What do you think?
Rate this book
With God You Are Never Alone: The Great Papal Addresses
From his first homily as pope to the last public hearing, these are the 10 great speeches of Benedict XVI's pontificate.
Since his death in 2022, Benedict XVI has been celebrated as a leader of profound wisdom and dismissed as an unrepentant traditionalist. With God You Are Never Alone presents Benedict XVI as he was--a man of faith, in his own words. These speeches--his deepest thoughts and beliefs--are the truth of his legacy.
Collected here are ten speeches, including his speech on visiting Auschwitz, his address to the House of Commons and House of Lords, his address to the German Bundestag in Berlin, his address to the United Nations, his notorious Regensburg speech and the speech in which he announced his historic resignation. His thoughtful speeches present an inspiring thinker who still has much to teach about not just religion, but the common good. These are the speeches that reveal the depth of his theological reflection in simple language that has nourished the faith of millions.
Since his death in 2022, Benedict XVI has been celebrated as a leader of profound wisdom and dismissed as an unrepentant traditionalist. With God You Are Never Alone presents Benedict XVI as he was--a man of faith, in his own words. These speeches--his deepest thoughts and beliefs--are the truth of his legacy.
Collected here are ten speeches, including his speech on visiting Auschwitz, his address to the House of Commons and House of Lords, his address to the German Bundestag in Berlin, his address to the United Nations, his notorious Regensburg speech and the speech in which he announced his historic resignation. His thoughtful speeches present an inspiring thinker who still has much to teach about not just religion, but the common good. These are the speeches that reveal the depth of his theological reflection in simple language that has nourished the faith of millions.
- GenresCatholic
192 pages, Hardcover
Published September 26, 2023
About the author
Pope Benedict XVI
946 books958 followersOriginally
Joseph Ratzinger
, a noted conservative theologian before his election in 2005, Benedict XVI strove against the influence of secularism during his papacy to defend traditional Catholic teachings but since medieval times first resigned in 2013.
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 19, 2026
Great collection of speeches by pope Benedict XVI — my personal favorite pope and theologian. This collection would be worth even if it was just for the “Regensburg address”: pope Benedict XVI delivered his lecture, "Faith, Reason and the University – Memories and Reflections," at the University of Regensburg in Germany on September 12, 2006.
The address examined the inherent harmony between faith and reason, arguing that religion must operate in accordance with rationality rather than violence.
But the address became famous because it irritated many muslim people and supporters of Islam, for “daring” to include a historic quote about violence in Mohammed’s history. The backlash erupted because Benedict quoted a 14th-century conversation between Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos and an educated Persian.
In the quoted passage, the Emperor criticized Islam, saying, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".
God as Logos
Benedict argued that God acts according to reason and intelligibility. His most famous thesis from the lecture states: "Not to act in accordance with reason is contrary to God's nature".
Rejection of Coerced Faith
Faith must be a product of the soul’s freedom, and attempting to spread religion through violence or forced conversion is inherently unreasonable and contradicts the nature of God.
Broadening Reason
He warned against modern philosophies that restrict reason only to what can be empirically measured or scientifically proven, advocating for a return to philosophy and theology to understand ultimate truths.
It’s obvious that the pope had no intention of attacking Islam. I remember welcoming his speech very warmly.
The address examined the inherent harmony between faith and reason, arguing that religion must operate in accordance with rationality rather than violence.
But the address became famous because it irritated many muslim people and supporters of Islam, for “daring” to include a historic quote about violence in Mohammed’s history. The backlash erupted because Benedict quoted a 14th-century conversation between Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos and an educated Persian.
In the quoted passage, the Emperor criticized Islam, saying, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".
God as Logos
Benedict argued that God acts according to reason and intelligibility. His most famous thesis from the lecture states: "Not to act in accordance with reason is contrary to God's nature".
Rejection of Coerced Faith
Faith must be a product of the soul’s freedom, and attempting to spread religion through violence or forced conversion is inherently unreasonable and contradicts the nature of God.
Broadening Reason
He warned against modern philosophies that restrict reason only to what can be empirically measured or scientifically proven, advocating for a return to philosophy and theology to understand ultimate truths.
It’s obvious that the pope had no intention of attacking Islam. I remember welcoming his speech very warmly.
September 30, 2023
"With God You Are Never Alone: The Great Papal Addresses" is a collection of ten pivotal speeches made by Pope Benedict XVI over the course of his pontificate. Ranging from his first papal homily to a moving speech given at Auschwitz-Birkenau to presentations given at national parliaments to an address at World Youth Day to his final general audience, these ten addresses are an excellent introduction to Benedict XVI's theology and priorities during his time as Pope as well as his global role and impact. Most of the speeches are fairly short, with a reading time of about 10 minutes per address, but the brevity is made up for by the depth and richness of Benedict XVI's thought. I would recommend this book to any Catholic looking for a good introductory starting place with Benedict XVI's extensive theological writing.
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Bloomsbury USA, Bloomsbury Continuum through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Bloomsbury USA, Bloomsbury Continuum through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
April 4, 2024
I like Pope Benedict XVI in general, but I feel like this collection doesn't accomplish/say much.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews