LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/20/07 #1

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27




Other than Fr. Lombardi's brief statement yesterday about the Pope's reaction to the liberation of Father Bossi, there was no story from Lorenzago yesterday.

Here are a few vignettes from today's Corriere delle Alpi, written by the trusty Francesco del Mas, who has been providing us with the chronicle of these days in Lorenzago - translated here.



Photo released by the Vatican today
shows the Pope in a ranger's hut
within the Park of Dreams near Mirabello


Choral concert
for the Pope tonight

LORENZAGO - "It's a hymn to gentleness. I am so happy it was chosen by Benedict XVI. In Val D'Aosta, even John Paul II sang it," says Bepi De Marzi, the best-known Italian composer of 'mountain songs' like 'Signore delle Cime'(Lord of the Peaks), the hymn he refers to.

It will be one of the pieces to be sung together by the seven participating mountain-town choirs of Cadore who are presenting a choral concert for the Pope tonight at Castello Mirabello - an idea of Mons. Giuseppe Andrich, Bishop of Belluno-Feltre.

There will be at least 200 choir members. Each choir will sing a couple of numbers, besides a few that all the choirs will sing together.

IT is supposed to be a private concert for the Pope, in Lorenzago, they are saying some 600 persons have been invited, but apparently, no journalists.

We asked De Marzi what he felt about his 'hymn' being sung for the Pope.

"I am glad, because I have great hopes in this Pope. I am a 'critical' Christian, but I truly wish Benedict XVI will be able to impose some order on the liturgy which has fallen into the hands of improvisers and dilettantes - especially in music, where the songs have often turned into unique, ignoble banality."

So, was he happy at the restoration of the Latin Mass?
"Absolutely not. Rather, it's OK for whoever wants it. I simply prefer Masses and liturgies that are truly 'composed', not just put together any which way. And I hope the concert for the Pope is like that.'


It was too hot -
the Pope had a brief walk


Too hot even in the mountains - up to 33 degrees Centigrade around 5 p.m. yesterday in Lorenzago.

"That's still better than the 40 degrees that it was in Venice when I was there earlier today," said Mayor Mario Tremonti.

It was learned that because of the heat, Pope Benedict XVI decided to limit his evening walk to the conifer forest called Park of Dreams just beyond the security perimeter of his vacation villa on the grounds of Castello Mirabello, along the John Paul II Path, which leads towards the Mauria Pass.



There was a light wind from the lake around that time.

Meanwhile, down in Lorenzago town, some 500 locals and visitors - more than usual - had been waiting since 5 p.m. in the expectation that the Pope would pass through to and from his evening destination for the day.

Mothers with their babies, old people accompanied by family members, youth groups accompanied by their priest-counselors - they waited at Piazza Calvi, by the town hall, at Villapiccola. Policemen and gendarmes were on hand to keep order.

But around 7 p.m., a woodsman came down to say that he had been informed by the internal patrol that the Pope had spent three-quarters of an hour in the nearby woods and had gone back to his villa.




A second meeting
with the Pope at Lozzo

LOZZO DI CADORE - "Welcome back, Holy Father! But how nice to see you here again!" said Giuseppe Turco, a municipal councilor of this town, meeting the Pope for the second time in a week last Wednesday.

Turco, 60, was with his wife and two grandchildren at the play park next to the path that leads to the church dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto in Lozzo.

"It's very beautiful here," the Pope answered him.

Turco recalls, "The first time, I had suggested to him to go up to the Pian dei Buoi [Plateau of the Oxen). And he said,'Sure, if they take me there.' Father Georg asked, 'Is it a good place for walking?'
nd I said, 'Of course. Holiness, your predecessor was there several times. And there is a plaque that commemorates one visit to the Madonnina of Ciaredo.'"

Wednesday night, Turco informed the Pope that the municipality of Lozzo planned to commemorate his vist to the Loreto church with a plaque or similar marker.

"No, please, just let it be," the Pope answered him.

"Holiness, that's impossible, especially now that you have come back a second time," Turco told him.

He asked him how he liked his vacation. The Pope said, "They have given me a very beautiful house, beautiful, very well-ordered."

"May we then expect you to return to Lorenzago in the future?" Turco asked. He says the Pope only smiled for an answer.

The first time, Turco was with a grandson. This time, he also has the boy's little sister with him. But the little girl was not very 'welcoming', so Turco asked the Pope. "Please kiss the boy twice, so one will be for her." And the Pope did so.

Turco comments: "This Pope is truly impressive. He is capable of extraordinary affability. He has a great tenderness."

Wednesday, the Pope greeted all the children one by one.

"It was truly very moving," said Vera Zabella. Other women were weeping with emotion.

Caterina Da Pra had the unusual fortune of meeting the Pope two days in a row. Tuesday evening in Lorenzago, when the Pope passed through, she was even able to give him some mushrooms that had been gathered by her husband. And by chance, she came to the sanctuary at Loreto the following day.

One of the roads leading from the Church in Loreto looks like a mule track, but it is an old Roman road which was part of the route to Germany in ancient days.

"He was very interested in local details like this," Turco noted.

In case you haven't seen it yet, here's an extended videoclip
from SKY-TV of the Pope's first visit to Lozzo:
www.skylife.it/videoTg24Single/44927
The page will lead you to other available videos.

Since Cardinal Bertone's statements the other day that the Vatican plans to name more women to important Curial positions, the Italian media has made much of it, usually praising the initiative, but has also uniformly taken to using the unfortunate metaphor 'pink' to describe the move - as in 'the pink Church' or 'The church is turning pink' or 'Ratzinger's pink Vatican'.

First of all, it reveals a lingering sexist bias. If one is to take the obvious fact that all human beings are created equal, then there shouldn't be a big to-do when women are assigned to jobs in the Catholic Church that they can do as well as men - except, of course, those jobs that must be for priests only, because women can't be priests. [I'm not protesting out of ideology, because I am not and never have been a feminist. I have never been disadvantaged in any way by not being male, and in my country, women's liberation was unnecessary - women have always been recognized, on the contrary, as the 'real authority in the family.' In the past 20 years, two women have become President of the Philippines.]

So while the media are seemingly celebrating the openness of Pope Benedict's Vatican to more participation by women in the upper management levels of the Church, they undermine the value of the initiative by using a sexist label like 'pink' anything.

Secondly, I object because 'pink' has connotations of homosexuality, gay-ness, or at the very least, effeminacy, that take on a decidedly negative and unpleasant value when associated with priests or the Vatican or the Pope.

I have been ignoring the Italian press reports about the 'female appointments' initiative because after reporting what Cardinal Bertone said, I didn't think there was anything more to be said until we actually have some women appointed.

But the annoying 'pink Church' references [more than anything else, it makes me think of St. Peter's Basilica frosted all over with that pink antacid gunk Pepto-Bismol] have become matter-of-fact, and this article from the usually sensible Il Foglio is typical, starting with its title - and its subtitles, which I have retained.

And I know journalists often seize on far-fetched references to grab attention, but to even imply that the policy about women could have been in any way occasioned by a remark made by Cherie Blair last year is downright absurd!


The pink Church:
Did the Vatican listen to Cherie?


When the Catholic wife of Tony Blair attended a Vatican conference last year of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, she made the remark: "There are no reasons why at least half of the positions in the Roman Curia shouldn't be occupied by women."

Statements made by Cardinal Bertone and reported in the media yesterday seem to herald an increase in the Vatican's 'pink quota' - even if it may never get to the 50-50 wished for by Mrs. Blair.

Ratzinger's women
Beyond the four consecrated lay persons (Carmela, Loredana, Emmanuela and Cristina) who run his household - and whose names do not, of course, appear in the official Vatican yearbook Anuario Pontificio, the lady who is now in closest daily contact with the Pope is Birgit Wansing, who belongs to the Schoenstatt institute, and who has been his secretary-transcriptionist for years, as well as the person in charge of keeping track of his vast bibliography.

And the Pope's former housekeeper, Ingrid Stampa, has taken on an important role in the Vatican Secretariat of State and is no longer a private employee of Joseph Ratzinger.

Stampa (who occupies the same administrative stature in the Vatican bureaucracy as the Pope's two private secretaries) recently was co-translator, along with theologian Elio Guerriero, of the Italian edition of JESUS OF NAZARETH. (In the past - and while working with Cardinal Ratzinger - she has been the translator of John Paul II's books from Polish into German).

There was a minor sensation in the Vatican when last June 9 - the day when George Bush visited the Pope - Benedict XVI also had dinner at Stampa's apartment not far from the Porta Sant'Anna. [Why this should cause any 'sensation' at all is strange. Stampa lived in the same apartment as Joseph Ratzinger during the 12 years that she was his housekeeper. Her 'exile' from the Papal household was not because she suddenly fell out of favor with the new Pope, but to avoid any criticism of a lay woman living in the Papal apartment.]

Even while she was Ratzinger's housekeeper, Stampa's help was already invaluable, for German translations, to Archbishop Paolo Sardi, who is in charge of the State Secretariat's office of pontifical texts.

The highest-ranking lady in the Vatican hierarchy today is Sister Enrica Rosanna, a Salesian, described in the Annuario Pontificio as the 'under-secretary' of the Congregation for the Religious.

Sr. Sharon Holland, heads one of the main offices in the same Congregation.

Also a chief of office, at the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity is the laywoman Paola Frabrizi; and at the Fabbrica di San Pietro (the agency in charge of restorations and reproductions of Vatican works of art), another laywoman, Maria Cristina Carlo-Stella.

Very prestigious, although honorific and non-paying, is the job of
Harvard Professor Mary Ann Glendon, president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

But what would be the positions which, according to the Secretary of State, will be entrusted in the future to members of the weaker sex? ['gentil sesso' - again, a gratuitously sexist term.]

They cannot, of course, be roles with ecclesiastical authority that are reserved only to persons who have received Holy Orders - priests, bishops and cardinals. So we will not be having women as prefects or secretaries of the Curial dicasteries [as opposed to secular offices like the Academy of Social Sciences], even though some of these secretary-ships are currently open. (The secretary is actually the #2 man in the dicastery).

Even Vatican media to be 'more pink'?
But in the Vatican media offices, there should be more openings for women executives. It appears that Benedict XVI has expressed the thought that the Osservatore Romano, for instance, might benefit from feminine guidance, because right now, i does not have a single female on staff.

A lady could well replace the present Deputy Director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Ciro Benedettini, who may be promoted to another assignment.

Il Foglio, 20 luglio 2007



And this was the story in La Repubblica today:


Women now make up
a fifth of the Vatican work force
By ORAZIO LA ROCCA


VATICAN CITY - "I was employed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1999 when the Prefect was Cardinal Ratzinger - who was an exceptional chief - very understanding and attentive to all personnel problems, and who put me very much at ease right away," says Anna Rotigliani, one of the first 5 women ever employed by the CDF, one of the oldest curial dicasteries, as well as the most 'feared.'

The CDF has a total of 97 employees, both religious and lay, working with a council composed of 19 cardinals and 2 bishops, presided over by Cardinal William Levada, as CDF Prefect.

Overall, at least 20 percent of the Vatican workforce is made up of women. But certain sections like those concerned with restoration and archives necessarily have more women employees.

Perhaps this is what prompted Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to announce the other day, after meeting with the Pope in Lorenzago, that the Vatican would 'soon' move to increase the pink presence ['la presenza rosa - Again, note the use of the adjective, which certainly was not used by Bertone] in the Curia, especially in important executive positions.

Rotigliani says, "If Cardinal Bertone said that, then it will happen and we are all happy."

This was also the opinion of Sr. Maria Sebastiana Posati, the highest-ranking religious woman in the Secretariat of State, where she is a 'minutante' [The article doesn't explain what it is she does exactly but the Italian word means someone who drafts statements or other official texts.]

"It is always positive when specific reference is made to assigning women to positions of greater responsibility. It gives us added pleasure, even though the mere fact of working here in the Vatican, in the service of the Church and of the Pope, is in itself already beautiful and unusually moving," Sister Posati said.

But despite her enthusiasm, there are only 32 women (among them, 15 nuns) employed in the Secretariat of State which has a total roster of 197 women. That makes the percentage at State (16%) less than the overall 80-20 men-to-women ratio in the Vatican work force. As of December 31, 2006, there were 500 women among the 2300 total employees.

Says Archbishop Renato Boccardo, seretary-general of the Governatorate of Vatican City State: "It must be said that the feminine presence in the Vatican has come about because of the great Pope John Paul II, and that with Benedict XVI, there has been a notable increase."

Boccardo said it was only right that the Vatican should make use of the 'feminine genius' according to the teachings of Papa Wojtyla.

At the moment, the top position occupied by a woman in the Vatican is that of Sr. Enrica Rosanna, under-secretary of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The Congregation itself has 33 women, third-best female 'record' among the Vatican offices, after the Vatican Museums (77 women) and the Conggregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (42).

Two offices are headed by women - Maria Cristina Carlo-Stella heads the administration of Fabbrica San Pietro (in charge of Vatican art restorations and reproductions), and Edith Cicerchia heads the Secretariat of the Vatican Museums. [What about the nun who is in charge of Vatican Internet technology?]

La Repubblica, 20 luglio 2007

One minor point: Stampa did not "live" with Cardinal Ratzinger. She had her own apartment.

==========================================

I comment on this in your second post below. By the way, I was careful to use the words [S]'lived in the same apartment as Cardinal Ratiznger...'[/S], not 'lived with'...

TERESA

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/20/07 #2

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27



Cardinals Scola and Zen
to be at the Angelus on Sunday

LORENZAGO, July 20 (ASCA) - More than 6,000 faithful are expected at the Pope's Angelus on Sunday, July 22, with the presence of the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Angelo Scola, and the Archbishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun.

This was announced today by Fr. Giuseppe Bratti, spokesman of the Diocese of Bellune-Feltre. Also present will be Giulio Tremonti, a vice president of Forza Italia (ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's party) who owns a house in Lorenzago.

The Angelus will be preceded by a Mass in Piazza Calvi to be concelebrated by the Pope's two vacation hosts, Mosn. Giuseppe Andrich, Bishop of Belluno-Feltre, and Mons. Andrea Mazzocato, Bishop of Treviso.

The diocese says that the small piazza has been sectioned off with two sectors with a total of 1000 'freely assigned' seats each; two sectors of 900 seats each assigned to various parishes, associations and youth groups from outside Lorenzago; two sectors for the residents of Lorenzago; and the reserved area near the stage for prelates, civilian VIPs, and the sick and disabled.

Fr. Bratti said the organizers are making sure there will be drinking water available to everyone "because a hot day is expected."

The national highway will be closed from 8 a.m. to after the Angelus around 12:30.


Pope calls Bertone
about Fr. Bossi

ROME, July 20 (Apcom) - According to the TV station Sky on its newscast Tg24, Pope Benedict XVI spoke to Caridnal Bertone at the Vatican today about the liberation of Fr. Ginfranco Bossi.

The Pope reportedly asked Bertone to convey directly to Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi the gratitude of the Church for the Italian government's efforts in behalf of the missionary who was released in the Philippines yesterday after 39 days in captivity.

Italians first learned about Bossi's release when Prodi came out of a government meeting to personally make the announcement yesterday afternoon.

LORENZAGO DI CADORE, July 12 (Apcom) - The Pope's private secretary, Mins. Georg Gaenswein described today the Pope's 'most heartfelt joy' and 'great satisfaction' at the liberation of Fr. Bossi.

Meeting briefly with newsmen at the piazza in Lorenzago, he added that they have not yet received many details about the release.

Asked about the Pope's vacation, he said, "The Pope is very relaxed and at peace."


At Danta di Cadore's Santa Barbara Church.
Don't you love the simplicity of the Church?
Plus, it has no table-altar,
the Tabernacle's where it should be,
and there are proper Communion rails.
From the Belluno diocese site, thanks to Gloria.

The Memores Domini sisters are lay women and they live in the papal apartment, so Stampa's "exile" was for reasons other than that she was a lay woman herself.

=====================================================================

Thank you for your contributions, Janice.

First, I had never read explicitly anywhere before that Stampa lived other than in the Cardinal's apartment when she was his housekeeper. I must have presumed wrong, and I thank you for pointing it out.

Second, the Memores Domini are consecrated lay sisters. Ms. Stampa, although she has previously been identified with the Schoenstatt movement like Birgit Wansing, apparently is [S]not[/S] a consecrated lay sister, according to subsequent explicit news reports.

It would also be most helpful to all of us if you could cite the sources for your information to set the record straight once and for all.

Thank you once again.

TERESA

I don't know if this will help, Teresa, but I found this passage:

(Papa Benedetto XVI - LaPresse)


Here's the URL: 216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:uu_Vp-AKLP4J:www.gossippando.splinder.com/archive/2005-05%3Ffrom%3D105+ingrid+stampa+appartamento&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&am...

I know that one of your correspondents, Palma, is quite knowledgeable about Papa Benedetto. I am not at home at present; otherwise I could consult some things I have.

====================================================================

Thanks, Janice! Let me translate the item you just shared with us:

"... (Precisely) in November 1991, Ratzinger lost his only sister who had kept house for him in his apartment at Piazza della Citta Leonina, and it was Ingrid who came in to substitute for her as housekeeper. It must be added that in those years, Stampa also took care of the apartment of Archbishop Paolo Sardi, head ghost-writer for John Paul II.

"Another lady who has been a co-worker of Joseph Ratzinger all these years is Birgit Wansing, a most kind German from the North, who belongs to the Lay Institute of Schoenstatt. Birgit - besides being able to read Ratzinger's fine and sometimes indecipherable handwriting - is also the custodian and curator of the Cardinal's immense bibliography. If only for this, it is plausible that Wansing will leave her employment at the ex-Holy Office to join Benedict XVI at the Apostolic Palace."

[DIM]8pt[=DIM]It does not tell us Stampa never lived at the Cardinal's apartment in Piazza della Citta Leonina - unless it is one of those European buildings like they still have in Paris, where there are small apartments built (called [C]chambre de bonne[/C]), usually in the attic, as quarters for the tenants' domestic help; or, she had her own apartment in the building, which would have made it unnecessary for her to find new lodgings off Porta Sant'Anna, literally a few steps away from Piazza della Citta Leonina.

Any clarifications on these matters are always welcome. I only commented about Ingrid because a few months back, one Forum member seemed to take pleasure in running her down and implying sinister reasons for her not living in the Apostolic Palace.

As for the supposed 'minor sensation' over the Pope's dining at her apartment [your comment below], I was simply translating the news item. In fact, I was not aware that there was anything in the Italian press about it before this, so it couldn't have been that much of a 'sensation'! If I were a reporter, I would have reported it as 'light' news, only because anything the Pope does is news, and not made a big deal of it.


P.S. Sorry for the fact that the post is not translating the embedded instructions for text enhancement - I just noticed that Janice's posts do not have the FFZ code use or HTML code use checked, as regular messages do, and the code does not work when applied retroactively to a post. [/DIM]

By the way, why was it such a big deal that the Pope had dinner with Miss Stampa? Hadn't he ever gone there before?

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/20/07 #3


THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27




Another picture picked up by Gloria
from the Belluno diocese site -
taken at Danta di Cadore earlier this week.

Pope speaks to newsmen
after his evening walk


Lorenzago di Cadore, July 20, (Apcom) - During his evening walk today, Pope Benedict XVI stopped to pray at a statue of the Virgin Mary representing her as Our Lady of Medjugorje, in the so-called Park of Dreams adjoining the grounds where he is spending his summer vacation.

Emerging from the woods, accompanied by his private secretary, Mons. Georg Gaenswein, the Pope stopped to talk to a small crowd of tourists, local residents and curiosity-seekers who waited at the roadside, hoping to see him.

"Good evening!" he called out to them.

"What an honor, Holiness!" some of them replied.

A lady told him she had sent him a bouquet of Alpine flowers. "That's right!," he said. "Thank you."

Another one said she had brought him mushrooms [It can't be the same woman who already saw him two days in a row, could it! - Who is she? Lorenzago's Concetta?].

"Oh, the mushrooms," said the Pope. "Yes, I ate them."

Then, he turned his attention to some newsmen who had their notebooks ready. He shook their hands and asked, "What do you need to write? There is no news...."

But then, he spoke to them about Fr. Bossi.

"We are all very happy that Fr. Bossi is free, and we are thankful to the Lord," the Pope said.

He was asked what he thought about the release itself, and he answered: "I've already spoken to Mr. Prodi. We are all thankful to everyone who helped in all this."

RAI News reports meanwhile:

The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions announced that Fr. Bossi is in Manila undergoing medical examination and that he is not expected to return to Italy right away.

His family is especially anxious, after having received the news of his release last night during a birthday celebration for his 82-year-old mother, whom Fr. Bossi himself was able to telephone shortly afterwards.

Shortly after his release, Fr. Bossi said that he wanted to go back to his parish. "My heart is still in Payao - I would like to go back to my flock."


From Gazzettina del Nord-Est
7/20/07:

At Angelus on Sunday:
Marching band from
Mamma Ratzinger's birthtown

The Burgerkapelle band of Muehlbach, in Tyrolean costume, will be present at the Angelus on Sunday to pay a musical tribute to Pope Benedict XVI and remind him of his Tyrolean ancestry.

Muehlbach is a small village in the commune of Kiefersfelden in the Bavarian Alps, where on January 8, 1884, according to the civil registry, Maria Tauber, resident of Rio di Pusteria in the Italian province of Bolzano (located next to Belluno, the province where the Pope is now vacationing), gave birth to a baby also named Maria. She was baptized on February 25, 1884 in the village of Oberaudorf. Her father is listed as Anton Peintner. [In the thread ALBUM FOR JOSEPH, there is a related account about Mamma Ratzinger's birth by a researcher from Muehlbach, Kiefersfelden.]

Anton Peintner, who died on October 27, 1939, is buried in the cemetery of Rio di Pusteria.

[I've been quite puzzled that there has been no mention whatsoever of Rio di Pusteria in all the stories about the Pope's vacation in Lorenzago. It seems too good an occasion to miss for a visit to his mother's hometown. Does anyone know if he has ever been to Rio di Pusteria? I am aware he vacationed several times with his siblings in Bolzano [Bolzen in German] when he was at the CDF, but the references were always to Bressanone [Brixen is the German form], not to Rio di Pusteria.]




This would make a nice poster for the Dolomites!
Again, from the Belluno diocese site.
And thank you, Gloria!.

I'm trying to research Rio di Pusteria, and it turns out it is one of those Italian border municipalities which are bilingual in Italian and German, and that, in fact, the German equivalent of Comune di Rio di Pusteria is Gemeinde Muehlbach (which means millstream in German). But I don't find 'pusteria' in any Italian dictionary I can access - 'rio' is conceivably an Italian dialect form that means 'stream' as it is a direct cognate of the word for 'river' in Spanish, so 'pusteria' may well mean 'mill'. Rio di Pusteria is on the Italian-Austrian border. The German Muehlbach in Kiefersfelden is farther north, in the Bavarian Alps.

This is a link to a route graphic
showing train connections to Rio di Pusteria/Muehlbach.
root.riskommunal.net/riskommunal/objektlink.asp?obj=218428613&gnr=936&s...

The Gazzettino del Nord-Est story clearly differentiates between Muehlbach, Germany, where the band comes from, and Rio di Pusteria, where the Pope's grandmother comes from and where his grandfather (presumably his grandmother too) is buried.

Here is the secondary banner in the Rio di Pusteria site (the site which tells you everything you want to know if you had any business to do with the municipality, but no general information, alas!) - the other places mentioned are its villages.


The other interesting thing is that the hometown newspaper of Rio di Pusteria is in German, the Muehlbacher Marktblatt.
And Tauber/Peintner, the Pope's maternal grandparent surnames are very German, obviously.

19th-century postcards from Muehlbach/Rio di Pusteria:

I'd ignore the implied putdown in the first two paragraphs, though!

Pope Benedict's Motu Proprio:
Catholics and the Jews
By Rev. Thomas Rausch, SJ
The Tidings
Friday, July 20, 2007


Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, relaxing restrictions on the celebration of the Tridentine Mass, has brought consolation to many traditionalist Catholics who attend Latin Masses, though these are only a small percentage of the Catholic community in the United States, some 150,000 out of 69 million.

For most Catholics, the Pope's initiative will make little difference in their worship life. Most are comfortable with the Vatican II liturgy; they appreciate its vernacular language and its more communal style of celebration.

Pope Benedict has stressed that there are not two different rites for the Mass, but two different editions of the Roman Missal, that of John XXIII (1962), the last revision of the Roman Missal used since the Council of Trent, and the missal of Paul VI (1970). Pope Benedict has also made clear that missal of Paul VI is the "ordinary form" of the liturgy, the missal of John XXIII the "extraordinary form."

One of Benedict's hopes is that the use of the two forms of the Roman Rite will be mutually enriching, with the old missal incorporating some of the new prefaces and the feasts of the more recently canonized saints, while the sacred quality and reverence which attracts some to Tridentine Mass will lead to greater a reverence in the celebration of the Vatican II liturgy and thus, to a greater love for the missal of Paul VI.

The most discordant note came from some representatives of the Jewish community, some of whom clearly overreacted. Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, described it as "a theological setback in the religious life of Catholics and a body blow to Catholic Jewish relations."

The usually judicious and balanced Michael Lerner, editor of the journal Tikkun, rather stridently declared that it represented "a first step on a slippery slope towards the restoration of anti-Semitism in the Church as well as the restoration of authoritarian and feudal ways of thinking."

Rabbi David Rosen, international director of interreligious affairs of the American Jewish Committee, an irenic and always wise commentator, noted that the Tridentine Mass already had been allowed by Pope John Paul and that Pope Benedict had only expanded its usage, adding "I think (Jewish groups) are mistaken in their reading. Things will become clearer when we get a clarification in the next few days. We need a clarification and have asked for such."

The objection is over the inclusion of a revised prayer for the conversion of the Jews in the Good Friday General Intercessions. Though John XXIII had dropped the offensive adjective "perfidious" (unbelieving) in reference to the Jews, the prayer in the 1962 missal is still offensive, suggesting that the Jews are spiritually blind and need to be converted:

"Let us pray also for the Jews that the Lord our God may take the veil from their hearts and that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, you do not refuse your mercy even to the Jews; hear the prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people so that they may acknowledge the light of your truth, which is Christ, and be delivered from their darkness."

The missal of Paul VI expresses it quite differently:

"Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God, that they may continue to grow in the love of his name and in faithfulness to his covenant. Almighty and eternal God, long ago you gave your promise to Abraham and his posterity. Listen to your church as we pray that the people you first made your own may arrive at the fullness of redemption."

I think much of the alarm is misplaced. First, the old Good Friday prayer, even though it is quoting St. Paul about the veil covering their hearts (2 Cor 3:15), does not reflect the Church's current attitude towards the Jews. They are not seen as excluded from God's grace or living in darkness.

Second, it is not at all clear that the offending prayer will be even used. It is not in the Mass, as has frequently been alleged. It appears only in the Good Friday General Intercessions. The Motu Proprio allows a priest celebrating "without the people" to do so on any day except in the Sacred Triduum, the three days of the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. What is not clear is whether or not Tridentine communities that regularly celebrate publicly can use the old missal of John XXIII for the Sacred Triduum. This could be easily clarified.

More seriously, at the root of the Jewish concern is the fear that this initiative of Pope Benedict denies that the Jews can be saved as Jews. But this is in no way the case.

One prayer in a missal no longer ordinary or normative does not trump Vatican II's dogmatic teaching that among those related to the People of God, in the first place are the Jews, "the people to whom the covenants and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh (cf. Rom. 9:4-5). On account of their fathers, this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts he makes nor of the calls He issues (cf. Rom. 11:28-29; Lumen Gentium 16)."

Furthermore, Pope Benedict has not questioned or compromised the Council's repudiation of the notion of a collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus (NA ftnt 21). Nor has he, unlike the Southern Baptists, initiated a campaign to target Jews for conversion.

It is true that Pope Benedict teaches that God's universal salvific will is offered and accomplished once for all in the mystery of the incarnation, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, but that is simply basic Christian doctrine.

To assert this is in no way to deny the dignity of others or their religions, or to suggest that one has to become Christian in order to be saved. God works in mysterious ways, even among those who do not know Christ or his Gospel (cf. LG 16).

Jesuit Father Thomas Rausch is the T. Marie Chilton Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, and a member of The Tidings' Editorial Council.

====================================================================

In the NOTABLES thread earlier today, Benefan posted a new article about Rabbi Jacob Neusner who is quoted about the Jewish protests against the Pope's MP, as follows:

---

Although the exact wording that may take place within a conditional return to the Latin Mass has not been spelled out, the chance it may reinstate a Good Friday reference to praying for "the perfidious Jew" has angered some.

Neusner hasn't let it excite him.

"I've pointed out that the synagogue liturgy has an equivalent prayer which we say three times a day, not just once a year," he said.

---

But why is it that people like Michael Lerner and David Rosen, quoted in the article by Fr. Rausch, have not been honest enough to point this out? It isn't something you wouuld be likely to 'forget' if you were an observant Jew who said your prayers daily, or even just a Jew who does not practise his faith but should know what prayers said in synagogue are, because that's part of every Jewish child's training!

The hypocrisy on the part of these Jewish leaders is shocking, outrageous and unacceptable! And there should be a way to publicize Rabbi Neusner's matter-of-fact statement of fact to stop this nonsense here and now!

See what you think, but I find this interview with Mons. Fellay quite encouraging - the most positive one I've read on him so far.

‘We Are Very Happy’-
A Lefebvrite Bishop On Benedict’s Motu Proprio
National Catholic Register
July 22 - August 4, 2007 Issue


BISHOP BERNARD FELLAY was one of four priests illicitly ordained bishop by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988.

Since 1994, Bishop Fellay has been superior general of the Society of St. Pius X. He has criticized the Church’s new understanding of ecumenism and religious freedom since the Second Vatican Council. He has also appealed to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI to lift the excommunications against him and the three other bishops and to extend permission for the old Latin Mass to all Catholics.

Bishop Fellay spoke to Register correspondent Edward Pentin by telephone from the headquarters of the Society of St. Pius X in Menzingen, Switzerland, July 11, four days after Pope Benedict expanded the use of the older form of the Latin Mass.


You said you were profoundly grateful for the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. Would you explain more precisely how important this document is, both to your society and to your relations with the Church?

I would say the importance is not for us, it’s for the whole Church, and in that sense it is important to us. So it’s not directly important for us, but it is important for the whole Church.

All the problems we have with Rome and so on, they start with this point, and we say, 'Be alert'. In the council and with the reforms of the council, some decisions have been taken which are harming the Church.

There is a crisis in the Church; I think everybody recognizes that, and we at least do see part of the causes in these decisions. We also see bringing back part of the Tridentine Mass as a great part of the remedy — a major medicine to healing the crisis of the Church. That’s why we’re so grateful.


Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, the Vatican office charged with trying to bring about reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X, said that the council never actually asked for the creation of a new rite, but asked for greater use of the vernacular language and more lay participation. So in that sense, he was saying there was never a rupture at the Second Vatican Council with regard to the liturgy. What’s your view? [I find it strange that Pentin should use an old quotation from Cardinal Castrillon, when Pope Benedict is very clear in the Explanatory Letter about this point- that there was never any rupture - as he was in the speech to the Curia of December 2005!]

The major problem we have with the council is ambiguity. That means, you have a text that can lead towards various directions — not according to the text itself that remains ambiguous, but in reality, where the reform has shown that one form of interpretation has been taken.

What we say is that this interpretation does not always correspond to what was held to be Church teaching previously. In fact, most of the progressives in the Church would agree with my statement. [The progressives are the very ones who claim this!]


But the Vatican, the Church, would say that the liturgy is something organic, something that evolves over time.

You’re right. And the present Pope has written several times that the reform was not organic — that’s one of his major reproaches against the reform, that the Mass of Paul VI is not organic.


Summorum Pontificum is one thing, but what more needs to be done to bring about reconciliation in that case?

In my view, we deal with a spirit. If the Church is suffering, it’s because a foreign spirit has entered the Church. It’s as Paul VI said: The smoke of Satan has entered the Temple of God. [Hmmm...the 'spirit of Vatican-II' as the smoke of Satan! That's an intersting way to loom at it!]

There is something that doesn’t fit with the Catholic spirit, with the Christian spirit of the Church now. If I may say, it’s a worldly spirit. [Oh, it definitely is! It has names, too - like Melloni and Thomas Reese and Richard O'Brien, the whole progressive rogues' gallery of the Catholic Church!]

I do not see an immediate solution to the problem we are pointing out, but in the long term, we definitely do hope that by bringing back this Mass, it’s also bringing back the Catholic spirit — the former spirit. And the Tridentine Mass is obviously much, much stronger than the new Mass. So in the long term, we have a very, very great hope for reconciliation.


But you say in your statement released in response to the motu proprio that there are still doctrinal difficulties. There’s also the issue of excommunication, which, some say, is not something that can be easily resolved.

My response to that is very simple: The authorities in Rome consider it to be easy. They very clearly don’t consider it to be a very difficult matter.


And on the issue of doctrine?

We believe that by making these two steps [expanding use of the old rite and overturning the excommunications], we create a new atmosphere that will be much more serious, that will calm down passions, and that will then make it possible to serenely discuss real doctrinal problems. That’s almost impossible when passions are so high; there’s prejudice and attribution of thoughts and feelings that weren’t there, misinterpretation.

There are a lot of things that are going on that really need to be cleared up before we can deal with the matter. That’s why we say: “Please make these steps, as they will ease the way.”


On the issue of doctrine, you say that Vatican II declarations such as Dignitatis Humanae (The Right of the Person and of Communities to Social and Civil Freedom in Religious Matters) are ones you cannot agree with. But that being the case, how can there be agreement when the Church cannot, or is unlikely to, go back on such declarations.

Sure, they constantly do that [Constantly????] - if you have a text that is ambiguous, which needs more explanation; maybe our contribution will be to clarify these texts.


Shortly after the motu proprio was released, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a document aimed at clearing up such ambiguity and confusion regarding doctrine that has existed since the council. Some say this was an attempt to remove all barriers to reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X. Do you agree with that view, that it will help clear up the ambiguity you speak about?

Frankly not, because then we are saying two plus two equals five.


So the document is irrelevant to you?

I don’t think it helps. It’s a good illustration of the Pope’s position, who tries to suppress any kind of idea of opposition between the Church of the past and Vatican II and the reforms. And he does that by saying listen, the Church cannot be in contradiction with itself, so the past and the present must be one. Well that’s fine, but is it really? So my feeling when I see this declaration is that, well, they are nice words but the reality is really confusing. I find this text very confusing. [What exactly about it is confusing??? Does he disagree even that there are 'elements of salvation' present outside the Church, but that is not enough? Why, for God's sake, did Pentin not pursue this question!!!!]


To go back to Cardinal Castrillon, he said in a recent interview that with Summorum Pontificum, the door is wide open for a return of the Society of St. Pius X into full communion. He said: “If, after this act, the return does not take place, I truly will not be able to comprehend it.” Some would say therefore you are being unnecessarily difficult — that you should reconcile and then these issues can be discussed.

It’s a point of view. The point of view of Cardinal Castrillon has always been to solve the problem practically, without discussions. Let’s sign the document, the agreement, and then later on we’ll discuss. That is his position.

We say we would like to, but we can’t because if we do so, tomorrow we’ll be in the same problem we’re in now. We fear if that happens, then tomorrow we get the same censures as we have now. So first we must discuss and clear things.


So you believe you’re more effective in achieving your objectives in the state you are in than if you were within the Church?

We fear that an agreement now would in a way seem like cheating. We want truth, the whole truth, and justice and charity, of course. We would not like to do something wishy-washy.


What direction would you most like the Vatican to take now?

Continue in that direction; it’s a very good start. We are really grateful to the Pope and we understand that he had to face a very, very strong opposition from many bishops’ conferences. So we are really grateful to him.


Do you feel you’ve been vindicated in a way, that it’s been worth the struggle and it will perhaps make you and the society even more convinced of your own position?

I’ve never seen it in that light. Our concern is to go to heaven, to be saved, and, let’s say, the good of the Church. If all goes well for the whole Church, we are pretty sure we will go well, too.


In his explanatory letter on the motu proprio, the Pope said that neither knowledge of the old liturgy nor Latin is common among priests, indicating that it probably won’t be widely used in any case. Is this a problem for you, that there won’t be a renaissance of the old rite, which you hope for?

We have always looked on this as a long process. It’s very obvious that right now, there will be few who will take the opportunity given to them. But that’s normal because, as the Pope says, many don’t think there is an old rite, or don’t know Latin. So it’s normal that it will take time, but we are sure that if the opportunity is given to them, and there’s the appreciation of what this rite consists of, then no doubt it will come.


And as the rite spreads, the Church will perhaps become more sympathetic to your own views. That’s how you see it?
You’re quite right. This Mass is bringing a new spirit, and a spirit that is much deeper — it goes much deeper. And well, that’s what we want.


Are you concerned about it creating possible divisions?

I have no fear there. As I say, for the time being, it involves so few, so one cannot really talk about division. If things happen gradually, it will not divide. I don’t have great fears about that.


Does it concern you that quite a few bishops were opposed to this?

Well, we hope the bishops will have the right attitude towards the Holy Father. That’s all I can say.


It’s said the real problem with this dispute is pride, that it’s pride among members of the society that keeps you from coming back to the Church, and that you’re protesting in a similar way to Protestants. What do you say to this charge?

The answer is the following: The Protestant is protesting because he defends his own view. We don’t have our own view. We speak about what we have received, what we have been taught from our childhood. And so what we speak about is the teaching of the Church, the Catholic Church.

What we say to the Church authorities is: How can we square this teaching that we have been obliged to stick to with the new one that came after the council? So that’s what we say. It’s not a personal defense, but we request truth, and every Catholic, I think, has a right to that truth.

But of course Protestants would say the same in that they would argue they’re searching for truth and doing it their own way. You don’t take that view?

No, we totally disagree with that attitude that says I want to believe from my point of view. If the Pope was to make an infallible statement dogma, we would immediately accept it because we believe in the Pope, we accept the magisterium. But we know the council has never expressed this will to make an infallible statement [on the reforms of the Council]. So we know that the degree of adherence to this teaching is, by far, lower than the one that is requested by an infallible statement.

The council, the bishops, did ask: What is infallible in this council? And there is this famous note, the answer from the secretary of the council, in which he said what is infallible in the council is that which the council says is infallible, and you find nowhere where this infallibility is implied. All the council said was: We want to be pastoral.

But if you’re pastoral, you want to speak of statements linked to circumstances and definitely, if that is so, the Church will not want to bind itself with this degree of an infallible statement or dogma.

[Now, that statement about the infallibility of the Council is odd! I don't think Fellay is making it up, but on the other hand, weren't all the Council documents issued by Pope Paul VI? Each of the apostolic constitutions bears the title "....prolumgated by His Holiness Paul VI on ...." Doesn't that make them Papal documents and therefore, fall under the infallibility rule?]


But if the Church did pronounce the council infallible, that would help you a lot? [Oh, Mr. Pentin, you didn't ask the obvious question!]

I wouldn’t say help, we would just follow, but of course, when we deal with infallibility, it is very obvious there would not be this type of contradiction. We do see in the documents that which, most of the time, is characterized by ambiguity.


Yet the Church says the documents are fine, that it’s the way they’ve been interpreted that’s at fault.

The ambiguity is in the text. We say the text is the problem because it leads to another possible interpretation.

You see, the very fact that it’s said we have to “interpret” the council, that the council has to be interpreted in the light of tradition that the present Pope says, means that there are other possible interpretations.

We say the text that comes from a council should be clear enough not to need such an interpretation. It should be clear enough by itself, because if you need an interpretation, you need a second text. And then you give more value to the second text than the text of the council, which is crazy — by my reasoning.

[Fellay makes a great point here. I've only really looked carefully at Sacrosanctum concilium, but there are striking ambiguities there that appear to be deliberate. I think that the polemical nature of some issues on which the council issued documents militated towards a deliberate ambiguity - especially on non-doctrinal points - as an attempt to reconcile conflicting views, satisfy everyone somehow, and trust the Holy Spirit to make everyone interpret the documents 'correctly'.]


You don’t think, though, that these things, the meaning of the text, must evolve over time and so become clearer and less ambiguous? [HUH????]

You have a text. The words used were expressly used to be ambiguous. It’s recognized by so many scholars, theologians in the Church. It’s a fact and we can’t help it. It’s true, it’s there.

So it means the Church will have the duty in the future to make it clear. And this text that came out yesterday [“Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church”], we’re not very happy with it, but it is an attempt to make it clearer.


So you do welcome the attempt?

Exactly.


Do you have any other final reflections on Summorum Pontificum?

We are really happy with it, and we do consider this the most supernatural act possible.

It’s a very courageous act of the Pope, very supernatural, and we do hope it brings many blessings on the Church, even if the blessings will not appear immediately.

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/21/07

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27


6,000 pilgrims expected
at Angelus tomorrow

LORENZAGO DI CADORE - Unlike the Angelus presided over by Pope Benedict XVI at Castello Mirabello last Sunday for representatives of the diocese of Treviso, tomorrow's Angelus, to be held at the Piazza Caldi, will not be an exclusive event for people with invitations.

Two thousand places - a thousand each on the extreme right and left of the piazza facing the Papal stage - have been assigned for pilgrims without any pass.

The diocese of Belluno-Feltre has 2000 reserved places also in two sectors, for parishes, church associations and youth groups. The municipality of Lorenzago itself also has two sectors, of 750 places each - for residents and people who own vacation homes in the area.



Directly in front of the stage will be 160 seats - the only ones available - for authorities and for the sick and handicapped who will be presented to the Pope after the Angelus.

As announced earlier, Cardinal Angelo Scola, Patriarch of Venice, and Cardinal Joseph Zen, Archbishop of Hongkong, are expected to attend.

Angelus will be preceded by Mass at the same piazza, concelebrated by Mons. Giuseppe Andrich, Bishop of Belluno-Feltre, and Mons. Andrea Mazzocato, Bishop of Treviso.

Parking areas have been assigned for buses and cars depending on where they are coming from. Except for the sick and disabled, who will be transported to the piazza in shuttles, other pilgrims will have to walk a distance of a half kilometer to 3 kms, depending on their assigned parking area.

For Sky video clip of preparations for Angelus,
Pope saying rosary with Giorgio, and choral concert:
www.skylife.it/videoTg24Single/45484

Choral concert
for the Pope went well



LORENZAGO DI CADORE - Benedict XVI closed his twelfth day on vacation last night listening to a concert by seven mountaintown choirs, capping a day full of happiness following the release in the Philippines of missionary priest Giancarlo Bossi.

The concert was offered by Mons. Giuseppe Aldrich, who presented the choirs of Cadore, Comelico, Cortina, Oltrepiave, Perala, Rualan, San Vito.

Each choir sang one number each, and then sang four numbers altogether, ending with the solemn 'Signore delle cime' (Lord of the peaks), a hymn which expresses the sense of spirituality that comes in the mountains.

The Pope made some impromptu remarks to them afterwards, recalling St. Augustine who said 'Cantare amantis est' (to sing is to be loving).

The concert lasted from 8:15 to 9:30 p.m.

Earlier in the evening, the Pope spent about 40 minutes in the woods near Castello Mirabello. Emerging from his walk, he greeted the people who awaited him at the roadside. [See Lorenzago update #3, 7/20/07].


Translation of
THE POPE'S REMARKS
AFTER THE CHORAL CONCERT



Excellency, dear friends,

At the end of this wonderful presentation of the musical culture of your Dolomite homeland, I can only say thank you with all my heart. Thank you for the beautiful culture of this region.

I was reminded of St. Augustine who said "Cantare amatis est" (To sing is to be loving). The source of song is love. Song is an expression of love. And I hear in your songs a great love for this beautiful land of the Dolomites, for this earth that has been given to us by the Lord.

In our thanks, in our love for the earth, is our love for the Creator, love for God who has given us these things, this life of joy. It is a joy that is even greater in the light of our faith, which tells us that God loves us.

Popular culture which presents itself in such an elevated manner is a treasure of our European identity which we should cultivate and promote. I thank everyone who does his part so that this great European culture may always be with us, today and in the future.

Education in music, to sing in a choir, is not only an exercise in external hearing or the voice. It is also an exercise in hearing interiorly, the heart listening, which is an exercise and education for life, for peace of mind, and for 'journeying together', as His Excellency said, referring to the diocesan Synod.

Bishop Andrich also referred to a terible and difficult time 90 years ago in this region, when these mountains became a terrible and bloody theater of war (World War I). Let us thank the Lord that today there is peace in our Europe, and let us do all we can so that peace may grow and expand for everyone around the world. I am sure that beautiful music like yours is itself a commitment for peace, an aid to living together in peace.

Therefore, my heartfelt thanks to all of you, to the Bishop, to the master of ceremonies, and to the choirmasters. Let me express my thanks in the name of the Lord, with my Apostolic Blessing.

Goodnight, thank you, arrivederci. I wish you all a good vacation.


===================================================================

The following is a more precise version of the report yesterday (Lorenzago Update - 7/20/07 #3)
about the Pope's brief meeting with people who waited for him to emerge from his evening walk in
the woods near Castelo Mirabello yesterday.



