The Ratzinger Archives

Presentations & Addresses by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

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2005

Cardinal Ratzinger On Europe's Crisis of Culture - translation of the lecture given in Italian by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Benedict XIV, in the convent of Saint Scholastica in Subiaco, Italy, upon reception of the St. Benedict Award for the promotion of life and the family in Europe on April 1, 2005. Zenit News Service.
Homily of the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, at the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff. April 18, 2005.
Funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II Cardinal Ratzinger's Homily at John Paul II's Funeral Mass. April 8, 2005.
On the 40th Anniversary of Gaudium Et Spes. Homily at St Peter's Basilica. Friday, 18 March 2005.
Funeral Mass of Fr. Luigi Giussani. Homily for the founder of the movement Communion & Liberation. February 25, 2005.

2004

Ratzinger: Reason Separated From God Is Obstacle to Peace Zenit.org. Nov. 7, 2004. Excerpts from an address delivered June 4 on the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion published by Vita e Pensiero, the journal of the Catholic University Sacro Cuore in Rome [Full text not yet available in English].
Europe: Its Spiritual Foundation: Yesterday, Today and in the Future Inside the Vatican, June-July 2004. Address to the Italian Senate on May 13, 2004, at the invitation of Marcello Pera (Italian philosopher and head of the Italian Senate).

2003

Remarks at the beginning of the Concert of the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk from Leipzig, for the 25th Anniversary of the Pontificate of John Paul II. October 17, 2003.
Greeting at the beginning of the solemn Eucharistic Celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the Pontificate of John Paul II. October 16, 2003.
Message to the Holy Father John Paul II for his 83rd Birthday. Given to Pope John Paul II on May 18, 2003.
"Relationship between Magisterium and exegetes", reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Pontifical Biblical Commision. May 10, 2003.
Intervention of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, during the round-table discussion on the subject "The commitment and behavior of Catholics in political life" Rome - Pontifical University of Santa Croce. April 9, 2003.

2002

Current Doctrinal Relevance of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

"The Feeling of Things, the Contemplation of Beauty", Message to the Communion and Liberation (CL) meeting at Rimini (24-30 August 2002).
Eucharist, Communion & Solidarity. Lecture by H. Em. Card. Joseph Ratzinger at the Bishops Conference of the Region of Campania in Benevuto, Italy. June 2, 2002.
Presentation regarding the Apostolic Letter [Novo Millennio ineunte] which in the form of a "Motu Proprio Misericordia Dei" reaffirmed the necessity of confessing each and every mortal sin. L'Osservatore Romano May 8, 2002.

2001

The Ecclesiology of Vatican II, Conference of Cardinal Ratzinger at the opening of the Pastoral Congress of the Diocese of Aversa (Italy). 15 September 2001.
Theology of the Liturgy, delivered at a congress on the liturgy held at the Benedictine monastery at Fontgombault in France, 22-24 July 2001. Oriens, Journal of The Ecclesia Dei Society.

2000

New Evangelization: Building the Civilization of Love

The Ecclesiology of the Constitution on the Church, Vatican II, 'Lumen Gentium', presentation at a symposium on the reception of the Council held in Rome in November 2000.
Words of Homage to John Paul II, At the Audience of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, January 28, 2000.

1999

Culture and Truth: Some Reflections on the Encyclical Letter, Fides et Ratio

The Patrician

1998

Crises of Law, delivered by Cardinal Ratzinger on the occasion of being conferred the degree of Doctor Honor's Causa by the LUMSA Faculty of Jurisprudence in Rome, Nov.10, 1999.
10th anniversary of the Motu proprio Ecclesia Dei, Conference of Cardinal Ratzinger 24 October 1998.
Theologie: Wissenschaft vs. Autorität?, On January 31st 1998 Cardinal Ratzinger received honorary doctorates from the University of Navarra. The doctorates were conferred by Bishop Javier Echevarria, Prelate of Opus Dei and Chancellor of the University. The following text is Cardinal Ratzinger's address.

1997

Question of Truth Lies at the Center of Theology, translation of Cardinal's opening address during the symposium on "The Primacy of the Successor of Peter", sponsored by the CDF. Monday, 2 December 1996. Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English. 1 January 1997.

1996

Relativism: The Central Problem for the Faith Today

1993

Christ, Faith, and the Challenge of Cultures

1992

The Catechism of the Catholic Church in Context, December 9, 1992. [provided by National Conference of Catholic Bishops/U.S. Catholic Conference : Office for the Catechism].
Installation du Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques of the Institut de France. November 6, 1992. [in French].

