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Vatican
Watcher Gauges
Pope’s First Year
Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican-watcher for the newspaper II Giomale and
author of “Benedict XVI, Custodian of Faith” gauged Pope
Benedict XVI’s first pontifical year during an interview with
the Zenit.
Tomielli pointed out Pope Benedict’s difference with that of
late Pope John Paul II. On the objective differences due to age formation,
Tomielle recounted that Pope Benedict was a theologian who had lived
in the Curia for 23 years and got elected at the ages of 78. Meanwhile,
Pope John Paul was a philosopher who came from a diocese and got elected
at 58.
Pope Benedict’s difference that most impressed the Vatican watcher
is the Pope’s attempt to make Christ’s light shines not
the Pope’s light. The Pope said this before imparting the blessing
“urbi et urbi” (to the city of Rome and the world) in
the Sistene Chapel a day after his election.
The Pope reduces public appearances and no longer presided at beatification.
Most of all, he introduced the Eucharistic Adoration at the end
of important celebrations such as the World Youth Day.
Tomeilli added that the Pope Benedict XVI is more with words and
he is more restrained compared to Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict
seems also to look more toward Europe and the risk that it might
lose its identity while Pope John Paul II was more projected in
global dimensions.
But on the doctrinal point of view, the Vatican watcher said that
there is absolute continuity.
Regarding Benedict XVI’x essential pontificate lines, Tomielli
believes that it’s the proclamation of the Christian faith
as an event of salvation and not as series of dogmas, moral norms,
prohibitions and rites. Pope Benedict spoke continually of joy in
the previous year’s Cologne.
For Pope Benedict, Christianity is an encounter with beauty. With
this there is the possibility of a more authentic, more beautiful,
more exciting life as Christians find fuller life.
When asked to asses the encyclical “Deus Caritas Est”,
Tomielle stated that it has an exceptional beginning. Many of those
who wished to “recruit” Pope Benedict were expecting
a programmatic encyclical against relativism or in favor of Christian
identity. These people wanted to make the Pope as a symbol of political
projects oriented to reaffiming Europe’s identity and erect
walls against Islam. However, Pope Benedict astonished everyone
by speaking of the love of God.
Meanwhile, on the change of Curia’s governance, Tomielle
stressed that the Pope will continue to streamline free energies
that are not used well and above all make a “lighter”
and more functional Roman Curia.
Pope has said and written on several occasions that the Roman Curia
has become too large and is too bureaucratized. He doesn’t
want to write many documents because he believe that his tasks is
to assimilate his predecessor’s magisterium. In fact, he did
not publish the “Letter to Priests on the Occasion of Holy
Thursday” this year. Instead, he began to restructure the
Curia by uniting the two pontifical councils.
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| LIVES
OF THE SAINTS |
May
18
ST. JOHN
I
St. John I was a priest of Rome. He became pope after
the death of Pope St. Hormisdas in 523. At that time, Italy's
ruler, Theodoric the Goth, was an Arian. (The Arians did not
believe that Jesus is God.) Theodoric let Catholics alone
at the beginning of his reign. Later, however, he changed
and became arrogant and suspicious of everyone.
May
19
ST. CELESTINE V
Peter di Morone was the eleventh of twelve children.
He was born around 1210 in Isernia, Italy. His father died
when he was small. The family was poor, but Peter's mother
raised her children with great love.
May
20
ST. BERNARDINE OF SIENA
St. Bernardine of Siena was born in 1380 in a town
near Siena, Italy. He was the son of an Italian governor.
His parents died when he was seven.
May
21
BLESSED
EUGENE DE MAZENOD
Blessed Eugene was born in France in 1782. He became
a priest in 1811. Father Eugene was sensitive to the needs
of the poor and he ministered to them.
May
22
ST. RITA OF CASCIA
St. Rita was born in 1381 in a little Italian village.
Her parents were older. They had begged God to send them a
child. They brought Rita up well. Rita wanted to enter the
convent when she was fifteen, but her parents decided that
she should marry instead.
May
23
ST. JOHN
BAPTIST ROSSI
St. John Baptist Rossi was born in 1698 in a village
near Genoa, Italy. His family loved him. They were proud when
a wealthy couple visiting their town offered to educate him.
His parents knew the couple and trusted them. John was happy
to be able to go to their house in Genoa because then he could
attend school.
May
24
ST. DAVID
I OF SCOTLAND
St. David was born in 1080. He was the youngest son of St.
Margaret, queen of Scotland, and her good husband, King Malcom.
David himself became king when he was about forty.
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH |
Tour
of the Relics of the Passion
(International Center
for Holy Relics)
www.HolyRelics.org
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| REFLECTIONS |
 “Jesus’
Baptism”
Why did Jesus, the sinless one sent from the Father in heaven,
submit himself to John’s baptism? John preached a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke
3:3). In this humble submission we see a foreshadowing of
the “baptism” of Jesus bloody death upon the
cross. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and the beginning
of his mission as God’s suffering Servant (Isaiah
52:13-15; 53:1-12). He allowed himself to be numbered among
sinners. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father’s
will. Out of love he consented to this baptism of death
for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust
and submission to God?
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