The Double "Foolish Prejudice." The Complete Text of the Letter by Benedict XVI
The Double "Foolish Prejudice." The Complete Text of the Letter by Benedict XVI > Italiano > English > Español > Français > All the articles of Settimo Cielo in English * The press office of the Holy See has not released the complete text of the letter sent by Benedict XVI last February 9 to the prefect of the Secretariat for Communications, Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò. Viganò has, however, given it a reading (see photo) on the occasion of the presentation to the press of the series “The theology of Pope Francis,” published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana and made up of eleven booklets, by different authors, on various aspects of the written and oral magisterium of the current pontiff. The letter bears the date of February 7 and is in response to a previous letter from Viganò of January 12. But given that it was made known on the evening of March 12, just before the fifth anniversary of the election as pope of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, it was received as if it were a sort of “vote,” more than just good, given by Benedict to his successor, at the end of his first five-year term. This interpretation has also been fostered by the press release sent out for the occasion by Viganò himself, which cited only the second and third paragraphs of the letter. In which, however, Benedict XVI rejects not one but a twofold “foolish prejudice”: both that according to which Francis would be “only a practical man devoid of particular theological or philosophical formation,” and the other according to which he himself, Joseph Ratzinger, would be “solely a theoretician of theology who could understand little of the concrete life of a Christian today.” In Francis, Benedict recognizes that which is undeniable: his having had a profound “formation” in theology and philosophy. Just as he recognizes an “interior continuity” between the two pontificates, where the adjective “interior” applies at least as much as the substantive “continuity,” given “all the differences of style and temperament.” And then there is that final paragraph, omitted in the press release, in which Ratzinger, with sincere candor, provides proof of his refined streak of irony. It’s all there for the reading. And he who wishes to understand, let him understand. So here is the complete text of the letter, from the salutation to the final signature. * Benedictus XVI Papa Emeritus Rev.mo Signore Mons. Dario Edoardo Viganò Prefetto della Segreteria per la Comunicazione Città del Vaticano 7 febbraio 2018 Reverendissimo Monsignore, I thank you for your courteous letter of January 12 and for the attached gift of the eleven small volumes edited by Roberto Repole. I applaud this initiative which is intended to oppose and react to the foolish prejudice according to which Pope Francis would be only a practical man devoid of particular theological or philosophical formation, while I would be solely a theoretician of theology who could understand little of the concrete life of a Christian today. The little volumes demonstrate, rightly so, that Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological formation, and they therefore help in seeing the interior continuity between the two pontificates, albeit with all the differences of style and temperament. Nonetheless, I do not feel that I can write a brief and dense theological page about them because for my whole life it has always been clear that I would write and express myself only on books that I had also truly read. Unfortunately, even if only for physical reasons, I am not able to read the eleven little volumes in the near future, all the more so in that I am under other obligations to which I have already agreed. I am sure that you will understand, and I extend to you my cordial greeting. Yours, Benedict XVI (English translation by Matthew Sherry, Ballwin, Missouri, U.S.A.)
Resistenza Cattolica whatever is the case with the signature, pope Benedict XVI proved to be the "master" of irony by politely dismissing Francis' "profound formation” in theology and philosophy by ignoring 'the work of his life'. Credit to S. Magister and Antonio Socci's recognition of Ratzinger's irony which comes from knowledge of Ratzinger's literary skills, for i.e. well presented in his book …More
Resistenza Cattolica whatever is the case with the signature, pope Benedict XVI proved to be the "master" of irony by politely dismissing Francis' "profound formation” in theology and philosophy by ignoring 'the work of his life'. Credit to S. Magister and Antonio Socci's recognition of Ratzinger's irony which comes from knowledge of Ratzinger's literary skills, for i.e. well presented in his book 'Non e Francesco?' Unfortunately, 'catholics' have (especially journalists) have not yet arrived at the intelectuall level to comprehend Ratzinger's thought and action.