1991

The Problem of Threats to Human Life, Vatican City, April 4-7, 1991. [Note: This consistory was a key preparatory moment for the preparation of the Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae]

1990

Update on the Universal Catechism of the Catholic Church, given at the Synod of 1990 [provided by National Conference of Catholic Bishops/U.S. Catholic Conference : Office for the Catechism].
On The Nature of the Priesthood, Speech given by Cardinal Ratzinger on October 1, 1990 at the opening of the VIII Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on priestly formation.
The Theology of Cardinal Newman The Presentation was given in the centenary year of Newman's death (1990) during a Symposium organized by the International Centre of Newman Friends, run by members of the Spiritual Family, "The Work". L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English. 1 June 2005, page 9.

1988

Remarks to the Bishops of Chile Regarding the Lefebvre Schism, text of an address by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, given July 13, 1988, in Santiago, Chile before that nation's bishops. The Wanderer June 22, 2000.
Biblical Interpretation in Crisis: On the Question of the Foundations and Approaches of Exegesis Today. Lecture delivered on 27th January 1988 at Saint Peter's Church in New York, NY.

1984

"Liberation Theology" A "private" document which preceded the Instruction of Fall 1984. Reproduced by Christendom-Awake.org.
Cardinal Ratzinger and Post-Conciliar Biblical Criticism Remarks by Cardinal Ratzinger prefacing his 1983 lecture on liberation theology. Translated by A.M. Paltrinieri. Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Quarterly Newsletter Vol. 7, No. 3, June 1984. p. 13.

1983

Cardinal Ratzinger on "Handing on the Faith Today" [1983]. Excerpts from an address to a Paris symposium on January 16, 1983. The full text was originally published in La Documentation Catholique March 6, 1983. Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Newsletter Vol. 6, No. 3. June 1983.

1981

Biblical Aspects of the Question of Faith and Politics A homily that was delivered on 26 November 1981 in the course of a service for Catholic members of the Bundestag in the church of St. Wynfrith (Boniface) in Bonn. (LewRockwell.com).

Formal Documents

The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible, Preface by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Pontifical Biblical Commission. Presented on May 24, 2001.
The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, Preface by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Pontifical Biblical Commission. Presented on March 18, 1994.

Articles, Essays and Prefaces by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

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In Search of Freedom; Against Reason Fallen Ill and Religion Abused, on the 60th anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy. It was initially published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and was translated from the German by Jeffrey Craig Miller. Logos Vol. 4, Issue 2 (Spring 2005).
Versus Deum per Iesum Christum. Preface for Uwe Michael Lang's book Conversi ad Dominum. Zu Gechichte und Theologie der christlichen Gebetsrichtung, published last year in Switzerland by Johannes Verlag in Einsiedeln. The English version (Turning towards the Lord: Orientation in Liturgical Prayer) is available from Ignatius Press.
Organic Development in the Liturgy [Book Review]. A review of the recent book by Alcuin Reid, OSB. [For more information about the book, click here].
"The Resurrection of Jesus: An event that preceded their thinking and willing". Introduction to the new edition of Heinrich Schlier's book on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to be published by the Italian monthly 30Days, in collaboration with the Morcelliana publishing house.
Introduction to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church March 20, 2005.
Introduction to Christianity: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Communio: International Review Vol. 31, no. 3 (2004): 481–495. [PDF].
Relationship between Magisterium and exegetes. On the 100th anniversary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. May 10, 2003.
Thoughts on the Place of Marian Doctrine and Piety in Faith and Theology as a Whole Communio: International Review. Vol. 30, no. 1 (2003): 147-160. [PDF]
Foreword to U.M. Lang's Turning Towards the Lord: Orientation in Liturgical Prayer. Rome, Laetare Sunday 2003.
Letting God Work: An article by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the occasion of the canonization of Josemarìa Escrivà. Osservatore Romano (special supplement) 06 October 2002.
The Splendour of the Peace of Francis, 30 Days. No. 1, January 2002.
The Heritage of Abraham: The Gift of Christmas. Published in L'Osservatore Romano 29 December, 2000.
Unity of the Church's Mission Involves Diversity of Ministries. L'Osservatore Romano April 29, 1998. The sixth in a series of Reflections on the Instruction regarding the collaboration of the lay faithful in the ministry of priests.
The Ministry and Life of Priests Homiletic & Pastoral Review August-September 1997.
Guardini on Christ in our Century, book review of Guardini's The Lord. Crisis Magazine, June 1996.
Truth and Freedom, reprinted from Communio: International Catholic Review (Spring, 1996).
Concerning the Reply of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the Teaching Contained in the Apostolic Letter "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis". Letter from Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger dated October 28, 1995.
The Theological Locus of Ecclesial Movements. Communio: International Review 25, no. 3 (1998): 480-504.
The Holy Spirit as Communio: Concerning the Relationship of Pneumatology and Spirituality in Augustine. Communio: International Review, Vol. 25, no. 2 (1998): 324-339 RT. [PDF]
Interreligious Dialogue and Jewish-Christian Relations Communio: International Review. Vol. 25, no. 1 (1998): 29-41. [PDF]
The Ministry and Life of Priests. Homiletic & Pastoral Review August-September 1997.
Communio: A Program. Communio: International Review Vol. 19, no. 3 (1992), 436-49.