Encounter in the woods
7/20/07

LORENZAGO. After news earlier in the day that Pope Benedict XVI had spoken to Cardinal Bertone
about the release of Fr. Bossi, the Pope's secretary, Mons. Georg Gaenswein also told newsmen
in town around noontime, about the Pope's 'great joy' at the news.

And now, here was the Pope himself, emerging from the woods in the Park of Dreams...

Forty minutes earlier, around 6 p.m., barriers were set up at the tennis courts -
a sign that the Pope was coming down from Castello Mirabello for his evening walk.

Already, some villagers and tourists were making their way to the Park of Dreams.
They saw policemen entering the woods.
A tennis player protested that he was not allowed to proceed to the courts.

But the papal cars were arriving. They made a U-turn and stopped to let the Pope off -
into the firs and larches, accompanied by Mons. Gaenswein.
Security reopened the road to the Park from the town.

Some 30 persons, including a few journalists, chose to stay and wait for the Pope to come back.
We were kept together to wait.

"Good evening." After 40 minutes, the figure in white emerged on the path from the woods.
The people applauded. We were all expecting him to be in his car.

Papa Ratzinger walks briskly! He is wearing brown walking shoes.



"Good evening," he says courteously to the group whom the police had asked to spread out in a semicircle,
journalists in the back. No tape recorders, please, and turn off the microphones on the TV cameras!

A lady knelt and kissed the Pope's hand: "What an honor, Holiness!" He shook her hand then proceeded
to greet the children, caressing the babies.

A lady from Conegliano who has a vacation house in VallaPiccola said:
"Holiness, I sent you some Alpine flowers [called 'stelle alpine', Alpine stars] the other day.
I know you got them because I received a letter of thanks."

The Pope: "Oh, the stelle alpine? Yes, I did get them, thanks again!"

An old man from Pieve di Cadore:
"The other day, I tried to send you directly a basket of porcini mushrooms..."

The Pope: "The mushrooms! Yes, I ate them!"

Then, a boy from Cortina. He had been playing, his hands were sweaty, and he wiped them on his pants.

The Pope: What is your name?

"Christian".

"Ciao, Christian!" the Pope said, and stroked his face.

Christian's parents later: "We work in Cortina [d'Ampezzo, Italy's premier ski resort which is not far from Lorenzago.]
This was our only free day this week, and we came here, really hoping to see the Holy Father.

Then the Schiavinatos, who live right next to the tennis courts. "Usually we are on our porch -
and when he comes by, we wave, and he waves back to us from the car."

This time, they meet him face to face.

"Holiness," he says. "I am a lay worker in the Church."
The Pope opens his arms to him for a brief hug. His wife becomes emotional.

An older vacationer from Venice comes forward:
"Holiness, it is a great pleasure to meet you.
I have been so lucky I was also able to shake the hand of your predecessor."

The Pope: Did you meet him here too, in Lorenzago?

Old man: No, In Venice.

Finally, our turn. The police had been holding us back.

"What's to write?" The Pope remarks to one of us, who had an open notebook. "There is no news."

Actually, the Pope anticipated what we would ask.
Before the flustered newsman could answer, the Pope tells us:
"I am very happy Fr. Bossi has been released.
We are all thankful to the Lord."

Newsman: Have you thanked the government?

The Pope: Yes, we already spoke to (Prime Minister) Prodi,
and we are grateful to all who have worked for this release.

It was almost 7 p.m. The Pope took his leave, got into his car and returned to his vacation villa.
At 8 p.m. he would attend a choral concert in his honor.

Corriere delle Alpi, 21 luglio 2007

Lamentably, the Pope's letter to the Catholics of China has failed to receive the attention it deserves for two reasons - first, few of those who report religion news have a proper background to understand either the broad foundations of the letter or its concrete proposals to normalize the situation of the Catholic Church in China; and second, the release not long afterward of the Pope's Motu Proprio about the pre-1970 liturgy and the CDF statement on the doctrine of the Church conveniently shifted the media attention to two issues that affect the universal Church, and not just a particular Church, especially one as troubled and as complex as the Church in China.

Thankfully, there are writers and Church historians in the Italian media who are trying to keep the issue alive and properly understood. Here are two articles today from Avvenire and from Gazzetta del Sud, in translation:


Pope Benedict's daring wager
to 're-unify' the Church in China
By Crisostomo Lo Presti


Papa Ratzinger stands out yet again for his courage and resolution in defense of Catholicism. In his June 30 letter to the Catholics of the People's Republic of China, he wrote an important page in contemporary history.

For the first time, the Holy See addressed the faithful of mainland China using the words People's Republic of China, breaking a taboo that had begun in 1949 when the Communists took power in China.

At the Vatican, in January this year, a sense of something historic followed an extraordinary summit on the Chinese question that had been presided by the Secretary of State, after which it was announced that the Pope planned to write a letter to the Catholics of China.

Whatever it was, it would be a trigger not only for new evangelization in China but also for new relations with a regime that has always opposed the Vatican, promoting a parallel Church called 'patriotic', which is subject to the political authorities for the nomination of bishops and for instructions in matters of faith.

The Pope's letter first establishes the divine foundation of the Church and the basic human requisite for religious freedom, in the face of which structures dictated by the Communist Party controlled and manipulated episcopal ordinations considered illegitimate by Rome, usually of bishops willing to be subordinated to the 'hammer and sickle.'

The Pope then acknowledges the sufferings of those who have kept alive an underground Church that is faithful to the Pope and that has been persecuted and often silenced by force.

It is true that the regime in Beijing has so far not opened up dialog with the Holy See, but it is also true that Papa Ratzinger's initiative has shown a way for possible developments - even within the next few months - that could not even be imagined before this.

Thus, the problem of naming new bishops, beyond those who are 'patriotic', may be resolved soon if only because of urgent need: in the past 25 months, 25 aged bishops have died, all requiring a replacement. This is why Rome has not wanted to close off dialog, even if the Chinese government recently named three bishops not previously cleared with the Vatican.

In the spring of 2006, a trip to Beijing by Mons. Claudo Celli [recently named President of the Pontifical Council on Social Communications] and Mons. Gianfranco Rota Graziosi, two of the China experts at the Vatican, laid the ground for the Pope's revolutionary initiative - the letter of June 30.

The opening made possible by the choice of the Holy See not to name underground priests as bishops was intended to favor reconciliation and unity of each diocese around one bishop, in the face of an uncontested fact: that the 'patriotic' bishops named so far have been generally unacceptable to priests, religious and faithful alike. They end up being pastors without flocks, guiding a rudderless boat.

But, Papa Ratzinger points out to the Catholics of China, "being underground is not a normal state of affairs in the life of the Church", and so he has called on 'underground bishops' to accept government supervision of their activities as long as it does not interfere with their 'religious work'.

And that is one concrete way by which he German Pope is working for peace and concord, according to Christian values and keeping clear the Primacy of Peter, but indicating a way to normalize relations between Church and State, even within a country where the issues are as special and difficult as they are in China.

Gazzetta del sud, 21 luglio 2007


Voices from the East:
'Dear Benedict XVI,
thank you for your letter...'


"There is only one Church in China. Brothers and sisters, let us cross the river together, let us live together in harmony and joy. This is the Pope's dearest wish."

The 92-year- Bishop of Shanghai, Aloysius Jin Luxian, addressed this appeal to his people in the light of Pope Benedict's letter to the Catholics of China.

This has come to us thanks to the monthly magazine 30 GIORNI which will publish letters from Bishop Jin and two others - Bishop Lucas Li Jingfeng of Feng Xiang, and Bishop Coadjutor Petrus Feng Xinmao of Hengshui.

The letters are introduced by a testimonial from 30 GIORNI publisher Giulio Andreotti, ex Prime Minister of Italy, who speaks of his own relationships with political, cultural and church authorities in China.

He cites the example of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) as a model for establishing intra-cultural relations as well as 'inculturation'. Ricci, he said, "dedicated years to studying the language, the history and the customs of China, so that by the time he began his apostolate there, he was no stranger."



[Ricci, a mathematician-cartographer, introduced Western mathematics to China, wrote textbooks and produced the first map of China for the world, becoming so accepted in the imperial court that he became the court mathematician. His own continuing studies of China showed him that Chinese culture was strongly intertwined with Confucian values and therefore, he felt Christianity should be presented to fit Chinese culture in order to be attractive to the Chinese. He made the first translations of Confucius to a Western language (Latin). He died in China after serving there for 27 years.]

The point, Andreotti says, is to cross the threshold of alienation, to be immersed - with realism and flexibility - in the particular and concrete conditions of Chinese Catholicism today - and looking with clarity, generosity and farsightedness at what has happened so far and what can be done without renouncing the Church's truth, identity and vocation.

30 GIORNI staffer Gianni Valente notes that through the pages of the Pope's letter, "there courses the wisdom of the eternal Church", and he gives credit to the experts who "in the past few years have followed the China file for the Vatican."

"To call the letter the most important document ever addressed by the Holy See to the Catholics of China," he writes, "is no exaggeration.' [It is the first, in fact, so its importance can hardly be understated!]

"The 20 paragraphs of the text offer the means to close an epoch of misunderstandings and controversies that have lasted over 30 years. It furnishes clear and concrete answers to burning pastoral controversies that only the Holy See could resolve, seeing that previous Vatican instructions had contributed to creating them."

Valente goes on to summarize the fundamental points of the Letter, starting with the statement that "The Catholic Church in China...has never been deprived of the ministry of legitimate pastors who have kept the apostolic succession intact."

And the Pope goes on to urge an end to having a clandestine Church and an open Church, to discuss how the 'one Church in China' should relate with civilian authorities, and to emphasize that the mission of the Church - namely, proclaiming the Gospel - cannot be identified with any political system or community.

The letter is 'a great lesson in ecclesiology' which shows how "there is only one Church in China", writes the 92-year-old Bishop of Shanghai, and how it is necessary for everyone concerned "to take the path of forgiveness and reconciliation".

He writes of the great 'joy and consolation' he felt when he read the paragraph in which the Pope "decided that the annual Feast of Our Lady of Sheshan (in Shanghai)" should also be "the day of prayer for churches around the world for the Church in China."

"This letter is useful for promoting unity among underground Christians as well as the public ones," writes the Bishop of Feng Xiang, while he acknowledges the great difficulty it will be for some of the clandestine Christians to welcome a call for reconciliation.

"We are all very happy to read the Letter from the Holy Father," writes the Bishop Coadjutor of Hengshui. "The letter is freely circulating in China. In my diocese, we downloaded it from the Internet immediately, made copies and distributed these to all priests and religious communities, and they are now studying the letter together."

He was especially appreciative of the Pope's clarifications about Church and State relations and over the instructions over how to put an end to clandestine Church activity. He pointed out that among the first problems to resolve is for the Church to define the function of the Patriotic Association in a 'single' Church.

Avvenire, 21 luglio 2007

VATICAN CITY, July 21 - Fr. Giancarlo Bossi will talk about his experience in captivity and his missionary work in the Philippines to Italian youth in Loreto at the Agora on September 1-2.

The 57-year-old missionary, freed Thursday after 39 days of captivity, told AsiaNews in Manila that he would be returning to Italy in mid-August and expressed the hope of meeting Pope Benedict XVI during the Loreto event.

Mons. Giuseppe Betori, secretary-general of the Italian bishops conference and president of the Agora organizing committee, said: "We were hoping to have him in Loreto, and even before his release, we had left open a window for him to be able to relate his story to the youth during the Saturday encounter. So we are really very happy that he has expressed his readiness to come to Loreto. We believe his courageous missionary experience will be an inspiration to many youth who, like Fr. Bossi, want to dedicate their life to the Gospel in service to others."



Fr. Bossi meets Philippine President Arroyo
at the Presidential Palace in Manila, 7/20/07


Bossi: 'I would like to meet the Pope'

Manila, July 21 (AsiaNews) - "Next week I will go back to Zamboanga and Payao to greet my parishioners, but I am due to return to Italy in mid August."

Speaking by 'in good health' and almost jokingly confesses that his only concern is the media assault which in the last two days "has made me feel as if I were still in captivity, even if this is a pleasurable prison."

His deepest desire is to 'be able to embrace my people', but it will also be wonderful to 'see my family again'. Before his return to Italy, Fr. Bossi will undergo further medical tests, to exclude any physical consequences of his 39 day sequestration.

The priest then added that he was interested in attending the Italian youth rally in Loreto on September 1-2, to greet Benedict XVI and to give a testimonial of his missionary work to the youth: "It would be a truly marvellous moment to be able to meet the Pope. It would really have great meaning for me."

Meanwhile, new facts surrounding Father Bossi's release have emerged: Jaime Caringal, Chief of police in Zamboanga, confirms that 'psychological weapons' were used to induce the abductors to release the hostage.

But he denied it involved payment of a ransom or prisoner exchange (Fr. Bossi’s freedom in exchange for the release of the chief abductor captured by police). Caringal says the tactical deployment of over 2000 troops in Lanao and Basilan was fundamental.

But he also discarded the theory that the kidnappers were linked to Abu Sayyaf, although that is what they told Fr. Bossi. He said that it was more likely some of them – already identified by police – are former members of the separatist group MILF.

THE ANGELUS AT LORENZAGO - 7/22/07

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27



In his Angelus message today, the Holy Father today recalled Pope Benedict XV's historic appeal in 1917 for an end to 'useless slaughter' and, in even more impassioned terms, re-stated his own often-repeated appeal for an end to the many violent conflicts in the world today.

He chose to concentrate on his message for peace and an end to wars, without the usual brief homily that he gives on the Gospel of the day.

Here are SKY videoclips of the Angelus that also show
informal footage from the Pope's outings.
www.skylife.it/application/html/455/singolo_cronaca_45...
www.skylife.it/videoTg24Single/45524

[A translation of the full text of the Holy Father's words is at the bottom of this post. It has also been posted in the AUDIENCE AND ANGELUS thread.]



Here is an early bulletin from the news agency ADNkronos, translated:


Lorenzago di Cadore, July 22 (Adnkronos) - "War means yielding to the temptation of Evil - it is the hell which has ruined the wonderful garden of the world," Benedict XVI said today, celebrating his second Angelus in the Dolomites at the piazza of this town.

More than 10,000 pilgrims gathered to listen to the Pope. Prominent guests included the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Angelo Scola; the Bishop of Hongkong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, who came with 60 Chinese pilgrims; Mons, Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops conference; and Edoardo Luciani, a brother of the late John Paul I, who was a native of Belluno province....




Here are the accounts by AP and Reuters:


Pope urges an end to all wars
By TRISHA THOMAS


LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy, July 22 (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI called Sunday for an end to all wars, saying they were "useless slaughters" that bring hell to paradise on Earth.

Benedict made the appeal in this small mountain town in Italy's Veneto region while on vacation. He recalled that 90 years ago — on Aug. 1, 1917 — predecessor Pope Benedict XV urged a similar end to the first World War, then ravaging this part of northern Italy.

"While this inhuman conflict raged, the pope had the courage to affirm that it was a 'useless slaughter,'" Benedict said. "These words — 'useless slaughter' — contained a fuller prophetic value that can be applied to so many other conflicts that have cut off countless human lives."

Benedict didn't cite any conflicts in particular in his comments to several hundred faithful gathered in the main piazza of Lorenzago di Cadore for his traditional Sunday blessing. Rather, he made a general appeal.

