The Pope Benedict XVI Reader

by Pope Benedict XVI, Robert Barron

It is difficult to overestimate the impact that Pope Benedict XVI has had on the Catholic Church. He served the people of God as a priest, an advisor at the Second Vatican Council, a bishop, a cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the 265th pope. But in addition to his influence as a churchman, Joseph Ratzinger also stands out as one of the most significant thinkers in recent history. He is the author of more than sixty books, numerous articles, and countless homilies. Catholics and non-Catholics alike have been inspired and challenged by his theological writings.

For many people, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The Pope Benedict XVI Reader offers a point of entry for those seeking a deeper engagement with his teachings, whether you have read little of his work or have enjoyed it for years. This wide-ranging collection draws together some of the finest excerpts from Ratzinger’s interviews, speeches, audiences, homilies, and books, with insights on a variety of topics, including the Trinity, the person of Jesus Christ, the Church, Mary and the saints, the Bible, the liturgy, prayer, the Second Vatican Council, and the challenge of living the faith in the modern world. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of a man whose legacy of scholarly erudition, pastoral gentleness, and deep and abiding love for Christ and his Church continues to awe the world.

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Christianity

384 pages, Hardcover

Published April 19, 2021

About the author

Originally 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...)

Reviews

[Ed Parke · Rating 5 out of 5]

+Benedict just got it. Time will show how important his writings and his pontificate were.

[Matthew Purt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never read Benedict XVI? Start here.

[Mary Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very accesible book by one if the great modern Popes.

[Ruth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. PBXVI leads us to Truth through charity and clarity. Four stars because the readings sometimes felt disjointed and hard to follow, which is understandable given this was a reader, and samples were taken from whole books or a series of lectures. It does its job and leads you to discover more of this spiritual father's great writings!

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This contains a wide variety of writings, from lives of the saints to the teachings of the church to the relationship between humans and technology and the importance of remembering the true ends of progress.

Ratzinger/Benedict is an academic, and many of these selections read like it. The audiences also differ; some are for the clergy, some for academics, and some for the laity. This makes it an especially fascinating, if sometimes hard to follow, collection.

p. 38

I realized the trip to Mexico and Cuba had really taken it out of me. The doctor also said to me that I could not fly over the Atlantic again.

p. 42

If a pope were only ever applauded, he would have to ask himself whether or not he was doing things right.

p. 57

I can actively and methodically investigate material things; I can subject them to my control, because they are inferior to me. But even another person is beyond my understanding if I treat him in this way. On the contrary, I only come to know something of him when I began to put myself in his place, to get inside him, by some kind of sympathy.

This is more than ever true of God. I can only begin to seek God by setting aside this attitude of domination. In its present I have to develop an attitude of availability, of opening myself, of searching. I must be ready to wait in all humility—and to allow him to show himself in the manner he chooses, not as I would like him to do it.

p. 112

Far-distant stars, now already dead, may still be shining upon us.

p. 116

Values cannot replace truth; they cannot replace God, for they are only a reflection of him, and without his light their outline becomes blurred.

p. 133 views on Vatican II

“Cardinal Julius Dopfner once remarked that the Church of the post-conciliar period is a huge construction site. But a critical spirit later added that it was a construction site where the blueprint had been lost and everyone continues to build according to his taste.”

p. 139

“It is not Christians who oppose the world, but rather the world which opposes itself to them when the truth about God, about Christ and about man is proclaimed. The world waxes indignant when sin and grace are called by their names.”

p. 305

Man knows that, by himself, he cannot respond to his own fundamental need to understand. However much he is deluded and still deludes himself that he is self-sufficient, he experiences his own insufficiency.

p. 328

The true nature of the Petrine office has become so incomprehensible in the modern age no doubt because we think of authority only in terms that do not allow for bridges between subject and object. Accordingly, everything that does not come from the subject is thought to be externally imposed… All power which the papacy has is the power of conscience.

p. 354

Insignificant matters are considered shocking, yet unprecedented injustices seem to be widely tolerated. While the poor of the world continue knocking on the doors of the rich, the world of affluence runs the risk of no longer hearing those knocks, on account of a conscience that can no longer distinguish what is human.

…we often reduce the self to the psyche and confuse the soul’s health with emotional well-being.

p. 355

When he is far away from God, man is unsettled and ill at ease.

All our knowledge, even the most simple, is always a minor miracle, since it can never be fully explained by the material instruments that we apply to it. In every truth there is something more than we could have expected, in the love that we receive there is always an element that surprises us. We should never cease to marvel at these things.

[J. Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely accessible book. The book is divided into eleven different sections. Each of these sections has a number of short entries between three and seven pages. None of it is high theology. I was concerned about the density of the material, having read Ratzinger's Infancy Narratives, but this is much more accessible. Virtually anyone will enjoy this material.

The first section deals with the man himself. I found it quite touching to see the person behind the figure. Ratzinger is clearly an extreme introvert and loves to geek out about theology. His ministry was not his first choice, and becoming Pope was something he was reluctant to have happen. He is definitely a philosophy professor by temperament. This was one of the best sections of the book.