SPECIAL COMPILATION: Complete list of articles by Cardinal Ratzinger published in Communio

"Funeral Homily for Msgr. Luigi Giussani" 31, no. 4 (2004): 685–687. [PDF]
Introduction to Christianity: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 31, no. 3 (2004): 481–495. [PDF].
Thoughts on the Place of Marian Doctrine and Piety in Faith and Theology as a Whole 30, no. 1 (2003): 147-160. [PDF]
The Theological Locus of Ecclesial Movements. 25, no. 3 (1998): 480-504. [PDF]
Interreligious Dialogue and Jewish-Christian Relations 25, no. 1 (1998): 29-41. [PDF]
The Holy Spirit as Communio: Concerning the Relationship of Pneumatology and Spirituality in Augustine. 25, no. 2 (1998): 324-339 RT. [PDF]
"Truth and Freedom." 23, no. 1 (1996): 16-35.
"The New Covenant: A Theology of Covenant in the New Testament." 22, no. 4 (1995): 635-51.
"Christian Universalism: On Two Collections of Papers by Hans Urs von Balthasar." 22, no. 3 (1995): 545-57 RT.
"God in Pope John Paul II's Crossing the Threshold of Hope." 22, no. 1 (1995): 107-12.
"Christian Faith as 'the Way': An Introduction to Veritatis Splendor." 21, no. 2 (1994): 199-207.
"The Meaning of Sunday." 21, no. 1 (1994): 5-26.
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Optimism of the Redeemed." 20, no. 3 (1993): 469-84.
"Conscience in Time." 19, no. 4 (1992): 647-57 RT.
Communio: A Program. 19, no. 3 (1992), 436-49. [PDF]
"Biblical Foundations of Priesthood." 17, no. 4 (1990): 617-27 NC.
"Concerning the Notion of Person in Theology." 17, no. 3 (1990): 439-54 RT.
"Jesus Christ Today." 17, no. 1 (1990): 68-87.
"Peace and Justice in Crisis: The Task of Religion." 16, no. 4 (1989): 540-51.
"Man Between Reproduction and Creation." 16, no. 2 (1989): 197-211.
"'You are Full of Grace': Elements of Biblical Devotion to Mary." 16, no. 1 (1989): 54-68.
"Homily at the Funeral Liturgy for Hans Urs von Balthasar." 15, no. 4 (1988): 512-16 NC.
"Cardinal Frings's Speeches During the Second Vatican Council: Apropos of A. Muggeridge's The Desolate City." 15, no. 1 (1988): 131-47 NC.
"Freedom and Liberation: The Anthropological Vision of the Instruction Libertatis Conscientia." 14, no. 1 (1987): 55-72.
"Liturgy and Sacred Music." 13, no. 4 (1986): 377-91 NC.
"Church and Economy" 13, no. 3 (1986): 199-204.
"Interpretation-Contemplation-Action." 13, no. 2 (1986): 139-55.
"On Hope." 12, no. 1 (1985): 71-84.
"Faith, Philosophy and Theology." 11, no. 4 (1984): 350-63.
"Luther and the Unity of the Churches: An Interview with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger" 11, no. 3 (1984): 210-26.
"Problems in Catechesis Today: An Interview with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger." 11, no. 2 (1984): 145-56.
"Sources and Transmission of the Faith." 10, no. 1 (1983): 17-34.
"Technological Security as a Problem of Social Ethics." 5, no. 3 (1982): 238-46.
"The Church and Scientific Theology." 7, no. 4 (1980): 332-42.
"What Unites and Divides Denominations? Ecumenical Reflections" (1972) [PDF]