"From this place of peace, where one still senses how unacceptable the horrors of 'useless slaughters' are, I renew the appeal to pursue the path of rights, to strongly refuse the recourse to weapons and refuse to confront new situations with old systems," he said.

He reminded the faithful that God put man on Earth to take care of his "paradise," but that man sinned and began making war.

"The consequence is that in this stupendous garden which is the world, there is now room for hell," he said.

Benedict has been stepping up his peace appeals in recent weeks, starting with a major call issued June 17 in the hillside town of Assisi, known for the message of peace brought by St. Francis. During that sermon, Benedict decried the horrors of fighting and terrorism in Iraq, Lebanon, the Holy Land and elsewhere in the Middle East and called for an end to all bloody conflicts.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, noted that when then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger decided to call himself Benedict XVI, he did so noting that the last Pope Benedict had been a pope who called for peace during World War I.

"It was very unpopular then, but it became very prophetic," Lombardi said on RAI state television. "Recalling this great pontificate, Benedict XVI took his name as an announcer of peace."

Benedict's blessing was attended by several top prelates from the area, as well as Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, an outspoken critic of China's treatment of Catholics in the underground church. He traveled to Lorenzago, near Italy's border with Austria, with some 60 pilgrims.

Last month, Benedict issued a letter to China's 12 million Catholics, urging them to unite under his authority.




Pope calls for peace
to make "heaven" on earth


LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy, July 22 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict made an appeal for peace on Sunday, saying nations should halt bloody conflicts around the world to create a heaven on earth.

Addressing the faithful at his mountain retreat in the Italian Dolomites, the Pope said his summer holiday made him particularly sensitive to the suffering caused by war.

"In these days of rest ... I feel even more intensely the painful impact of the news I receive about bloody conflicts and violent events happening in so many parts of the world," he told worshippers gathered in the sunny mountain valley town.

"The beauty of nature reminds us that we were instructed by God to cultivate and keep this garden that is the earth. If men lived in peace with God and with each other, the earth really would look like a 'heaven'."

The Pontiff quoted Benedict XV, pope during World War I, who in 1917 called that global conflict a "pointless carnage."

"Those words, 'pointless carnage', have a wider, prophetic value and can be applied to many other conflicts which have cut short so many human lives." He did not refer explicitly to any current conflict.

The Pope prayed for peace and made a plea for people to "refuse with determination the race for arms and, more generally, to reject the temptation to deal with new situations with old systems."

The 80-year-old Pope is due to return to the Vatican at the end of this month after his spell in the mountains.



Translation of
THE HOLY FATHER'S MESSAGE
AT ANGELUS TODAY



Dear brothers and sisters!

In these days of rest which, thanks to God, I am spending here in Cadore, I feel even more intensely the sorrowful impact of the news that reaches me about the bloody encounters and episodes of violence which are taking place in so many parts of the world. This has led me to reflect even more on the tragedy of human freedom in the world.

The beauty of nature reminds us that we have been placed by God to 'cultivate and protect' this 'garden' which is Earth (cfr Gn 2,81-7). If men lived in peace with God and among themselves, then earth would truly resemble a Paradise. But sin unfortunately ruined the divine plan, generating divisions among men and bringing death to the world.

And so it happens that men yield to the temptations of the Evil One and make war against each other. The consequence is that, in this wondrous 'garden' which the world should be, spaces of 'hell' have opened up.

War, with its trail of mourning and destruction, has always been rightly considered a calamity that opposes the plan of God, who has created everything for life, and in particular, wished to make of the human species a family.

I cannot, at this moment, fail to go back to a significant date, August 1, 1917, just about 90 years ago, when my venerated predecessor, Pope Benedict XV, addressed his famous note to the belligerent powers, calling on them to put an end to the First World War (cfr AAS 9 [1917], 417-420).

While that tremendous conflict raged, the Pope had the courage to say that it was a 'useless slaughter.' This expression of his has been inscribed in history. It was justified in the concrete situation of that summer of 1917, specially on this front in the Veneto.

But those words 'useless slaughter' also contain a much wider prophetic value and can be applied to so many other conflicts which have carried off so many human lives.

This very land where we are, which in itself speaks of peace and harmony, was a theater of the First World War, as we are still reminded today by some moving Alpine songs. They tell us of events that cannot be forgotten.

We must`guard in memory the negative experiences which unfortunately, our fathers had to suffer in order that they may not be repeated.

Pope Benedict XV's note was not limited to condemning the war. It also indicated, on a juridical basis, the means to construct a just and lasting peace: the moral force of the law, balanced and controlled disarmament, arbitration of controversies, freedom of the seas, reciprocal condonation of war damages, restitution of occupied territories, and equitable negotiations to resolve disputes.

The proposal of the Holy See was oriented towards the future of Europe and the world, according to a plan with Christian inspiration that could be shared by all because it was founded on the rights of man.

It is the same formulation that the Servants of God Paul VI and John Paul II advocated in their memorable addresses to the General Assembly of the United Nations, repeating, in the name of the Church, "War never again!"

From this place of peace, in which the inhabitants are more vividly aware how unacceptable are the horrors of 'useless slaughters', I renew an appeal to follow tenaciously the rule of law, to reject the arms race with determination, and in general to resist the temptation of facing new situations with old ways.

With these thoughts and hopes in our hearts, let us now raise a special prayer for peace in the world, entrusting it to the Most Holy Mary, Queen of Peace.

After the Angelus, the Pope added these greetings:

Here at the Piazza of Lorenzago, I wish to address my most heartfelt greetings to the residents of this beautiful town who have received me with such affection, and I thank once again the Mayor and the municipal administration for their diligent hospitality, as I also thank the authorities of the Veneto region and the province of Belluno, and the mayors of all the towns in the Cadore.

I greet the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Angelo Scola, and the Bishop of Hongkong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun, who is with us today. I greet the president of the Italian bishops conference, Mons. Angelo Bagnasco; the Bishop of Belluno-Feltre, Mons. Giuseppe Andrich; the Bishop of Treviso, Mons. Andrea Mazzocato; and the representatives of lay associations in the Diocese of Belluno-Feltre.

I am very happy for the presence here of Signor Edoardo Luciani, brother of the Servant of God John Paul I, and I greet him most especially.

I welcome with joy all the vacationers and pilgrims, in particular, the Fathers of the Congregation of the Schools of Charity, Cavanis Institute, who are holding their Chapter General meeting.

Dear brothers, I encourage you to pursue with enthusiasm your educational mission in order to transmit to the new generations solid motivations for life and hope.

I also salute the Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King, the youth of the pastoral union of Cappella Maggiore-Anzano-Sarmede, the Association of Sons of the Church, the Folklore Dance group of Udine and so many other youth groups.

[He addressed a greeting to German-speaking pilgrims].

To all, I wish a good Sunday and a serene vacation time.

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/22/07

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27



I was able to post the reports on the Angelus today before getting around to translating the Lorenzago items from today's Corriere delle Alpi.


Pope didn't leave
his villa yesterday
By FRANCESCO DAL MAS

LORENZAGO. Pope Benedict XVI did not leave the grounds of Castello Mirabello yesterday (Saturday) for his evening walk, as he has done since he arrived here two weeks ago.

Because it was the eve of his second Angelus in the Cadore, thousands of persons waited in the streets of Lorenzago and the neighboring towns of Vigo and Laggio, where more or less trustworthy sources indicated he might visit.

Though disappointed yesterday, many of them would probably see him today at the noontime Angelus.

And there won't be just 6,000 as had been earlier expected, but at least 10,000 - coming from the Cadore, the rest of Belluno province as well as from the neighboring provinces of the Veneto and Friuli.

The main highway was to be closed to traffic starting at 8 a.m., so most of them, except the sick and handicapped, would have to reach Lorenzago on foot. Depending on where their cars or buses park, some might have to walk as much as 3 kms.

Four thousand passes were issued, but other than the sectors assigned for the VIPs and the sick, the parishes of Belluno, and the residents of Lorenzago, 5 other sectors in the piazza would be made available for pilgrims without passes.

A giant screen near the parish church has been set up for those who cannot be accommodated in the piazza.


Remembering the choral concert
on Friday, 7/20/07


LORENZAGO. Security agents at the police checkpoint guarding the road leading up to Castello Mirabello were kind but very scrupulous and strict: only those who had a pass that said "Concerto per il Santo Padre Benedetto XVI” could get through.

At 5:30 p.m. last Friday, more than 200 choir members and their directors started to make their way to the Castle. It was a hot day, but the luckily, the ascent road goes through the woods and is not unusually punishing.

The courtyard of the castle had been set up for the concert. A stage for the singers had been set up directly opposite the castle balcony where the Pope and his staff would sit. Seats had been arranged on both sides for the invited public.

Shepherding the choirs from seven mountain towns was the Bishop of Belluno-Feltre himself, Mons. Giuseppe Andrich, who had organized this event to honor the Pope. Five TV cameras had been set up to record the event.

The choirs had time to rehearse their stage entrances and exits.

Around 7:30, invited VIPs started to arrive, representing officials of the Province of Belluno and the towns of the Cadore district.

Promptly at 8:15, the Holy Father came out to the loggia, with Mons. Andrich and Mons Gaenswein.

Mons. Andrich, in his opening remarks, thanked the Pope once again for having chosen to come to the Cadore for his summer vacation this year.

"These wonderful mountains will re-energize Your Holiness.," he said. "Ninety years ago, they were the scene of war tragedy and a symbol of hate and vision. Today they are mountains of peace which our popular tradition loves to celebrate in song for their majestic beauty. So today, we wished to offer Your Holiness this choral concert with all the choirs that historically represent the Cadore,
in praise to the Lord for all the gifts he has given us."

Each of the seven choirs presented one number each. This was followed by four numbers sung altogether - the effect of more than 200 trained voices singing together was magnificent.

The last number, presented by the male voices only, was a stirring song called "Benia Calastoria', recounting the story of Beniamo who had emigrated and was now returning to his mountains and his village.

The Pope, obviously very pleased at the musical offering, then gave brief remarks of appreciation. After he gave his Apostolic Blessing,
Papal souvenirs were given to the participants, while the Pope was presented to the choir masters.

He then went down to the courtyard to pose for pictures with each of the choirs.

By 9:30 p.m., it was over. The musical interlude appropriately closed a day that had been marked by rejoicing in the Catholic world at the release of Italian missionary Fr. Gianfranco Bossi from 39 days of captivity by armed abductors in the southern Philippines.(fdm)

Corriere delle Alpi, 22 luglio 2007

I am very thankful there is someone like Mons. Tommaso Stenico who has been following Pope Benedict's pastoral and paternal concern for his priests.

Almost every time the Pope delivers a homily or address that has to do with priestly life - its joys as well as its obligations - I have commented something like, "I wish this could be posted on the mirror of every priest so he sees it first thing in the morning and last thing at night."

Joseph Ratzinger's passion for the vocation he has carried out so worthily since 1951 is so evident, that for me, his priesthood seems the very essence of his being. Everything he is and does comes from or is amplified from his being a priest, in persona Christi.

Here's a translation of Mons. Stenico's tribute, from PETRUS:


The love of Benedict
for his favorite children-
his priests
By Monsignor Tommaso Stenico



VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has a secret passion: his priests. They are his favorite children. He follows them with affection, with paternal trepidation; with suffering, when they err; with joy for their pastoral achievements.

He has addressed them particularly and continues to, with special words that are truly moving. Wherever he goes, he always makes time to meet with 'his' priests.

We remember his encounters with them in Aosta, in Rome (twice with the clergy, once with seminarians), in Albano, in Freising, in Poland.

During these past two years, I have taken it on myself to propagate the words (homilies, discourses, answers to direct questions) that Benedict XVI has addressed to priests. And that is the reason for the book CARI SACERDOTI (Dear Priests), which will come out in its third edition this September.



This edition will contain what the Successor of Peter will be saying to the priests of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso when he meets them on Tuesday, July 24, at the Church of Santa Justina in Auronzo di Cadore.

Like his previous Q&A sessions with local clergy, it will be informal - but very substantial.

Benedict XVI knows the priesthood - he knows it is not easy to be a priest. he knows the fragility of priests in the face of the demands of pastoral ministry. He has always condemned offenses, but has always had words of mercy for the person.

Mercy is emblematic of his pontificate - mercy which is never dissociated from fraternal correction. Mercy has been Benedict's evangelical style - mercy, another name for love.

While expressing encouragement, respect and support, Papa Ratzinger with his favorite children is also clear and incisive. One almost holds his breath when listening to what he has to say. He looks you in the eye and goes straight to your heart. He does not cut corners, he does not have illusions, and doesn't want his priests to, either.

He told the parish priests of Rome: "It is fundamental to infuse spirituality into the daily work of the parish. It is easier said than done, but we should always try. To do that, we simply must follow the Lord. The Gospels tell us that he worked by day, and at night, he went up to the mountain and prayed. I must confess my own weakness. It's difficult for me to pray at night, I just want to go to sleep. But nevertheless, we owe the Lord a little time: at our daily Mass, in praying the Liturgy of the Hours, in daily meditation, no matter how brief, following the liturgy or saying the Rosary. But this personal colloquy with the Lord is important. Only this way can we have the reserves we need to respond to the demands of pastoral life."

In Assisi, speaking as a priest among priests, he said: "I address a special thought to you, my dearest priests, who are engaged everyday along with your deacons in service to the people of God. Your enthusiasm, your communion, your life of prayer and your generous ministry are indispensable. You may experience tiredness or fear in the face of new demands or new difficulties, but we should have confidence that the Lord will give us the necessary strength to do what is asked of us. He will not let vocations lack if we implore him in prayer, and if together we seek to promote vocations with a vocational and youth ministry that is rich, ardent and creative, capable of showing the beauty of priestly ministry."

To the priests in Albano, he said: "The interior life is essential for our service as priests. The time we reserve for praying is not time taken away from our pastoral responsibilities - it is itself pastoral 'work'. It is not only praying for ourselves but for others."

In Warsaw, he reminded the Polish clergy: "Dear priests, let us not be consumed by haste, as though the time we dedicate to Christ in silent prayer is wasted time. It is there, in fact, that the most wonderful fruits of pastoral service are born."

Addressing not just Polish priests but priests everywhere, he said; "The faithful expect only one thing from priests: that they be specialists in promoting the encounter of man with God. We are not asked to be experts in economy, in construction work, in politics. We are expected to be experts in the spiritual life."

Now we await what our beloved Pope will say to the priests of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso. Because what he says to them, he will be saying to all priests everywhere.

==================================================================

Mons. Stenico's first book about Pope Benedict XVI marked the first anniversary of the Pope's election:




BENEDICT XVI:
Words and Images from the
First Year of Pontificate

Born in 1947, Mons. Stenico heads the the office of Canonical Administration in the Congregation of the Clergy. He is a specialist in pastoral theology and catechesis, has doctorates in theology as well as psychology, and a master's degree in information technology. He has a regular program with the Catholic TV channel Telepace and on the Catholic radio station Radio Maria (Italy). He was written 39 books, includuing several on John Paul II.

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/23/07

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27




How remarkably consistent the 'Cadore peaks' photograph -
if you compare the photo taken from the Lorenzago Angelus yesterday
to the one just above from the Lorenzago website banner!



