Pope Benedict XVI declares John Paul II and Pius XII "Venerable"

Today, reports the New York Times, Pope Benedict XVI moved two of his predecessors a step closer to sainthood, confirming the “heroic virtues” of John Paul II and, in a surprise move, of Pius XII, the pope during World War II:

After John Paul’s death in April 2005, Benedict bypassed a traditional waiting period to put the much beloved pope on a fast-track to sainthood. At John Paul’s funeral, crowds at Saint Peter’s Square chanted “santo subito,” or “sainthood now.” ...

Benedict has said that Pius worked “secretly and silently” to help save Jews. Although a Vatican committee confirmed his “heroic virtues” in 2007, Benedict had asked for time for reflection, which many saw as a diplomatic effort aimed at calming polemics.

On Saturday, the pope confirmed the committee’s findings. Before the two popes can become saints, another Vatican committee must determine that miracles have been attributed to them.

As the Times notes, Pius XII has been " point of contention between the Vatican and some Jewish groups, who say he did not do enough to stop the Holocaust." (See: "Pope Pius XII on the Jews archive for news and commentary on this particular topic).

From the Vatican, the 21 decrees of the Congregation for Saints' Causes approved today by Benedict XVI.

Send Pope Benedict a virtual Christmas Card!

The Vatican Web page Pope2you.net has made it possible this Christmas to send Benedict XVI a personalized Christmas card through e-mail or Facebook:

Upon visiting the site -- www.pope2you.net, launched by the Vatican Council for Social Communications in May, click on "Send the Pope your Christmas Greetings." Simply follow the instructions and a personalized, virtual card will be sent to the Holy Father. Even a picture can be included.

Pope2you.net is also offering a Facebook application that one can use to send Christmas cards to friends that feature an official picture of the Pope as taken by L'Osservatore Romano, accompanied by the Pontiff's "words of hope and peace."

The cards can be sent in English, Italian, Spanish, German and French, and there are four options to choose from.

(HT: Zenit).

Change in Mass schedule prompts speculation over Pope's Health

A Vatican spokesman said the decision to move the traditional Christmas Midnight Mass to 10:00pm was taken nearly two months ago, "to tire the pope a little less". CBS News' "The Early Show" reports:

The pontiff has "a very full schedule for a person more than 80 years old," the spokesman added.

The mass generally lasts about 90 minutes, and the Pope has to be back in St Peter's Square on Christmas morning to deliver the "Urbi et Orbi," his annual message to the city and the world. [...]

Benedict suffered a mild stroke in 1991, is thought to have had another one just before he was elected Pope, and broke his wrist in a fall while on holiday in the Italian Alps in July.

Vatican sources, who will only speak off the record, say Benedict is "tired," and meets with only a small number of close advisers.

His personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, is said by Vatican insiders to be assuming more and closer control over Benedict's schedule.

On the other hand, Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, told Agence France Presse that he was “astonished” to encounter speculation about the Pontiff’s health:

Father Lombardi responded that the Vatican has deliberately avoided placing undue demands on the stamina of the 82-year-old Pontiff, and the earlier Mass would allow him to have a full night’s rest before Christmas Day. “It is a sensible precaution,” said the Vatican spokesman, and “no cause for concern or alarm.”

Pope Benedict Roundup!

• 12/12/09: Rowan Williams, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, described Pope Benedict's provisions for traditional Anglicans to come into union with the Catholic Church as "theologically eccentric". (Link to Fr. John Zuhlsdorf's commentary on the interview).

• 12/11/09: Pope Benedict XVI and high-ranking members or the Roman Curia met with two members of the Irish bishops’ conference t discuss the issue of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin. Dr. Denice Hanley of the Pope Benedict XVI Blog has the roundup.

• 12/10/09 The program for Benedict XVI's May 11-14 trip to Portugal has been confirmed, with visits to Lisbon, Fatima and Porto.

• 12/07/09 When there is conflict in the Church, the way to find sound doctrine, as well as serenity, is following the See of Peter, said Pope Benedict XVI, citing the example of Rupert of Deutz, a 12th-century Benedictine monk. (Click here for the full text of Benedict's homily).

• 12/5/09 - Pope Benedict XVI, in an address to the Bishops of Brazil, warning them of the "deceitful principles of liberation theology" and its "more or less visible consequences ... rebellion, division, dissent, offense, anarchy".

• "A Tale of Two Popes" - InsideCatholic's Joanna Bogle muses in anticipation of Benedict XVI's 2010 visit to England:

  [I]t's worth debunking a few papal myths -- the first being that John Paul II and Benedict XVI are men with wholly different worldviews and perspectives, who were often at variance with one another, especially on issues such as ecumenism, liturgy, and the relationship between the Church and other faiths. Not so. ...