Correspondence with Cardinal Ratzinger

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A 1999 letter by Cardinal Ratzinger on the reform of the liturgy via Rorate Caeli (September 29, 2010). In September, Fr. Matias Auge CMF, a veteran professor of liturgy in Rome, former consultant to the Congregation for Divine Worship and disciple of the reformers of the 1960's, published an exchange of letters that he had with then-Cardinal Ratzinger on the topic of the reform of the sacred liturgy. Upon Rorate's request, Natasja Hoven, who works with the Swedish Catholic website Katolsk Observator, provided a translation in English.
Worthiness to Receive Communion: General Principles. NOTE: This is a confidential letter sent by Cardinal Ratzinger to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Archbishop Wilton Gregory early June stating "no eucharistic communion for the politicians who systematically campaign for abortion." L'espresso, June 2004.
Letter of Cardinal Ratzinger Regarding Dominus Iesus. September 14, 2000. Sent to the presidents of Bishops' Conferences explaining the purpose of the declaration.
Correspondence to & from Rome [btw/ Ratzinger and Mr. F. John Loughnan] on the status of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) beginning August 20, 1998.
On "The Many Faces of AIDS", Sent to Archbishop Pio Laghi regarding the 1988 general meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. May 29, 1988.
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's Report Issued on Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen. September 30, 1985. Reprinted by The Seattle Catholic Newspaper.

Special Compilation: The Ratzinger-Kasper Debate

2008-08-28T23:22:00.000-07:00

Key Articles

Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on some aspects of the Church understood as Communion - Communionis notio . May 28, 1992.
"On the Office of Bishop", by Cardinal Kasper. 1999. [NOTE: In 1999, Kasper published a Festschrift honoring Bishop Josef Homeyer, a chapter on the theology and praxis of the bishop with special reference to the relation of the local bishop to the universal Church.
The article is, alas, unavailable online. For an analysis of its key points, see Walter Kasper on the theology and the praxis of the bishop's office, by Kilian McDonnell. Theological Studies Vol. 63, 2002.
The full citation for Kasper's article is "Zur Theologie und Praxis des bischöflichen Amtes," in Auf neue Art Kirche Sein: Wirklichkeiten-Herausfoderungen-Wandlungen, ed. Werner Schreer and Georg Steins (Munich: Bernward bei Don Bosco, 1999) 32-48, at 43.].
Ecclesiology Of The Constitution On The Church, Vatican II, 'Lumen Gentium' - a presentation made by Cardinal Ratzinger at a symposium on the reception of the Second Vatican Council, held in Rome in November 2000. (Later published in L'Osservatore Romano Sept. 19, 2001).
On the Church: A Friendly Reply to Cardinal Ratzinger, by Cardinal Kasper. America Vol. 184 No. 14. April 23, 2001. Translated by Ladislas Orsy, S.J. Originally published in the journal Stimmen der Zeit (December 2000).
"The Local Church and the Universal Church: A Response to Walter Kasper", by Cardinal Ratzinger. America Vol. 185 No. 16. November 19, 2001.

Supplementary Articles & Commentary

Cardinal Dulles Weighs In on Ratzinger-Kasper Debate, Vatican City, 28 May 2001 (ZENIT.ORG).
Reflections on Cardinal Kasper's "On the Church", by Charles J. Chaput. America, July 30 2001.
Authority reconsidered: Who's in charge here?, by Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, August 12, 2001.
The Kasper-Ratzinger Debate and the State of the Church, by Dr. Philip Blosser. Reprinted with permission from New Oxford Review, April 2002, p. 18-25.
What Happens at Baptism? The Ratzinger-Kasper debate, by Fr. Daniel Callam, CSB. Catholic Insight, May 2002.
"A Tale of Two Cardinals" Geoffrey Kirk, Vicar of St Stephen's, Lewisham in the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. (New Directions July 2001).
The local church and the universal church: Zizioulas and the Ratzinger - Kasper debate Published in: International journal for the Study of the Christian Church, Volume 4, Issue 1 March 2004 , pages 21 - 33. [subscription required].

Joseph Ratzinger: Transcripts of Dialogue & Interviews

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2004

Cardinal Ratzinger on Laicism and Sexual Ethics. Zenit.org. Nov. 19, 2004. Excerpts from an interview with the newspaper La Reppublica.
Cardinal Ratzinger Tells Why Many Misperceive Christianity. May 7, 2004. Excerpts from interview with Italian Catholic weekly Vita Trentina.
Cardinal Ratzinger on Relativism, and Communion for the Remarried February 23, 2004. Zenit.Org.
Cardinal Ratzinger on Communion and Episcopal Collegiality (Part 1) February 22, 2004. Zenit.Org.