Pope meets JP-I's brother
in Lorenzago, 7/22/07



Just about the only 'news' I could find after the very well-covered Angelus yesterday
is about Edoardo Luciani, the 91-year-old brother of John Paul I, shown being greeted
by the Pope yesterday after the Angelus recital.

After this episode, Edoardo, who was accompanied by one of his daughters, Pia, spent
some time in the piazza receiving greetings from Bellunesi who know him well because he is
JP-I's brother.

But he suddenly felt ill because of the heat, and an ambulance team immediately took him
to a 'field hospital' that had been sent up nearby for just such emergencies. He was
examined and his EKG was taken - everything appeared normal, but because of his age,
they decided to take him to the hospital at Pieve di Cadore. Once again, everything was
pronounced OK with him, and he finally headed home to Canale d'Agordo around 3:30 p.m.

It had been speculated earlier that the Pope could visit Canale d'Agordo, Papa Luciani's hometown,
during this vacation, but Edoardo's presence in Lorenzago yesterday, acknowledged by the Pope
when he greeted him publicly during his post-Angelus remarks, has obviously ruled that out.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, the Pope had visited Canale d'Agordo and the John Paul I cultural center
during a visit to Belluno city in 2004.



Greeting Cardinal Joseph Zen and Cardinal Angelo Scola.
Both cardinals lunched with the Pope after the Angelus.


Cardinal Zen came to Lorenzago with a group of
60 pilgrims from HongKong.



POPE COMES DOWN
TO LORENZAGO'S LAKE
7/23/07




Gloria told us about the lake during her reconnaissance report, but today, Pope Benedict finally went down to see it,
as he starts the third and last week of his summer vacation here. He will leave Friday afternoon to spend the rest of
the summer in Castel Gandolfo.

In the top photo, the other man is Angelo Gugel, who comes from Treviso, and apparently came back to temporary duty
as the Pope's valet this summer because of that. Gugel, who was also John Paul II's valet, retired in 2005 and was
replaced by Paolo ? (I'm having a block and can't recall his last name!).

P.S. Papino's slhouette in the right photo is decidedly not slim! -
well, at least he's been eating well.

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/24/07 #1


THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27



Pope meets diocesan clergy

AURONZO DI CADORE, July 24 (ASCA) - Benedict XVI was welcomed by some 3,000 townspeople and tourists when he arrived this morning to meet the clergy of the dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso at the Church of Santa Justina.

At the town piazza, the Pope came up to greet a group of old and disabled people. Children from the local nursery school offered him yellow roses tied in yellow and white ribbons.

He was formally welcomed by Bishops Andrich and Mazzocato, as well as by Mayor Sandegiacomo. Many townspeople gave gifts to the Pope.

Newsmen and photographers were later allowed to enter the Church for the Liturgy of the Hour which preceded the Pope's question-and-answer sesion with some 500 priests. However, they were not allowed to stay for the Q&A, and were told that Father Federico Lombardi would give a press briefing later.



Lakeside encounters
with the Pope
7/23/07
By FRANCESCO DAL MAS




DOMEGGE - The Pope went as far as Domegge with his private secretary Mons. Gaenswein, and his valet, Angelo Gugel, onto the bridge that crosses the lake Centro Cadore, towards the little church of Our Lady of Health on his evening walk yesterday between 6-7 p.m.

But crowds had been waiting for him elsewhere - once again in nearby Vigo and Laggio, where people also waited Monday - and even at the plateau on Razzo.

Instead, the Pope chose to walk along the lakeside road which his security men had blocked for a kilometer until the Pope could reach the church on foot. Later, returning to his vacation villa in Mirabello, his car went through the towns of Domegge, Lozzo, and Pelos, going back to Lorenzago.

At each place, his car slowed down at the town to wave to the faithful and even to caress some babies.

But there were also a fortunate few who met him while he was walking.
Approaching the bridge, the Pope and his two companions met Marcello Da Deppo and Vito Zanvettor who habitually take this route every evening. It was the last thing the two men expected.

Security tried to keep them back, they said, but Marcello said the Pope himself motioned him to approach.

"The Lord has brought me here," he told the Pope, who answered "Yes, it's Providence." He smiled and walked on, resuming the rosary he was praying with his companions.

Next was a tourist from Sardinia, who asked him, "When will you visit us?" He said the Pope replied, "Who knows?"

Then there were the Colferais - father and mother, each with one child, on mountain bikes. When they saw the Pope coming, they stopped.

"We didn't want to disturb him, because they were obviously saying the rosary. But he stopped to greet us." Then, they were even given rosaries by Mons. Georg.

They thought the Pope looked 'particularly rested.'

When the Pope and his companions got to the Church, he smiled and shook his head, seeing some photographers waiting. He had taken off the sunglasses he was seen wearing during his walk.

On his way out of Mirabello earlier, there was a busload of German youth by the access road, expecting to see him. He waved to them as they applauded him but for security reasons, the car did not stop.

Corriere delle Alpi, 24 luglio 2007



THE POPE HOSTS LUNCH
AT HIS VACATION HOME
7/23/07

After the Angelus yesterday, the Pope invited the three senior prelates
present to lunch at his vacation villetta in Mirabello. A very proper host,
he greets them at the porch - Cardinal Joseph Zen of HongKong, followed by
Cardinal Angelo Scola of Venice, and Mons. Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa
and president of the Italian bishops conference.

La Repubblica today published a story about a 3-hour interview with Lui Bainian, president of China's Patriotic Association of Catholics, who issued this statement:



"I hope with all my heart to be able to see the Pope here in Beijing to celebrate Mass for us Chinese. The Catholics of Italy cannot imagine how much we desire to see him. Through La Repubblica, I would like to send the Holy Father a special greeting: I want him to know that we always pray for him, and that we pray the Lord will grant us the grace of welcoming him among us."

From Auronzo, the Italian news agency ASCA has this brief bulletin:

Asked whether he had been invited to Beijing and whether he would go, Pope Benedict XVI told newsmen today: "I cannot speak now. It's a bit complicated."

The question was posed to the Pope as he left the Church of Santa Justina where he had just met with priests of his two host dioceses.



Here is a translation of the La Repubblica story:


'We want to see the Pope in Beijing'
By Federico Rampini


BEIJING - "We want to see the Pope in Beijing." Saying this is not one of the Catholics of China's underground Church who have remained loyal to Rome through decades of persecution.

It is Liu Bainian, 74, head of China's Patriotic Association of Catholics, the most powerful member of the 'official' Church, that which has been obedient to the Chinese government and main agent of the 'Chinese schism' following the Communist takeover in 1949.

Among Vatican diplomats concerned with the China issue, he has been considered 'Enemy #1'. He is detested by the underground Chinese whose activities put them at risk for prison or 're-education' camps. But today, he could be the keyman for a resumption of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Beijing, which had ended in 1951 after the Communist takeover.

His agreement to give us this interview, which lasted three hours, was unusual. Bu it was obvious that he wanted to send a message. Weighing his words carefully, he said that the recent letter addressed by Pope Benedict XVI to Chinese Catholics 'was a big step forward."

Liu is a Catholic but is not a priest. But as head of the PA, his authority is greater than all the bishops of the official Church and is the de facto lay president of its official bishops conference. He advises the government on policies towards the Chinese Catholics and towards the Vatican.

He welcomed me at the PA headquarters, an old restored palace with a pagoda roof and red columns near the imperial lake Houhai. He is dressed in a short-sleeved shirt like any civilian employee and he brings me to a bare room with a bronze statue of Christ with his arms open.

He starts by talking about his childhood which he thinks is key to who he is.

"I was born in 1934 in Qingdao in the province of Shandong. It's a port on the Pacific Ocean which was always open to foreign influences. My uncle was Catholic and he had me baptized. As a boy, I dreamed of becoming a priest. I was an altar boy, I served Mass. In 1948, the Church in Shandong was involved in an anti-Communist propaganda campaign. The bishop called Mao's partisans 'the Godless' and he warned us that they would take away our lands, all our property, even our women and children. After the Communist takeover, the Church prohibited Catholics from joining any Communist organization or labor union. I followed instructions to the letter and trusted blindly in our bishop.

"But he turned out to be the one who gave in first. He gave the names of all active but clandestine Catholics and my uncle was sentenced to life imprisonment. After the expulsion of all foreign missionaries in 1951, I started to see things in a new light. The Vatican had blessed the foreign colonial powers in China, it never objected when the Germans occupied Qingdao, then they welcomed the Japanese and later, the Americans. It was only after the Communists took power, that the Church told us we should hate the colonial powers...That's why we all respected John Paul II. He was the first Pope to admit the offenses that had been committed in the past by foreign missionaries in China.

"What your people may not understand is that we (in the PA) follow exactly the same religion as the Church of Rome. We are independent only in the political sense and in our financial resources. When the foreign press reports about the rupture of diplomatic relations in 1951 between the Vatican and China, they fail to add one important thing: We always maintained that in matters of religion, we continued to recognize that only the Pope had authority. There was no theological dispute at all. We have nothing in common with Protestants."

He brings out a copy of the first speech he made when the PA was established 50 years ago. "I went the Italians to know this," he says, and proceeds to read this statement: "The Holy See is the only representative of Christ on earth and as Catholics we should follow it. What we should affirm is our political and economic independence, otherwise we will remain a colonial church."

Liu defends himself against the accusation that he led the 'traitors' who 'sold out' to the Communist regime. "On the contrary, we saved the future of Catholicism in China, we changed the perception that foreign missionaries were here as standard-bearers of imperialism, and we showed that Chinese Catholics could be patriotic."

During the Cultural Revolution from 1966-1976, even the patriotic Church became a victim of mass persecution like members of all other religions.

"It was a disaster for Catholicism, as it was for the Communist Party itself, many of whose members were also targeted for violence. I was sent to do forced labor in a factory, then to a re-education camp. But we kept the faith. We were confident that one day, we would get back to a condition of serenity in China."

Mao's death and the succession of Deng Xiaoping started an era of liberalization, including gradual tolerance for religious groups.

"In 1979, China had 1,100 priests, most of them old and sick. Today there are 1800, and the median age is 30. The Cultural Revolution destroyed 3,600 churches - we have restored them all. In the past, priests could not travel abroad - today we send them for further studies in the United States, in France, in Belgium, in South Korea. We have opened seminaries and invited teachers from Italy, Spain, Ireland. When any of our priests have wanted to get married, we simply expelled them.

"We have never deviated from Catholic teaching. But we apply what Jesus said, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's...'"

Of course, Liu does not mention that the underground C number twice as many as the 'patriotic' Catholics. He doesn't say a word about so many bishops, priests and simple laymen who have been sent to jail or forced labor for being 'loyal to the Pope' but outside the official Church.

Many see in him a sinister figure who is entrenched in defense of the privileges he has gained from the regime. So this interview was even more surprising in the light of his reputation.

Today, he holds out an olive branch.

"There's a great positive difference," he says, "between the letter that the Pope sent us on June 30 and previous positions taken by the Vatican. There is no mention of opposition to socialism. We are no longer accused of being schismatic. It is the first time a Pope ha made us feel it is possible to be a Catholic and to love your country at the same time."

But he also makes clear he shares the same view as the government as to the limits of Church authority. "The People's Republic cannot accept that religion be used as a means to interfere in the internal affairs of China. Beijing will never accept what happened in Poland [Church support for Solidarity, which helped hasten the collapse of Communism in Poland].

But what about the nomination of bishops - should this be Beijing's call, or Rome's, or is a compromise possible?

Liu says he is convinced that "The problem can be solved, it will be solved, and I even hope, soon."

Even as he asked us to send his message to the Pope, Liu recalled that he has been to Italy. "I have been to Rome twice, first in 1991, and then in 1994 when I was fortunate to see John Paul II, whom I admired. But when I went to early morning Mass in Rome, I was dismayed to see almost deserted churches. In one church, there were 7, in another 4, in another, I was the only one present for the Mass. I wept in sorrow. It was humiliating to see this in Italy itself. In my country, our people fill the churches."

Repubblica, 24 luglio 2007

LORENZAGO UPDATE -7/24/07 &2

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27



'We are the Church:
let us all work together',
Pope tells local clergy







AURONZO, July 24 (ASCA) - "The Church is us, ourselves, and we should all work together," Pope Benedict XVI said he told the priests of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso dioceses meeting them today.

"We spoke about the Church, God and man today," he told newsmen as he left the church of Santa Justina where he met with them before noon.

He also addressed a few remarks to those who waited for him outside the Church although he had greeted some 3,000 townsfolk and tourists at a welcome ceremony earlier.

Four days before his vacation here comes to an end, he told the people that he had rested "not only my heart but also my spirit," that he has benefited "not only from the mountain air that is a gift of the Creator, but also from "the entire atmosphere of friendship and affection" that he has been surrounded with "for which I am exceedingly grateful."

His question-and-answer session with the clergy was structured so that 5 priests from each of the two dioceses could present questions previously agreed on with their colleagues. The questions touched on inculcating a moral conscience in today's youth, the priesthood and the reorganization of pastoral life, especially with a continuing shortage of priests, evangelization in places with a high immigrant population like the Veneto region, dialog with other faiths, how to bring God back to society, and ministering to divorced Catholics who have remarried.

The Pope returned to his vacation villa in Castello Mirabello from Auronzo.

Teresa,

I apologize for not replying to your translation, etc. of my post on Miss Stampa. Why do you think she lived in Cardinal Ratzinger's apartment? Wouldn't that have been highly irregular? And since she took care of more than one apartment, I had always thought she had her own place.

====================================================================

Dear Janice - I really don't know what 'housing protocol' is for cardinals - I just assumed Ingrid was live-in help, not having read anything explicit otherwise. But, as I mentioned earlier, she may have had her own apartment or a 'chambre de bonne' in the building. And I didn't know until a few days ago that she also kept house for Mons. Sardi....It's not important. The point I was making is that just because she does not live in the Apostolic Palace does not mean that Joseph Ratzinger thinks less of her or is keeping her at a distance. [After all, she's on the book as co-translator of the Italian edition of JESUS OF NAZARETH with theologian Elio Guerriero.] That's all.
Teresa

Very interesting article, Teresa. Thanks so much for posting. I think that since the president of the P.A. has no problem with Pope Benedict coming to China, its very possible we could see a visit, as long as a date & time are agreed upon. If the Pope is invited, I think he'd definitely go. Liu Bainian's description of his childhood also gives insight as well. I think his experience with his bishop, who gave in to the Communist government, formed him greatly and made put his country before the Church. He also says he began to see things in a new light describing the Vatican 'blessing'/ not objecting when occupying forces came in. All of this I think builds on his distrust of the Church & the Vatican. I think Benedict's letter is making him think anew. The government is worried that they'll have what happened in Poland happen there. He says the problem with the nomination of the bishops can be solved, hopefully soon. I hope a compromise can be made.

===================================================================

Dear Lori....I was really happily surprised today when I saw the Repubblica article on Lella's blog [I cannot thank Lella enough for providing a single source that is very reliable, prompt and as comprehensive as possible about Papal/Church news reported in the Italian media, so I do not have to search each media site individually as I had to do before she started her blog last March]. And more surprised that the initiative came from Repubblica, whose editors are decidedly anti-Church, anti-Pope.

Every side always has a story to tell, and like you, I welcome that Mr. Liu finally is taking shape as more than just a sinister figure. Above all, I am very relieved he is a practising Catholic - I had gotten the impression that he was not even necessarily Christian, just someone the Communists put there as a figurehead.