The next two sections were on God and Jesus Christ. These are also very good. It does border on some major theological concepts which are difficult to understand. But I think that is inherit anytime you discuss the trinity. It could be more of a me issue as I struggle to wrap my head around the concept. I'm not sure you can entirely. But Ratzinger does an excellent job at conceptualizing God and the incarnate word in these two sections.

The next four sections deal with the Church, the Second Vatican Counsel, the Bible and the Mother of God. I appreciate that Ratzinger's theological bent was more Christological than Marian. There's an appreciation for Mary without a major emphasis, at least that is how it reads. I too share this bent and found it refreshing. The highlight of these four sections are the discussions about the Second Vatican Counsel and what it means and does not mean. Ratzinger is very much a voice for the counsel, and is neither part of the conservative or liberal camps. His criticism of both these camps as being opposed to the Second Vatican Counsel was a major highlight in this section and for the book as a whole.

The next section was on the Church Fathers. I appreciate the Church Fathers and share Ratzinger's (and the Counsel's) view that an emphasis on the Fathers and on Christ is the best way forward. However, I found these sections somewhat lackluster. Ratzinger provides an encyclopedia entry on sixteen different fathers. He touches on their theology a little bit, but the space provided is small and we really just get more of a historical introduction to each Church Father. It was interesting and not bad, but definatly the least exciting part of the book.

The next section was also very good. It deal with prayer and what prayer is and is not. The first entry about the natural desire for God was among the best entries in the entire book.

The final section was on ethics and faith in the modern world. I especially liked the section on technology and development as I think this rings even more true now than when it was written over a decade ago. This final entry was an excellent place to conclude because Ratzinger is effectively passing the torch to his successor and to the Church of this decade to make the right decisions going forward as technology advances as a force for both good and evil.

The introduction by Bishop Barron was thoughtful and well written. Overall, this is a super accessible reader. You can pick it up, read an entry in 5-10 minutes and put it down. Ratzinger was an extremely impressive intellectual and I think likely a very kind professor type when he wasn't being the towering figure that he was. Recommended for any Christian readers, Catholic or otherwise.

[Dan Charnas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gained a true appreciation and respect for Pope Benedict XVI from this compilation of his writings and speeches. A brilliant, sensitive, articulate man who studied history deeply and carefully analyzed the philosophies of the ages - but always within the context of his grounding in the fundamental tenets of Catholicism.
The book is very well-organized, and there are a wealth of topics covered, including a candid interview that he gave about his resignation.
Five stars, and then some. 🙂

[Jessica Lange · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I did enjoy parts of this book, like learning about the Pope's early life before becoming Pope, this book was just overall too academic for me. I know many people enjoy the writings of Pope Benedict, which is why I wanted to read this compilation of some of his writings, but his writings are just at a higher, more academic level than where I'm at right now. I can't believe I even finished it.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read from one of the most brilliant minds of our day. I had to read slowly, so I could ponder over each topic. Would recommend to anyone who wants a deeper insight into the Catholic faith

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant mind and a deeply wise spiritual man, dearly missed.

[R. Moores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pope Benedict XVI is the most important Christian theologian of the modern era. As Cardinal Ratzinger, he was heavily involved in Vatican II and widely seen as Pope John Paul II's right hand man on matters of Catholic doctrine and theology.

As a former professor of theology, Benedict XVI speaks and writes in the style you would expect. His Christianity is rooted in Greek rationality, the traditional Church Fathers and historical context. His harshest critiques are for what he labels the "dictatorship of relativism," that is the lack of a "definitive truth" in the 21st century, replaced with a kind of individualistic atheism pursuing ego gratification and desire as the default setting for modern (read western) humans. Benedict XVI instead proposes a return to Christian values (obviously he was the Pope!) through a re-engagement with the mystic, communal experience of the Eucharist and liturgy and by growing in a thoroughly considered and lived faith.

To me, the best thing about Benedict's writings and papacy was how he sought to bring the believer into active participation with the historical unfolding of Christianity. He invited one to step into the eternal history of the Church; to live in the events of the Old Testament, to experience the appearance of Jesus, to walk through the Roman Empire to the modern day and beyond.

There is much to say about the realities of Benedict XVI's life, papacy, approach to church scandals, relationship with Islam, retirement etc, but this is not the place for that discussion. In my opinion, he is unmatched as a Christian scholar and his thoughts and writings are loaded with power and capable of expanding one's perception of Catholicism and Christianity, even to a non-follower like me.

Worth a read, to meet the man himself, not the man often presented by the media in an unsympathetic light (sometimes justified, often not).

You rule, Pope Benedict XVI, thanks for your words and for keeping history alive.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pope Benedict reader is a wide ranging treatment of the former Pope’s life and his erudite views on a varied number of topics.

I recommend the book to anyone interested in Pope Benedict or Catholic theology.

[benjamin uhlenkott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a decent introduction into Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. For someone who knows more about him or his writing, this would not be a good purchase.