2003

The Lord chooses our poverty. Ratzinger tells of his nomination as Archbishop of Munich and as cardinal by Paul VI in 1977. 30 Days Magazine. No. 9, September 2003.
Raymond Arroyo with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger transcript of the interview by EWTN News Director Raymond Arroyo, which first aired on EWTN on 5 September 2003.
Cardinal Ratzinger on the Abridged Version of Catechism. Zenit.Org. May 2, 2003.
The Catechism in a Post-Christian World. 30 Days, No.4 Year XXI - April 2003.

2002

Cardinal Ratzinger on Why It's Not Time for Vatican III. Zenit.Org. Dec. 4, 2002.
Cardinal Ratzinger Sees a Media Campaign Against Church. Zenit.Org. Dec. 3, 2002.
Cardinal Ratzinger Highlights Christian Challenge following Sept. 11, transcription of interview w/ Zenit.Org. March 4, 2002.
Cardinal Ratzinger -- reflections and dialogue on ecclesial movements and new communities, as reported by Focolare Movement. 02 February 2002.

2001

Cardinal Ratzinger Calls Relativism the New Face of Intolerance. Zenit.Org. Dec. 1, 2001.
The Abolition of Man, interview with Cardinal Ratzinger. Le Figaro Magazine/Volpe Dec. 2001. Interview given to Jean Sévillia.
Cardinal Ratzinger Evaluates 20 Years in Rome. Zenit News Agency. Nov. 23, 2001.
Putting God First: Ratzinger Reflects on the Synod. Catholic World News. Oct. 31, 2001.
Cardinal Ratzinger on the Future of Christianity, Zenit News Agency. Oct. 1, 2001.
Cardinal Ratzinger, After the 9/11 Attacks. Excerpt of a translation of an interview Antonella Palermo of Vatican Radio had with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2001.

1999

Answers to Main Objections to Dominus Iesus, originally published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 22 Sept. 2000.
A Question Answered, by Antonio López Triana. Q&A with Ratzinger at the first International Congress of the San Dámaso Faculty of Theology. Feb 16-18, 2000.
The Problem of Christian Prophecy, Interview in the Italian magazine 30Giorni No 1 - 1999.
The Surprise of an Encounter. Ratzinger responded to questions at the Bishops' Seminar on Ecclesial Movements June 16-18, 1999. Communion and Liberation, June 16, 1999

1995

Interview with David Quinn Ireland Sunday Business Post December 17, 1995.

1984

"Luther and the Unity of the Churches: An Interview with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger" 11, no. 3 (1984): 210-26.

1983

Interview with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, interview was given August 15-18, 1984 in Bressanone, Italy, with Vittorio Messori. [Basis for The Ratzinger Report]. Jesus, November 1984 issue, Milan, pp. 67-81. Excerpts republished in Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 8, No. 2, March 1985. pp. 1-8.

Excerpts from Published Works

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From The Spirit of the Liturgy.

The Altar and the Direction of Liturgical Prayer.
Art & Liturgy: The Question of Images
Art, Image and Artists: Sacred art, inspired by faith, both reflects and informs the culture (Part II)
Music and Liturgy: How does music express the Word of God, the Vision of God?
The Theology of Kneeling, excerpt from a chapter, "The Body and the Liturgy."
What Does 'Rite' Mean in the Context of Christian Liturgy?. pp. 164-167.

Additional Texts:

Biblical Aspects of the Theme of Faith and Politics | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | From Church, Ecumenism, & Politics: New Endeavors in Ecclesiology
Why We Must Not Give Up The Fight | Joseph Ratzinger on why there are no "small murders" | From Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures (Ignatius Press, 2006)
The Truth of the Resurrection | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | From Introduction to Christianity
The Canon of Criticism. pp. 179-213 of Salt of the Earth (1997).
The End of Religion? (Chapter 1 of Feast of Faith: Approaches to the Theology of the Liturgy
Reconciling Gospel and Torah: The Catechism, [this essay was later included in Many Religions: One Covenant, under the title: 'Israel, The Church, and The World: Their Relation and Mission, according to the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church'].
For "Many" or For "All"?, excerpt from God Is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life
Why Do We Need Faith?, excerpt from What It Means to be a Christian Ignatius Press (June 20, 2006).
The Question of Suffering, the Response of the Cross An excerpt from God and the World: A Conversation with Peter Seewald.
The Lord Is Near Us in Our Conscience, in His Word, in His Personal Presence in the Eucharist. A Homily on Deuteronomy 4:7. Excerpt from God is Near Us: the Eucharist, the Heart of Life.
"In the Presence of Angels I Will Sing Your Praise": The Regensburg Tradition and the Reform of the Liturgy. Reprinted from A New Song for the Lord: Christian Belief and Liturgy Today, published in Germany in 1995.
On the Meaning of the Eucharist. Excerpt from "A God Who Is Near" ("Il Dio Vicino," St. Paul Editions).
"Don't Forget Mary" The Marian devotion of our present Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is beautifully manifest in his previously articulated "six reasons for not forgetting" Mary. Excerpt from The Ratzinger Report.
The Rupture Between Sexuality and Marriage, excerpts from The Ratzinger Report.
Why Church and State Must Be Separate excerpt from "Theology and the Church’s Political Stance" in Church, Ecumenism and Politics (NY, Crossroads, 1987).
Conscience in Its Age. Lecture given to the Reinhold-Schneider-Gesellschaft, printed in Church, Ecumenism and Politics