By the way, I found the story of the Bishop of Shanghai very eye-opening, too, as to how practical compromises are possible that have nothing to do with practice of the faith, just with making it possible for the most people to be able to practise it.

Pope Benedict has taken a very wise step as a beginning. We must all pray for him, the universal church, and the Church in China.

Don't forget, the Chinese may find it good for their Olympics 2008 image if the Pope were to visit China just before the Olympics - I haven't checked dates but if the dates jibe with WYD-SYD, it would be a perfect opportunity. As long as Papi's travelling as far away as Sydney, anyway. A Rome-Beijing trip would be a perfect trip-breaker before proceeding to Sydney, or alternatively, Sydney-Beijing, before going all the way back to Rome. [It's a killer trip going to Australia from the North - I had a 22-hour journey going from New York to Melbourne some years ago, where my only stopover was LA to change planes!]
Teresa

====================================================================



P.S. The AP now has a story based on the Repubblica interview and the Pope's brief comment in Auronzo today:


Chinese Catholics ask pope to visit


VATICAN CITY, July 24 (AP) - A senior official in China's state-sanctioned Catholic Church said in comments published Tuesday that he would like Pope Benedict XVI to visit China.

Benedict did not dismiss the possibility but said the issue was "complicated."

Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, made the comments in an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica in which he praised Benedict's recent letter to China's Catholics as "positive."

"I strongly hope to be able to see the pope one day here in Beijing to celebrate Mass for us Chinese," Liu was quoted as saying.

He said he wanted, through the interview, to send the pope a special greeting. "Let him know that we pray for him always and may the Lord give us the grace to welcome him here among us."



Benedict was asked about the comments as he left a church in Auronzo di Cadore, in northern Italy, where he was meeting with clergy from the region.

"I can't speak at this time," Benedict said, according to the ANSA and Apcom news agencies. "It's a bit complicated."

China forced its Roman Catholics to cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, shortly after the officially atheist Communist Party took power. Worship is allowed only in the government-controlled churches, which recognize the pope as a spiritual leader but appoint their own priests and bishops.

Millions of Chinese, however, belong to unofficial congregations that are not registered with the authorities.

Benedict has been trying to reconcile the divisions, and sent the letter to all Catholics in China on June 30 in a bid to unite them. In it, he praised the underground faithful but urged them to reconcile with followers in the official church.

Liu praised Benedict's letter, saying there was a "big positive difference" compared with the Vatican's previous positions.

"Every opposition to socialism disappeared. We weren't accused of schism. It marked the first time that, according to the pope, Chinese people could feel it was possible to be Catholic and love their own country."

He expressed optimism that the contentious issue of appointing bishops could be resolved.

"The problem can be resolved. It will be resolved, I hope soon," he was quoted as saying.

At the same time, however, Liu insisted that religion could never be used to interfere in China's internal affairs.

"Beijing will never accept what the church did in Poland," he said, referring to Pope John Paul II's support for the Solidarity movement, which helped topple communism in his homeland.

He explained Beijing's relationship with the Vatican by recalling China's bitter experience with foreign colonizers and missionaries, but stressed that Chinese Catholics always recognized the sole authority of the pope as far as religion was concerned.

"The Holy See is the only representative of Jesus on earth, and as Catholics we must follow it," he said. "What we must affirm is our political and economic independence; otherwise we remain a colonial church."

July 24, 2007
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)

AURONZO, Italy (CNS) – Faith and reason, mercy and the defense of the truth, dialogue and evangelization were just some of the topics Pope Benedict XVI touched on when he responded to questions posed by the priests of two northern Italian dioceses.

After meeting privately with about 400 priests July 24, Pope Benedict told the crowd waiting outside, "We spoke about God, about the church, about humanity today and, mostly, about the fact that we are the church and in this journey we must all collaborate."

Nearing the end of his vacation in the Diocese of Belluno and Feltre, at a villa owned by the Diocese of Treviso, Pope Benedict thanked his hosts by spending two hours praying with and answering questions posed by the dioceses' priests.

Reporters were allowed into the Church of St. Justina in Auronzo for the gathering's opening prayer, but had to be content with a briefing and short clips of the pope responding to 10 questions posed by the priests.

The Vatican said its newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, would publish a transcript of the pope's remarks at a later date.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters the topics included educating young people in the faith and moral values, the problems of priestly life, evangelization, interreligious dialogue, "the always-delicate situation" of divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, and "the theme of faithfulness to the (Second Vatican) Council and its spirit."

The Jesuit said that at the end "it was not just the priests who thanked the pope, but the pope who thanked the priests for their welcome and for the climate" created by the gathering.

In his responses to several questions, including those about morality and about the difficulties people have in believing in God in a world focused on science, Pope Benedict spoke about the reasonableness of faith in God's existence.

The brief video clip released by the Vatican showed the pope explaining how Christians believe that human beings are special precisely because they have a capacity for puzzling over and groping for meaning in a way that goes well beyond concern for their material needs.

"Our being is open," he said. "It can hear the voice of being itself -- the voice of God."

"The greatness of the human person lies precisely in the fact that he is not closed in on himself, he is not reduced to concern about the material and quantifiable, but has an interior opening to the things that are essential, has the possibility of listening," the pope said.

Pope Benedict also told the priests that evolution and the existence of God the creator should not be seen as two ideas in strict opposition to one another.

"Evolution exists, but it is not enough to answer the great questions," such as how human beings came to exist and why human beings have an inherent dignity, he said.

Father Lombardi said the pope had told the priests that when they encounter young people who think science has all the answers and they do not need God, priests should help them see "the great harmony of the universe" and ask if science alone can explain how it all works together and leads to such beauty.

"A world without God would become a world of the arbitrary," the pope told the priests.

In a region marked by a large influx of immigrants, many of them Muslims, Pope Benedict told the priests to help their parishioners "recognize these persons as neighbors to be loved."

The pope also told the priests that Christians have an obligation to share the good news they have been given the grace to believe.

The proclamation of Christianity involves sharing truths that are fairly simple, he said. It is not a matter of explaining a collection of doctrines, but of presenting the truth and the hope that Christians have found in Christ.


SOURCE: www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?...

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/24/07 #3

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27


Because of the page-change on the thread in the middle of the newsday, I will start a new update post here. These are translated from Italian news agency reports:


THE POPE MEETS THE CLERGY
OF BELLUNO-FELTRE AND TREVISO



Videoclip:
www.skylife.it/videoTg24Single/45717


Fr. Federico Lombardi, Vatican Press Office director, spoke to Vatican Radio's Roberto Piermarini shortly after the Pope's meeting with local clergy in Auronzo di Cadore today:

Fr. Lombardi: There were ten questions from 10 different priests - 5 from each diocese - on different topics....A wide range and quite varied. Although the Pope has already addressed these in other interventions and documents, they were treated here in a very lively manner - the priests were literally hanging on to every word he said.

What was the climate of this encounter?

One of great joy and great attention. There were about 400 priests from both dioceses. The Pope answered with his usual clarity and quickness. I felt that the questions represented the major concerns that the priests have - that is why they paid such close attention. And they applauded at several points, even before the end of the meeting.

So the Pope was happy afterwards?

Of course. I think everyone was happy. It's always very special whenever the Pope meets with priests. He told them again, and thanked them for their welcome and the hospitality of the region.

Here are highlights of the Pope's answers, as summarized by Fr. Lombardi for the media:

A priest asked how to deal with the sense of desperation among some young people who are even driven to suicide because of their distaste for life.

The Pope said that in today's culture, many find it difficult to find a sense in life. He said it was necessary 'to acknowledge God's creative Reason' in order to find sense in life and to appreciate human dignity, that life should not be understood only in purely evolutionary terms, but as the gift of God-Creator, because such a vision is incapable of answering the great questions of life.

"A world without God is a world of arbitrariness," he said. Youth should be taught how to 'listen to the voice of human life', and thereby learn to respect life and appreciate its dignity. He said men can find common values in the ten Commandments and in Scriptures.

A priest asked how to "bring the water of faith to today's society which does not seem thirsty for it." The Pope cited several ways in which faith may be conveyed: the testimony of lives lived daily in a Christian way, acquaintance with Scriptures, the help of Our Lady and the saints in leading us towards God, and the importance of parish activities.

The Pope said the essence of Christianity should not be presented simply as 'a package of dogmas', but as the fact that God exists and is close to us through Jesus Christ. And the best way to bear witness to this he said, was to announce it in one's way of living daily, 'with love, faith and hope.'

To a question about what a priest's priorities should be, the Pope replied the priest should not think of himself as a 'holy bureacrat.'

He said Catholicism was not a question of either-or between humanity and divinity, but a religion of 'and-and' - with 'our feet on the ground and our eyes turned to heaven'. An effective ministry, he said, should help others see beauty in all the gifts of God, that each man must live according to the gifts he is given, realizing in this way that God's love gives sense and splendor to this world and to our lives.

He called on priests to engage themselves in 'profound encounters' with their parishioners in preparing them for baptism, confirmation, reconciliation and the Eucharist.

The Pope pointed out that there are 'many signs of vitality' in the Catholic Church today, that in order to evaluate it properly, one should not only look at statistics but on the actual life in the communities. He said that when he travelled to Brazil and met with the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, they told him stories about creativity within the Church, and not just about Protestant sects which enjoy great popularity.

Regarding inter-religious dialog especially in regions like the Veneto where the immigrant population is high, the Pope said dialog should not be about religious issues because that would be 'difficult' but about 'shared values'. He said Christians should simply follow the Ten Commandments and an informed moral conscience.

He reminded the priests that the early Church was very much a minority, and that "we are not the first to have to fave so many different views of the world." He reminded them of St. Peter's advice, "Always be ready to give reasons for the hope that you carry in you."

A priest asked the Pope's thinking about the disillusionment that followed the initial enthusiasm about the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).

"I too lived through the Council with great hope," he said, "but later, I think we all felt that things were not that easy." But he pointed out that post-conciliar times are not always easy, and cited the difficult times that followed the Councils of Nicaea and of Constantinople. He also said that the youth uprisings of 1968 and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 both represented great cultural fractures in society. In the face of all this, he said the Church finds and makes its own way with humility, without triumphalism. As post-Conciliar signs of vitality in the Church, he mentioned a new level of commitment in parish work, in the co-responsibility of lay Catholics and in the Bishops' Synods.

To a question about how to deal with divorced Catholics who remarry, the Pope said that first of all, they remained members of the Church. But he emphasized how important it was therefore that priests are able to prepare their parishioners properly for marriage, to impart the Christian idea of matrimony as something that should be once in a lifetime. And he stressed the need to be understanding with couples in difficulty, so as to make them feel that Christ loves them and they are still members of the Church even after unavoidable consequences like divorce.


AP today posted 2 photos it took inside Santa Justina
church at the Pope's encounter with the clergy today.
This was one of them (the other is the picture at the
head of this post, with the Pope wearing the stole
that GG is placing on him in this picture). Why would
they choose to release this instead of a 'normal' one
where we can see the Pope's face? These 'wind-blown
capelet' photos are no longer a novelty, especially
when you're only posting two pictures of an event.
I protest in the name of common sense!

VATICAN CITY, July 24 (APcom) - 'Creation and evolution' will once again be the topic for this year's annual summer gathering of the Ratzinger Schuelerkreise, former doctoral students of Pope Benedict XVI when he taught at various German universities.

Some 40 of them, including the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, have gathered every summer for the past 20 years for a study reunion and carried it on even after their ex-professor became the Pope. Each year, they choose a discussion topic to focus on.



Last year, it was 'Schoepfung und Evolution' (creation and evolution)
and for the first time, the group published its seminar papers, in a book of the same name which came out last April for the Pope's 80th birthday. Editions in Italian and other languages are in preparation.

In his own remarks at the seminar, the Pope pointed out that the theory of evolution does not explain everything and that it has obvious gaps. "It's not that I would fill up those gaps with God - he's too vast to be contained," he remarked.

He pointed out that there are two rational standards - one for physical matter, another for the evolutionary process. And so he asked, "Isn't there an originality reasoning that is reflected in both these dimensions of physical reality?"

To the priests of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso earlier today, he said "there is no absolute alternative between evolution and the work of God the Creator...and a vision that is purely evolutionary is incapable of answering the great questions of life."

It was learned by APcom that the seminar this year does not intend to consider the scientific aspects of the theory of evolution (which it did last year) but rather its theological and philosophical aspects.

Two resource persons have been invited to lecture - Ulrich Lueke, scientist and theologian from the University of Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), and Rolf Schoenberger, philosopher, from the University of Regensburg.

The Pope's September weekends are now fully booked. On Sept 1-2, he will be at Loreto for the Agora of Italian youth. On September 7-9, he will be in Austria.

His ex-students will start their discussions Friday, September 14. he will join them the whole day Saturday, and Sunday.

The following Sunday, he will be visiting Velletri, his second titular cathedral as cardinal. This was a visit he was scheduled to make in April 2005, but he was elected Pope.

The June issue of 30 GIORNI carries open letters by three Chinese bishops reacting to the Pope's letter to the Chinese Catholics. It is notable how their reactions and interpretation of the Pope's letter differ from the militant stand of Cardinal Joseph Zen, Archbishop of HongKong. The first one is from the Bishop of Shanghai. Here is a translation:


Our Lady of Sheshan, help of Christians,
pray for us!
By Aloysius Jin Luxian
Bishop of Shanghai




The Pastoral Letter of the Pope to the Church in China - which has been an object of concern to faithful around the world and so awaited by all the faithful in China - was finally published on June 30. For that, let us thank the Lord!

After the publication, a friend sent me the Chinese text. I read it twice with great attention and I am very touched. After getting it, I went to my little chapel meditate on it. Amen, alleluia! Afterwards, together with my priests, I studied the document. And now, I would like to share with you my first understanding of it.

As universal pastor, in the spirit of a merciful spiritual father, with serenity and calm - basing himself on Sacred Scriptures, the documents of Vatican-II, the Code of Canon Law and the teachings of teh late John Paul II about China - the Pope explains clearly and simply the nature, mission, task and organization of the Church of Christ.

I felt I was having a great lesson in ecclesiology, which made me love our Church even more, and gives me the determination to go one step more in my res;onsibility as the local bishop to realize soon the hope and the exhortation of Jesus "for one shepherd and one flock."

The Pope's letter is addressed to the Catholic Church of the People's Republic of China. This Church that lives in the People's Republic of China is only one - there are not two. There is not a clandestine Church and an official Church.

The whole Church in China believes unanimously in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We have one shepherd together, and we live together in the same flock. The Pope expresses this clearly and without ambiguity.

At this point, I wish to address our friends abroad who are concerned about our Church: Please unite yourselves with the Pope and stop speaking of the Church in China as two churches, favoring one over the other, tagging us with labels like 'loyal' and 'not loyal', or 'official' and 'non-official'.

The Holy See understands perfectly the circumstances of the past and the present of our Church, it is interested in what the future will be depending on the circumstances today. As universal pastor, the Pope looks at what's ahead and is not held back in the past.

For us, what happened yesterday is in the past, even if for the eternal Father, all our words and actions exist for always and cannot be cancelled. But God's reward also surpasses infinitely our merits and our hopes.