• Pope Benedict is the target of frequent attacks by renegade Catholic theologians -- but this takes the cake: Dr Tina Beattie, Professor of Catholic Studies at Roehampton University, has attacked Pope Benedict XVI’s teaching on the family in the most revolting terms, invoking the case of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian rapist who fathered seven children by his own daughter. Yes, you read that correctly. Damien Thompson wonders: "Will anyone have the nerve to raise the subject at the next Tablet board meeting?"

• Boy's wish comes true for papal audience, by Diane Kreiger-Spivak (Chicago Post-Tribune December 4, 2009):

  Andrew lives in the same house his family has owned for 150 years, and is a member of the same church his family has attended just as long, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, just down the highway.

  His faith, his mom says, is passionate, which is why Andrew, unlike thousands of other gravely ill children, told the Make-A-Wish Foundation that he wanted to go to Rome to visit the pope. ...

• Is Pope Benedict a secret rap lover? - "NO!", says The Catholic Herald's Anna Arco.

• "From Priest to Pontiff (First Things ) - George Cardinal Pell reviews Peter Seewald's From Priest to Pontiff:

  Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait effectively brings the pope to the wider world—mostly because its author is a journalist able to ask the questions nontheologians and nonbelievers find interesting. A communist when he first encountered the future pope, Seewald nonetheless had insight and integrity that gradually enabled him to recognize the central claims of Christianity, even when he could not accept their truth. And, as his work with then Cardinal Ratzinger on The Salt of the Earth progressed, he managed to escape the narrow constraints of the German intellectual and theological world, coming to admire his subject.

  Indeed, by his own account, the answers Seewald received “grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.” He started to read the gospels regularly and to go to Mass. Belief became a burning issue for him and he was horrified by the possibility that his questions had no answers. He has now quietly returned to the Church, acknowledging that, by Catholic criteria, only a conservative can be progressive—which is to say, only someone who keeps the treasure of faith complete and intact is able to achieve progress. ...

• Zenit reports that The Russian Orthodox Church has published a book in Italian and Russian with texts from Benedict XVI on the culture of Europe:

  This is the first time the Moscow Patriarchate is publishing a compilation of texts from a Pope. It is titled "Europe, Spiritual Homeland," and includes addresses by Joseph Ratzinger during the course of more than a decade. ...

  "This book is an event of unprecedented historic scope in the millennial history of Catholics and Russian Orthodox," explained the editor of the book, Pierluca Azzaro. "But before and above all, it is a great testimony of love of Christ and between Christians. From this love springs -- should spring -- European culture in all its manifold expressions: a living culture, imbued with an authentically creative moral energy, all together geared to the building of a good future for all."

  Sandro Magister has more, including ntroduction to: Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, "Europa, patria spirituale," Moscow/Rome, 2009.

Thank You (and Congrats) to CathNews

Thanks to CathNews for selecting the Pope Benedict XVI Fan Club as their 'featured website' of the month -- and congratulations, on CathNews' 10 Year Anniversary!

Something for the Kids: "Joseph and Chico" - The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told By a Cat

Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told By a Cat Ignatius Press (March 2008) In this beautifully illustrated book for children, Chico the cat describes the life of his "best friend", Pope Benedict, in this authorised biography of the Pope for young people approved by the Vatican. "Dear Children, here you will find a biography that is different than others because it is told by a cat and it is not every day a cat can consider the Holy Father his friend and sit down to write his life story," the Pope's personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, says in the foreword. The Pope is known for his fondness of animals, especially cats, and Joseph and Chico is narrated by Chico, a real cat who took up with the Pope in his native Germany long before he became the Pope. Chico tells the story of the life of "my best friend" from his birth in Germany in 1927, through his days as a young man, priest, bishop and cardinal. With a colorful and sometimes amusing language, the author makes this funny cat tell us about the life of the young Joseph all the way up to his election as Pontiff on April 19, 2005. It recounts the Nazi era in Germany when the Pope was a teenager, calling the war years "one of the most dramatic and shameful times in the history of man". Later when he became Cardinal Ratzinger, Chico recounts how each time when the Cardinal returned to Germany from Rome for a vacation, the cat would run into his house and sit on his lap as he played the piano. Related Images from "Joseph and Chico" Sample Pages from "Joseph and Chico" Chico is one of the most famous cats in the world. He is 9 years old and famous for being one of Benedict XVI’s best friends… in fact the only friend to have slept on the papal piano. (ROMEreports TV 10/19/07). Cat Lovers Appreciate Soul Mate in Vatican, by Andy Newman New York Times April 21, 2008.