Biography of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

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1927	Ratzinger is born on April 16, Holy Saturday in Marktl am Inn, and is baptized the same day. Reflecting on this experience in his memoirs, he says: To be the first person baptized with the new water was seen as a significant act of Providence. I have always been filled with thanksgiving for having had my life immersed in this way in the Easter Mystery . . . the more I reflect on it, the more this seems fitting for the nature of our human life: we are still waiting for Easter; we are not yet standing in the full light but walking toward it full of trust. [p. 8, Milestones] Ratzinger admits it is not easy to say what his 'hometown' is. As a rural policeman, his father was transferred frequently, and his family was continually on the road.
1929	Ratzinger's family moves to Tittmoning, a small town on the Salzach River, on the Austrian border.
1932	December: Due to his father's outspoken criticism of the Nazis, Ratzinger's family is forced to relocate to Auschau am Inn, at the foot of the Alps.
1937	Ratzinger's father retires and his family moves to Hufschlag, outside the city of Traunstein, where Josef would spend most of his years as a teenager. Here he begins classes at the local gymnasium for classical languages, where he studies Latin and Greek.
1939	Ratzinger enters the minor seminary in Traunstein, the initial step of his ecclesiastical career.
1943	Ratzinger, along with the rest of his seminary class, is drafted into the Flak [anti-aircraft corps]. He is still allowed to attend classes at the Maximilians-Gymnasium in Munich three days a week.
1944	September: Having reached military age, Ratzinger is released from the Flak and returns home, only to be drafted into labor detail under the infamous Austrian Legion ("fanatical ideologues who tyrannized us without respite"). November: Ratzinger undergoes basic training with the German infantry. Due to illness he finds himself exempt from most of the rigors of military duty.
1945	Spring (end of April or beginning of May): As the Allied front draws closer, Ratzinger deserts the army and heads home to Traunstein. When the Americans finally arrive at his village, they choose to establish their headquarters in the Ratzinger house. Josef is identified as a German soldier and incarcerated in a POW camp. June 19: Ratzinger is released and returns home to Traunstein, followed by his brother Georg in July. November: Ratzinger and his brother Georg re-enter the seminary.
1947	Ratzinger enters the Herzogliches Georgianum, a theological institute associated with the University of Munich.
1951	June 29: Georg and Josef Ratzinger are ordained into the priesthood by Cardinal Faulhaber, in the Cathedral at Freising, on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
1953	July: Ratzinger receives his doctorate in theology from the University of Munich. In connection with his doctoral studies he produces his first important work: Volk und Haus Gottes in Augustins Lehre von der Kirche [People and House of God in Augustine's doctrine of the Church]. Ratzinger devotes his Habilitationsschrift -- book-length contribution to original research in order to teach at the university level -- to Bonaventure's theology of history and revelation.
1959	April 15: Ratzinger begins lectures as full professor (one holding a chair) of fundamental theology at the University of Bonn. August 23: Ratzinger's father passes away.
1962-65	Ratzinger is present during all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council as a peritus, or chief theological advisor to Cardinal Josef Frings of Cologne, Germany.
1963	Ratzinger moves to the University of Münster. Dec. 16: Ratzinger's mother passes away.
1966	Ratzinger takes a second chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tübingen. His appointment is vigorously supported and secured by fellow professor Hans Küng. Ratzinger had initially met Küng in 1957 at a congress of dogmatic theologians in Innsbruck, after recently reviewing Küng's doctoral work on Karl Barth. Says Ratzinger: I had many questions to ask of this book because, although its theological style was not my own, I had read it with pleasure and gained respect for its author, whose winning oppenness and straightforwardness I quite liked. A good personal relationship was thus established, even if soon after . . . a rather serious argument began between us about the theology of the council. [Milestones, p. 135]
