On December 22, Pope Benedict gave an address to the Roman Curia in which he reflected on the events of the past year, which included the death of John Paul II, the interregnum, his own election, and the first year of his pontificate (including World Youth Day and the Synod on the Eucharist).
I recently read one prelate who described this address as amounting to "almost an encyclical," and I’ve read rumors that B16 has delayed the release of his first encyclical (by a couple of weeks; word is it’ll be out in the second half of January) in order to let this address sink in before hitting the Church with something new to absorb.
It really is a wide ranging address–including discussions not only of the above-mentioned topics but also the correct and incorrect interpretations of Vatican II, the relationship of the Church to science, and the Church’s social teaching–delivered with the characteristic frankness of B16.
It’s well worth your while to read, so
Wow. I’ve never heard anyone demolish “the spirit of Vatican II” in such an elegant fashion. Viva Papa!
Jimmy,
Thank you for the recommendation and link. I really enjoyed reading Pope Benedict XVI’s homily and look forward with great anticipation to his first encyclical.
Take care and God bless.
J+M+J
That was…very, very good. Quite an…elegant dismantling of lots of heretical stuff. Especially, as Margaret said, the ‘spirit of vatican II’.
Turkish man who shot Pope leaves prison (Reuters)
Reuters – Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who shot and
seriously wounded Pope John Paul II in 1981, was re