Adventus: "God is here"

Let us reflect briefly on the meaning of this word, which can be rendered with "presence", "arrival" or "coming". In the language of the ancient world it was a technical term used to indicate the arrival of an official or the visit of the king or emperor to a province. However, it could also mean the coming of the divinity that emerges from concealment to manifest himself forcefully or that was celebrated as being present in worship. Christians used the word "advent" to express their relationship with Jesus Christ: Jesus is the King who entered this poor "province" called "earth" to pay everyone a visit; he makes all those who believe in him participate in his Coming, all who believe in his presence in the liturgical assembly. The essential meaning of the word adventus was: God is here, he has not withdrawn from the world, he has not deserted us. Even if we cannot see and touch him as we can tangible realities, he is here and comes to visit us in many ways.

-- Pope Benedict XVI, Celebration of First Vespers of Advent

Related

• Pope Benedict: First Vespers of Advent Video (Catholic Online).

Pope Benedict Roundup!

• From the Catholic Herald, the news that Pope Benedict will waive his own rules so he can preside in person over the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman during a papal visit to Britain next year:

  Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster refused to either confirm or deny the report: "The details of the Pope's visit are far from clear," he said. "What is clear is that the Holy Father has a great and long-standing devotion to Cardinal Newman and the beatification of Cardinal Newman is due."

  Fr Ian Ker, author of the definitive biography of Cardinal Newman, said: "By breaking his own rules Pope Benedict clearly shows he regards Newman as a completely exceptional case, one of the great theologians of the Catholic Church. Many of the popes have been anxious to canonise Newman. They look to him as a man who welcomed modernisation but in fidelity to Church authority and in continuity with the traditions of the Church."

• The Homilies of Benedict XVI: A Model for a Confused Church, by Sandro Magister:

  On the eve of Advent, a book has been released in Italy that collects the homilies by Benedict XVI in the liturgical year that just ended. ...

  The homilies have become a distinguishing feature of the pontificate of Benedict XVI. They may be the least known and understood feature, but they are certainly the most revealing. He writes many of them himself, and improvises them at times; they are the most genuine manifestation of his mind. He is dedicating himself to them to a great and growing extent.

• The leader of a billion Roman Catholics meets the leader of 80 million Anglicans at a moment of historic crisis between the two Communions and they spend all of TWENTY MINUTES together. Muses Damien Thompson of the Telegraph: "They know it's over.":

  Pope Benedict has given up on the Church of England, in the nicest possible way. As even Dr Williams admits, he’s not interested in “poaching” Anglicans, but in making special arrangements for those who are quite determined to leave. And +Rowan, by rubbing the Vatican’s nose in the women priests issue earlier this week, showed that he has given up on the Catholics – again, in the nicest possible way.

  Last year, Cardinal Kasper warned the Lambeth Conference that it had to decide whether it was Catholic or Protestant. Now we know the answer. Though some of us always did.

• Speaking at the recent meeting of the Pontifical Council of Social Communication, Benedict XVI commended the work of Catholics on the Internet (Via Deal Hudson @ InsideCatholic):

  A genuine revolution is taking place in the realm of social communications of which the Church is ever more responsibly conscious. . . . . These technologies make speech and penetrating communications possible, with a capacity to share ideas and opinions; to facilitate acquiring information and news in a personal way that is accessible to all.

• Inside Catholic reveals the influence of Pope Benedict XVI on the Catholic conversion of Newt Gingerich:

  The moment came when Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in April 2008. Gingrich was seated in the basilica, where his wife's choir was to sing vespers for the Holy Father, when he was suddenly able to see the pope up close. He recalled, "It was clear he [the pope] was having the time of his life, and the joy in his eyes belied his reputation as an austere German. As he walked past me, I knew I wanted to become a Catholic."

  "I knew that I belonged here," he went on. "No -- as a Catholic, I should put it: Here is where I belong." As Gingrich parsed his sentence, his eyes teared up, and he excused himself for getting emotional. He changed the subject, but the emotion remained in his voice as he talked about Benedict's visit to New York City.

  "It was extraordinary," he told me; "we were so blessed." As he and Callista tried to get close to the pope's entourage driving up Fifth Avenue, they ended up on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral and were invited to stand at the back for the Mass. Then they were told that the pope would pass by their spot near the rope and bless a young boy in the wheelchair sitting next to them. They were overwhelmed when "Benedict XVI blessed the boy directly in front of us!"

• "Diaz and the Pope" - Mollie Wilson O'Reilly (Commonweal) draws our attention to the official exchange between Miguel Diaz, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, and Pope Benedict XVI, on such topics as the Pope's latest encyclical to "respect for the inalienable right to life from the moment of conception to natural death, as well as the protection of the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care workers." Reuters' Faithworld has more on the encounter between the "theologian envoy and the theologian pope" and John Allen, Jr. interviews ambassador Diaz on "being uprooted into a life of service".