1968	A wave of student uprisings sweeps across Europe, and Marxism quickly becomes the dominant intellectual system at Tübingen, indoctrinating not only his students but many of the faculty as well. Witnessing the subordination of religion to Marxist political ideology, Ratzinger observes: There was an instrumentalization by ideologies that were tyrannical, brutal, and cruel. That experience made it clear to me that the abuse of faith had to be resisted precisely if one wanted to uphold the will of the Council [Salt of the Earth].
1969	Scandalized by his encounter with radical ideology at Tübingen, Ratzinger moves back to Bavaria to take a teaching position at the University of Regensburg. He eventually becomes dean and vice president and later, theological advisor to the German bishops. Two of his most prominent students in these years was the Dominican Christoph Schönborn, who would later become editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and cardinal archbisohp of Vienna, and Fr. Joseph Fessio SJ, who would found Ignatius Press.
1972	Ratzinger, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henry De Lubac and others launch the Catholic theological journal Communio, a quarterly review of Catholic theology and culture.
1977	On July 24, 1976, Cardinal Julius Dopfner of Munich dies. On March 24, 1977, Ratzinger is appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising by Pope Paul IV. He is urged by his confessor to accept the office, and is consecrated May 28, the vigil of Pentacost. Ratzinger chooses as his episcopal motto the phrase from the third letter of John, "Co-Worker of the Truth," reasoning: For one, it seemed to be the connection between my previous task as teacher and my new mission. Despite all the differences in modality, what is involved was and remains the same: to follow truth, to be at its service. And because in today's world the theme of truth has all but disappeared, because truth appears too great for man, and yet everything falls apart if there is no truth. [Milestones, p. 153]. June 27 - Ratzinger is elevated to Cardinal of Munich by Pope Paul VI.
1980	Ratzinger is named by Pope John Paul II to chair the special Synod on the Laity. Shortly after, the pope asks him to head the Congregation for Catholic Education. Ratzinger declines, feeling he shouldn't leave his post in Munich too soon.
1981	On November 25, Ratzinger accepts Pope John Paul II's invitation to take over as Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Of this acceptance, Peter Seewald would write: "In particular, his appointment as a prefect [of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] was an act of sheer obedience to the Pope. Wojtoyla wanted him. And Ratzinger did not stand a chance. Especially not after he had already eluded the call twice with threadbare arguments. The third time it was an order." (Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait)
1986	On July 10, Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Ratzinger head of a 12-member commission responsible for drafting the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The text was released in French in 1992 and in English in 1994.
1998	On November 6, Ratzinger is elected vice dean of the College of Cardinals.
2002	On November 30, The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, approved his election, by the order of cardinal bishops, as dean of the College of Cardinals.
2005	April 8: Ratzinger precides over the funeral of Pope John Paul II. April 18: Speaks about the dangers of relativism at a Mass before the opening of the conclave. April 19, Cardinal Ratzinger is elected Bishop of Rome on the fourth ballot of the conclave, and takes the name Benedict XVI. "One is very happy not to become Pope. No one has ever shoved his way forward to the Holy See." - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 1978. (As quoted by Peter Seewald in Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait.

