dr. John P. Kenney of Saint Michael’s College, Dr. Thomas Albert Howard of the Jerusalem and Athens Forum at Gordon College, and Dr. Jeffrey O. Nelson, President of the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (Dr. Nelson is a son-in-law to the late great traditionalist scholar and social critic Russell Kirk).

On a Lighter Note...

• Pope loves kosher cake March 26, 2008:

  A famous kosher Italian bakery has an important local patron: Pope Benedict XVI.

  Wilma Limentani, the owner of the Boccione bakery in Rome's ancient ghetto, said she recently received a letter of thanks from the Vatican revealing the pope's love for her biscotti and an almond-and-raisin confection dubbed "Jewish pizza."

  One of the pope's doctors -- a Jew who stopped by the 453-year-old bakery en route to administering a routine checkup of the pontiff -- introduced the pastries to Benedict.

Pope Benedict gives President Bush a warm reception at the Vatican

"Bush treated to warm greeting at Vatican" reports the Associated Press:

ROME (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI took President Bush on a rare stroll through the lush grounds of the Vatican Gardens on Friday, stopping at a grotto where the pontiff prays daily.

"Your eminence, you're looking good," Bush told the pope shortly after arriving at the Vatican, launching the leaders' third visit together.

Source: Reuters
Normally, VIPS are received in the pope's library in the Apostolic Palace. That's where Bush had his first meeting with Benedict in June 2007.

But in a gesture of appreciation for the hearty welcome Bush gave him in Washington in April, Benedict welcomed the president and first lady Laura Bush near St. John's Tower in the lush Vatican Gardens. ...

On a brief tour, Benedict and Bush peered out from a tower balcony, and the president seemed awed by what he saw. The pope pointed out St. Peter's dome as he showed Bush the view.

"This is fantastic up here," Bush said. "Thank you so much for showing me this."

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the two leaders have the kind of relationship that allows them to speak frankly. They discussed such issues as human rights, HIV and AIDS in Africa, and poverty around the world, she said.

Source: Reuters
After their private meeting ended, Bush and Benedict posed for official photographs and exchanged gifts.

The president gave the pontiff a photograph of the two walking along the White House colonnade on their way to the Oval Office in April. The picture was presented in a sterling silver frame with an engraved presidential seal.

Benedict gave Bush a framed photograph and four volumes on St. Peter's Basilica.

"Perhaps you'll have some time to read it," he told Bush, whose presidency ends in January.

Members of the presidential entourage received rosaries and medals of the pontificate.

Bush and the pope then strolled through the gardens to see the Lourdes Grotto, which was donated to Pope Leo XIII at the turn of the century by French Catholics. Bush and Benedict sat in wooden patio-style chairs admiring the grotto as Mrs. Bush rejoined them.

Source: Associated Press / Evan Vucci
A statement by the Vatican after Bush's visit said that the pope had "renewed his gratitude for the warm and special reception he received in the United States of America and at the White House in April, and for the commitment in defense of the fundamental moral values." The two leaders talked about relations between the U.S. and Europe, globalization, the world food crisis and international trade, among other topics, the Vatican said.

Spoken Words of Pope Benedict XVI during his Apostolic Visit to the United States April 15-20, 2008

• Interview of the Holy Father during the flight to the United States of America (April 15, 2008)
• Welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington (April 16, 2008)
• Joint declaration between the Holy See and the Office of the President of the United States of America released at the end of the private meeting between the Holy Father Benedict XVI and U.S. President George W. Bush (April 16, 2008)
• Celebration of Vespers and meeting with the Bishops of the United States of America at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington (April 16, 2008)
• Responses of Benedict XVI to the questions posed by the American Bishops (April 16, 2008)
• Homily during the celebration of Holy Mass at the Washington Nationals Stadium (April 17, 2008)
• Meeting with Catholic educators at the Conference Hall of the Catholic University of America in Washington (April 17, 2008)
• Meeting with the representatives of other religions at the “Rotunda” Hall of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center of Washington (April 17, 2008)
• Meeting with representatives of the Jewish community in Washington D.C. (April 17, 2008)
• Message to the Jewish community on the occasion of the feast of Pesah (April 17, 2008)
• Address of the Holy Father to the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization in New York (April 18, 2008)
• Greetings to the staff and the personnel of the United Nations in New York (April 18, 2008)
• Meeting with representatives of the Jewish community at Park East Synagogue in New York (April 18, 2008)
• Ecumenical Prayer Service at St Joseph's Parish in New York (April 18, 2008)
• Homily during the celebration of a Votive Mass for the Universal Church with priests, men and women religious in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York (April 19, 2008)
• Meeting with young people having disabilities at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, New York (April 19, 2008
• Meeting with young people and seminarians at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, New York (April 19, 2008)
• Prayer during the visit to Ground Zero in New York (April 20, 2008)
• Homily during the celebration of Holy Mass at New York's Yankee Stadium (April 20, 2008)
• Farewell ceremony at John Fitzgerald Kennedy International Airport of New York (April 20, 2008)

* * *

Collected speeches and homilies in PDF Document - should you wish to print and read offline. (Courtesy of the blog Disputations).