Singing Pontiffs

Catholic News Agency reports that Pope Benedict XVI will release an album, featuring him singing chants and reciting prayers to the accompaniment of classical music:

The new album, titled, “Alma Mater, Music from the Vatican,” features eight pieces of modern sacred music with recordings of the Pope speaking and praying in Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French and German. The Pope’s voice is accompanied by the choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, directed by Msgr. Pablo Colino.

The music was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London.

During the press conference presenting the new CD, Father Lombardi said the idea to make the CD came from Giulio Neroni, who brought the proposal to the Vatican Secretary of State. St. Paul Multimedia agreed to produce the album, with the assistance of Vatican Radio for the recordings of the Pope.

More from Rachel Donaldson @ The First Post:

Sadly, it seems the Pope's debut album, Alma Mater, is likely to disappoint both his ardent admirers, hoping to hear his singing voice, and less devout fans curious to witness the transformation from rock of the Roman Catholic Church to rock star.

In a 50-minute album of Gregorian chants and original pieces of music, the Pope can be heard for a mere 10 minutes. He recites prayers to the Virgin Mary in various languages but his singing voice is not heard until 40 minutes into the record, when he leads the choir in the Regina Coeli chant.

We shall see.

The author claims that with the release of Alma Mater, Benedict "becomes the first singing pontiff to appear on Geffen, or indeed any record label." Well, perhaps as a singing pontiff -- but I still remember the well-received release of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II's Abba Pater, which as I recall even made it to MTV.

Accompanied by a resplendently rhythmic score and including an intriguing blend of classical, world, and contemporary western music, Abba Pater is Pope John Paul II's uplifting message to the faithful everywhere. Released in timely celebration of Holy Week and Easter, and in anticipation of the millennial Great Jubilee pilgrimage, this sacred inner expedition of sound explores universal themes of spirituality such as praise, forgiveness, and brotherly love. Abba Pater is the first musical CD ever to feature the most famous man in the world, whose dramatic and moving words delivered on these tracks are culled from archival recordings from the first 20 years of his papacy. In five beautifully expressed languages, the Pope sings, chants, and prays for the healing of humankind, all of which is perhaps best summed up by the words in Psalm 26: "I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." -- Paige La Grone

Update - Dr. John Meyers remarks:

Actually, the first recording of a singing pontiff was that of Pope Leo XIII (!) in 1902 or 1903, chanting the 'Ave Maria" in plainsong, and may be found on the Opal CD - 9823, "The Last Castrato" featuring Alessandro Moreschi which may still be available. I purchased it about fifteen years ago.

Fall Books by (or on) Pope Benedict XVI

	Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVI By Scott Hahn. Baker Brazos Press (October 2009) Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's election as Pope Benedict XVI brought a world-class biblical theologian to the papacy. There is an intensely biblical quality to his pastoral teaching and he has demonstrated a keen concern for the authentic interpretation of sacred Scripture. Here a foremost interpreter of Catholic thought and life offers a probing look at Benedict's biblical theology and provides a clear and concise introduction to his life and work. Bestselling author and theologian Scott Hahn argues that the heart of Benedict's theology is salvation history and the Bible and shows how Benedict accepts historical criticism but recognizes its limits. The author also explains how Benedict reads the overall narrative of Scripture and how he puts it to work in theology, liturgy, and Christian discipleship. Related "Covenant and Communion" [On Pope Benedict XVI], by Dr. Scott Hahn. September 29, 2009.
	Maria: Pope Benedict XVI on the Mother of God Ignatius Press (November 2009) This glorious volume is a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book with dozens of inspirational and famous color paintings, sculptures and artwork of the Blessed Virgin Mary from all over the world. The beautiful pictures are accompanied by the profound writings and homilies of Pope Benedict XVI on the person of Mary, and her unique role in human history and in the plan of God for salvation history. The gorgeous paintings and artwork are from many different centuries, some very famous and others less well-known. Many of these artworks are located at popular Marian shrines that Pope Benedict has visited and honored with special events, prayers and homilies, depicted throughout this volume. Some of the famous Marian images include Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Czestochowa (the ''Black Madonna''), Queen of the Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Loreto, Queen of Carmel, and many others. Pope Benedict offers in-depth, inspirational reflections on the unique spiritual role Mary as the Mother of the Savior, showing her to be the universal ''Woman'' that Jesus calls her in the Gospels, his mother that God made the spiritual mother of all mankind. Using Biblical references of Mary as ''full of grace'' and the ''woman clothed with the sun'', Pope Benedict emphasizes that Mary's main role is to lead us to union with Jesus, to help us know and love Him much better and to be his true followers.
	Meeting Saint Paul With the Pope: Wednesday Audiences During the Pauline Jubilee Year Paulist Press (November 2009)