From a mere dream to a tangible reality: more than 100 unpublished homilies of Pope Benedict XVI will be published in the spring. This long-awaited special collection is prepared by the Ratzinger Foundation and includes texts delivered privately by the German pope.
Fr. FEDERICO LOMBARDI
President Joseph Ratzinger Foundation
Benedict XVI delivered a well-prepared homily every Sunday, even when he did not have to celebrate Mass in public; even during his travels or during the great ceremonies in St. Peter's; even when he was in his private chapel with members of his family, with the secretary and the nuns who lived with him; or even with a few invited friends.
Some of these homilies have been previously published. One dedicated to St. Joseph that Pope Benedict prepared for the Christmas season has already appeared in a German newspaper. It will join hundreds more and will be organized according to the liturgical year.
Fr. FEDERICO LOMBARDI
President Joseph Ratzinger Foundation
There are more than 100 homilies that have been recorded and that we are organizing according to the liturgical year, that is, so that they are presented according to the liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, etc. And then, those of Ordinary Time. However, this is not a systematic and complete commentary on the entire festive lectionary.
When Pope Benedict XVI died, Archbishop Georg Gänswein became his executor. The Pope’s longtime secretary gave these documents to the Ratzinger Foundation so they could enter the public domain.
Fr. FEDERICO LOMBARDI
President Joseph Ratzinger Foundation
After Benedict’s death, we asked the person who kept the homilies, namely his secretary, Monsignor Gänswein, if we could work on preparing a publication. Of course, it is a publication that will not be reviewed and approved by the author, but it is made with great care and love by us, with great attention and with a good knowledge of Benedict’s thoughts and his style of expression.
Pope Benedict XVI’s writings are notable for their spirituality. The pope consolidated his international fame as a highly respected religious author with works like Introduction to Christianity and the Jesus of Nazareth trilogy.
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