See Also

Official Biography of Pope Benedict XVI (The Vatican)
Pope Benedict XVI: Biography (EWTN)
Wikipedia: Pope Benedict XVI

Articles and Commentary on Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

2008-08-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Excerpts from Books About Cardinal Ratzinger

Chapter XI: Back to the Foundations, excerpt from Fr. Aidan Nichols' The Theology of Joseph Ratzinger, generously provided by the Christendom-Awake.Org. See here for ordering information.

Articles about Cardinal Ratzinger

2006-Present

Ratzinger on Christ's Descent into Hell, by Vincent L. Strand. Whosoever Desires September 22nd, 2009.
Death & Eternal Life According to Ratzinger, by Dr. Art Sippo. New Oxford Review December 2008. (Review of Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life, Second Edition).
Vatican II and the Ecclesiology of Joseph Ratzinger | The Introduction to Joseph Ratzinger: Life in the Church and Living Theology—Fundamentals of Ecclesiology with Reference to 'Lumen Gentium' | Fr. Maximilian Heinrich Heim

2005

Joseph Ratzinger's Primer on Ecclesiology - Zenit Interviews Ave Maria University's Father Matthew Lamb on the theme of Cardinal Ratzinger's Called to Communion: Part I ; Part 2. June 23/24, 2005.
Lutheran Hailed Cardinal Ratzinger as Expert on Luther: Cardinal Invited Protestants to Read Pre-Reformation Writings. Zenit. May 5, 2005.
Encounters With a Future Pope: A Seminarian Recalls Cardinal Ratzinger's Simplicity. Zenit interview with Brother Benjamin Cieply. May 1, 2005.
David Schindler on Cardinal Ratzinger's Ecclesiology Interview With Editor of Communio. May 1, 2005.
Cardinal who will play kingmaker in Rome, by Stephen McGinty and Richard Gray. Scotland on Sunday April 10, 2005.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican's doctrinal gatekeeper, by Daniel J. Wakin. The New York Times April 8, 2005.
Ratzinger's mustard seed, by Spengler. Asia Times Online. April 5, 2005.
Analysis: Ratzinger in the ascendance, by Uwe Siemon-Netto. UPI Religious Affairs Editor. Washington Times April 2, 2005.
The Pope and His Two Consuls: Ratzinger & Ruini, by Sandro Magister. www.Chiesa. March 30, 2005.
Could a Bavarian Become Pope?, DW-World.De (Deutsche Welle) March 10, 2005.
Rome's Next Choice? - Arch-conservative Cardinal Ratzinger emerges as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, by Jeff Israely. Time, January 2, 2005.
Ratzinger on Europe, by James V. Schall, S.J. Homiletic & Pastoral Review January 2005.

2004

Ratzinger for pope? Commonweal December 17, 2004 / Volume CXXXI, Number 22.
Strict Prelate Becomes Voice Of the Vatican: Traditionalist Ratzinger Seen as a Possible Pope, by Daniel Williams. Washington Post Foreign Service. Friday, November 5, 2004.
Ratzinger, feminist?, by Sidney Callahan. Commonweal September 10, 2004 / Volume CXXXI, Number 15.
The Blunt Hard-Liner at Pope John Paul's Side, by John L. Allen, Jr. Los Angeles Times August 6, 2004.
Ratzinger-Kerry, Act II. The Well-Tempered Controversy, by Sandro Magister. www.chiesa. July 13, 2004.
Disputed Questions - Like Salvation Outside of the Church, by Sandro Magister. www.chiesa. July 7, 2003. From Tokyo, "an analysis of one of the most controversial points of John Paul II's pontificate," including Ratzinger's criticism of Assisi 1986 and the rationale for the publication of Dominis Iesus.
"The Kerry Affair: What Ratzinger Wanted from the American Bishops", by Sandro Magister, which publishes the note: "Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion. General Principles." www.chiesa. July 3, 2004.

2003

Reading Genesis with Cardinal Ratzinger, by Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco. Homiletic & Pastoral Review December 2003.
Cardinal Ratzinger meets Fr. Harry of San Francisco.

2001

"Ratzinger [...] about to leave center stage of this papacy", by John L. Allen. National Catholic Reporter, Sept. 14, 2001.
Dominus Iesus and Catholic Magisterial Teaching on Jews and Judaism, by Philip A. Cunningham, Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College. (Focusing chiefly on Dominus Iesus and Ratzinger's Many Religions, One Covenant).
On Dominus Iesus and The Jews, by Dr. David Berger, Rabbinical Council of America. Delivered at the 17th meeting of the International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee, New York, May 1, 2001.

2000

"Cardinal Ratzinger: The Vatican's Enforcer of the Faith", by John Allen, Jr. National Catholic Reporter. November 17, 2000.
Cardinal Ratzinger on Liturgical Music, by Michael J. Miller. Homiletic & Pastoral Review July 2000.

1999

"The Vatican's Enforcer", by John L. Allen, Jr. National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 1999.
Church as "Mystery" or "People of God", Cardinal Ratzinger Against Much Post-Conciliar Theology on Church. July 26 1999 (ZENIT.ORG).
Joseph Ratzinger, Christ's Donkey, by Richard John Neuhaus. [First Things, 89 (January 1999)].

1998

Cardinal Recollections, by Fr. John Jay Hughes. [An article about the early life of Cardinal Ratzinger]. Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., November 8, 1998.

1997

Cardinal Ratzinger Blames Church Crisis on Liturgical Collapse, by Paul Likoudis. The Wanderer, May 8, 1997. A review of Cardinal Ratzinger's autobiography.
On Understanding Contemporary Intellectual Movements: Ratzinger and the Modern Mind, by James V. Schall, S. J. Homiletic and Pastoral Review, XCVIII (October, 1997), 6-14.