The Church in China is one. Brothers and sisters, let us cross the river together, let us live together in harmony and joy. That is the Pope's dearest hope.

But in his pastoral letter, the Pope also writes: "These indications, which directly concern the universal Church, have a particular significance for the Church in China. In fact, you cannot miss the problems which it is trying to overcome - within itself and its relationship with civilian society - the tensions, divisions, recriminations."

And that is why the Pope underscores the necessity for forgiveness and reconciliation, even if he says, "This journey cannot be completed overnight."

But our diocese in Shanghai will fight with all its heart and strength, and without pause, to realize the Pope's hope as soon as possible.

The Churches outside China, in every country and in some special territories, have episcopal conferences or bishops' assemblies. The situation in China has been different. Twenty years ago, the Church in Taiwan organized a bishops conference and called it the Episcopal Conference of the Church in China.

The previous Pope told them it was an incorrect name because its members were only the few bishops who live on the island of Taiwan, that therefore they had to change the name to Episcopal Conference of Taiwan. The bishops of Taiwan accepted the Pope's recommendation and changed their name.

The 'public' Episcopal Conference here in China was established more than 10 years ago. Naturally, they have no relation with Rome. And without a relationship, how could they be approved? A national episcopal conference should include all the bishops of the nation, and only after reality matches its name does it become a national episcopal conference. I wish that this will happen soon.

The Pope's letter also says: "The claim by some organisms imposed by the state and alien to the structure of the Church to impose themselves above the bishops themselves and to guide the life of the ecclesiastical community, does not correspond to Catholic doctrine." Obviously, the Pope is referring to the Patriotic Association.

The PA was founded 50 years ago. For the first time, the Holy See states its position. First, it is founded by the government; second, it is alien to the structure of the Church; and third, it imposes itself above the bishops to guide the Church.

I have been Bishop of Shanghai for almost 20 years. The PA in Shanghai has never imposed itself on me; on the contrary, it has accepted my directives.

At the start of the last century, Shanghai had a Catholic Action organization. Among its members were eminent personalities like Lu Baihong, Zhi Zhiyao and others. Because of their work in evangelization, the Vatican honored them with appropriate decorations. They wrote a glorious page in the history of our diocese.

They also served as a bridge between the diocese and the government. They were able to solve problems which the foreign missionaries could not. I hope that the Catholics of Shanghai will continue in the spirit of that Catholic Action, developing the spirit that lay faithful should have. I have often said: "This century will be the time for lay faithful. I have great hopes tat Shanghai will benefit from its mature friends."

I would like now to refer to the second part of the Pope's letter which indicates the norms for pastoral life.

Although in the past 20 years, the Diocese of Shanghai has developed its Church according to the spirit of the Gospel, the Code of Canon Law and the documents of the Second Vatican Council, we must now reflect and identify our deficiencies and to take the measures that will enable us to take even better care of the diocese and our parishes.

The Pastoral letter underscores the work of formation in the seminaries. This is truly very important. I think the Pope will be comforted to know that in the Diocese of Shanghai, we have established a seminary in Sheshan. This was the first seminary to reopen after the reform that made China open to the world.

The diocese of Shanghai has overcome every difficulty - lack of books, lack of teachers, scarce resources - and has now trained more than 400 young priests. On this occasion, I wish to express my profound gratitude to our brothers in the Church of Germany, Austria and other countries, who have generously supported the seminary of Sheshan, and in particular, the Maryknoll Society, the Society of the Divine Word, the Dominican Order, the Salesian Society, the Society of St. Columban, and the Society of Jesus. I ask you to pray for them that God may reward them a hundredfold!

The last paragraph of the letter gives me great joy and consolation. The Pope has decided that the annual feast of Our Lady of Sheshan, Help of Christians, on the 24th of May, shall be a day of prayer in all the churches of the world for the Church in China. I believe the faithful of Shanghai will be most happy to hear this good news. Thank you, Holy Father.

This is a great honor for the Diocese of Shanghai, and at the same time, a great obligation. We must venerate Our Lady with extraordinary fervor, we must imitate her, committing ourselves to be her sons and daughters and being an example to other Catholics.

In the second place, because there will certainly be many more pilgrims coming to Sheshan, we Catholics of Shanghai must prepare adequately, be welcoming hosts so that the visiting pilgrims, Chinese as well as foreigners, may see in us the glory of divine love.

Finally, the Pope's letter underscores the function of the bishop, particularly his obligations. I am 92 years old and I am daunted. The Pope reminds us of St. Paul's words: Life is Christ, and death is a blessing. I ask everyone to pray for me so that I may truly live Christ and finally obtain the happiness of a peaceful death. Amen.

Bishop Jin, a Jesuit, was born in a village in a suburb of Shanghai 92 years ago. Arrested in September 1955, he spent 20 years in prison followed by house arrest. In 1985, he agreed to become Bishop of Shanghai, nominated by the Chinese government but not recognized by the Pope. [In the story posted on page 117 of this thread, Bishop Jin explains the choices he made] But in 2005, Jin 'orchestrated' the ordination of his eventual successor successor, Joseph Xing Wenshi, nominated by the Pope, elected by the diocese and approved by the Chinese government. With it, he also earned his canonical legitimization by Pope Benedict XVI who invited him to the Bishops Synod in 2005 along with three other Chinese bishops, but Beijing did not allow them to go.



O Mirae litterae!
(Oh wondrous letter!)
By Lucas Li Jingfeng
Bishop of Feng Xiang




I think that the letter of the Supreme Pontiff issued last June 30 was excellent in its presentation and explanation. He clearly enunciated the truth and does not speak ill of anyone, neither the 'public' Church, nor the clandestine one, nor the communists, but explains amply and with precision those truths which are necessary to deal with the present situation of the Chinese Church.

These truths are the theology of the Church and are known to all who have any interest in theology. What wonderful words! The Spirit is truly with the Vicar of Christ.

What's written in the letter is exactly what I have publicly sustained forcefully with the government for more than 20 years.

This letter is useful for favoring unity among clandestine Christians and the so-called official ones. But I think it will be more difficult for the underground than it is for the public ones.

There are some clandestine Catholics who too obstinately persist in their own opinions. But God forbid! Let us pray for them.

Once I told the government: We should find a way to be in agreement with the world. But this letter shows the way for an agreement with the rest of the world in questions regarding the Catholic Church. I hope the government will welcome it.

Perhaps for most it is difficult to declare one's faith and the doctrine of the Church to the government with clarity, humility and sincerity, but it is necessary. If we can express our faith sincrely to the government, then it can evaluate us better and give us their approval. Let us pray for this!

This letter from the Supreme Pontiff abolishes all the previous prvileges and pastoral directives, and this letter sets the principles. This is excellent both for the stability of the Church and for the government. This is the only way, our best hope for ending the discord, confusion and lack of peace which we now have in the Church in China.


Lucas Li Jingfeng, 87, is bishop of Feng Xiang (Shaanxi province, central China). Up to 2003, it was perhaps the only diocese in teh People's Republic where the entire ecclesiastical life flourished outside the control of the Patriotic Association. Nut in 2004, Mons. Li was recognized as a bishop by the government as well, without requiring him to be a member of the PA. In 2005,he was one of four Chinese bishops invited by Pope Benedict XVI to attend the October Bishops' Synod at the Vatican. The Chinese government did not allow them to leave China.



The confusion is over
By Petrus Feng Xinmao
Bishop Coadjutor of Hengshui




We are all very very happy to have read the letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI to Chinese Catholics. From His overview of the recent history of the Chinese Catholic community makes it clear how much we are loved by the Pope and by the universal Church. And this comforts us.

His letter is circulating freely in China. In my diocese, we donwloaded it from the Internet, made copies, distributed them to all priests and religious communities, and they have been studying the text together. We did the same at the last monthly meeting that I had with the priests of the diocese. And every parish priest has hundreds of copies to give out. I have been reading from it and commenting on it in the homilies that I give during my pastoral visits.

Of course, its contents touch on various aspects, but the most important are its directives for living the Christian life in China. For too long there has been confusion about the attitude to take with respect to the State and the choices made by the so-called clandestine community. In the past, special faculties had been granted to the churches in China, partcularly those 'underground', but the letter has now revoked these.

Now we must follow the Pope's letter, and this is of great help to the Chinese Church. It explains well that clandestinity is not the normal condition for a Christian community, that the normal thing is for the Christian communities to be recognized by the State and that they be allowed to profess and practice their faith freely.

Some underground Catholics are confused. They think that if you are recognized by or registered in State organisms, then you are not in communion with the Pope. The Pope's letter has really cleared up this point: Christians must follow the law. If the law of the State requires a form of civil registration, we should register, and that is not against faith or doctrine.

The Pope has told those Catholics who may still be confused that they may attend Mass said in the 'open' churches. Now we will see if they are obedient to the Pope in words only or in fact.

In my diocese, the so-called clandestine Catholics are few. In truth, there is no more reason to choose the 'underground' way to live one's faith. They can come to Mass in the open churches in parishes whose parish priests I have nominated, and I, in my turn, was chosen to be Bishop by the Pope. They know that. Some of their leaders even came to my episcopal ordination. But perhaps some of them have become too habituated to behave 'clandestinely' that they find it hard to change.

I don't know if the government is as satisfied with the letter as we are. The letter touches some questions, like the role of the Patriotic Association, about which the view of the government is different from that expressed by the Pope. He says that it is the bishops who should guide the Church.

Perhaps it will be possible to find a new role for the Patriotic Association. In any case, one must take into account that even now, the role and the influence of the PA vary in each diocese. In ours, there is only one person who is a salaried local representative of the PA. But he has not been 'invasive' in matters involving the Church. He does not even always attend the state or regional meetings of the PA. Once in a while he calls me and gives some advice. That's all. It ends there.

Petrus Feng Xinmao, 44, Bishop Coadjutor of Hengshui, in the province of Hebei, was one of the first among the new bioshops int heir 40s who have been recognized by the government and ordained only after their nomination by the Pope had been made public. On January 6, 2004, the day of his episcopal ordination, the oldest priest in the diocese read out the documents which attested to his papal nomination. Then, in order not to disappoint the faithful who could not all be accommodated inside the church, the liturgy of consecration was continued in the Great Hall of the People's House.

I am glad Father Zuhlsdorf wrote this summary, because I had been a bit stumped how to present it - the series of articles developing the story are all quite literally academic and really dry as dust, with details that are of interest only to historians of ecumenical councils, and I couldn't see myself wasting my time translating all that, or even abstracting it.

But the core issue is obviously very essential in the light of Pope Benedict's moves to establish what Vatican-II was truly about - a continuity with Church teaching and tradition as it has been for 2000 years with compatible adaptations to the modern world. Now, Fr. Z has done the necessary abstracting in the precise context in which it it should be done.

I find it useful to start the presentation with a very good quotation cited by one of Father Z's readers in his comment on his post:

---

“The Second Vatican Council has not been treated as a part of the entire living Tradition of the Church, but as an end of Tradition, a new start from zero. The truth is that this particular Council defined no dogma at all, and deliberately chose to remain on a modest level, as a merely pastoral council; and yet many treat it as though it had made itself into a sort of superdogma which takes away the importance of all the rest.

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
13 July 1988
Santiago, Chile

---

It sums up very well what the progressives have been trying to do since 1965. In fact, they had in many ways succeeded to hijack the Council and foist their view of it on many sectors of the Catholic clergy and intellectuals, including theologians, who in turn have gone on to transmit this view to seminarians.

I choose to post this on this thread rather than in NEWS ABOUT THE CHURCH because the battle to establish once and for all the real Vatican-II, not just its presumptuous and presumptive 'spirit', is Pope Benedict's, and much of what he has to fight even in this respect is within the Church, unfortunately.


The School of Bologna’s
Council of Discontinuity
By Fr. John Zuhlsdorf


There is an amazing fight going on in Italy over the heart of the Church’s authority and teachings. The fight has great importance for the rest of the Catholic world.

Some fast background:

In 1962 when the Council was about to begin, a book of the decrees of Ecumenical Councils, Conciliorum Oecumenicorum Decreta was published by a group of scholars, the recently deceased Giuseppe Alberigo, Fr. Giuseppe Dossetti (a consultant for Card. Lercaro, who headed up the post-Conciliar liturgical reform through the Consilium), Perikles Joannou, Boris Ulianich, Claudio Leonardi and Paolo Prodi. These formed an Institute for Religious Studies in Bologna. Originally, some of these were students of the Church historian Hubert Jedin, but Jedin’s influence was shrugged off.

This leftist "School of Bologna" dominated the theory of interpretation of the Second Vatican Council and writing its history. From 1995 to 2001 they published a five-volume History of Vatican Council II in several languages. I think it is necesary to identify it with the "hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture".

They held that the Second Vatican Council is a "new kind" of Council. It was a novelty. An event, rather than something that produced documents. John XXIII wanted something entirely new, but Paul VI put on the brakes. The Council was a break with the past and new beginning.

Now the School of Bologna is reissuing the abovementioned work but with some real differences. The title reveals their vast shift of view of the Councils: Conciliorum Oecumenicorum Generaliumque Decreta. The first of the three volumes was released in 2006. Ironically, Alberigo presented the volume to Pope Benedict, and then died.

The word "General" in the title the thought of the School of Bologna.

The idea here is this.

The people preparing the volums are saying that only some of the Councils in the first millennium can be considered "Ecumenical" Councils. The Councils which occurred during the Medieval period or after the split between West and East can be considered only "General" Councils. Those which occurred after the Protestant revolt should be called "General Councils of the Roman Catholic Church".

However, the Church understands that the Council recognized by the Roman Pontiff are valid and authoritative for all Christians.

Remember that recently the Holy See’s CDF issued a clarification about the fullness of the Church subsisting in the Catholic Church.

So, in an unsigned note published in L’Osservatore Romano on 3 June, we read: "To which concept of the Church did the editors of the work think themselves obliged to refer? Certainly not that of the Catholic Tradition. It appears the underlying idea was that after 1054 the undivided Church no longer holds."

This excited two responses in the secular press, one on 8 June in La Repubblica by Giuseppe Ruggieri another on 9 June in Corriere della Sera by Alberto Melloni. There are the heirs of Alberigo and Dossetti.

The the President of the Pontifical Commission for Historical Sciences, Mons. Walter Brandmüller, responded in an article published simultaneously on 13 June by both L’Osservatore Romano and Avvenire, the daily of the Italian Bishops Conference. Brandmüller said, "It seems the editors wanted to define as Ecumenical only those Councils compatible with the model of the Byzantine pentarchy: an ecclesiological conceptualization that no basis in either Scripture of the apostolic Tradition."

On 22 July in Corriere della Sera Mons. Brandmüller responded directly to Melloni. Melloni had cited John XXIII to claim that "General" and "Ecumenical" really mean the same thing and that the description of volume III as "General Councils of the Catholic Church" merely a way to advertise what the book contains, a marketing point.

I offer you this in light of what the Holy Father is doing in trying to repair what he calls a "hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture".

This is what we are up against.

There is a vast and hitherto virtually unchallenged hermeneutical discontinuity machine dominating nearly every "power structure" in the Church right now. Much of the grease and fuel for that engine of rupture comes from the School of Bologna and the volumes they pulished. You will not find a Catholic library that does not have Alberigo’s multi-volume History of the Council. It is new. It is glossy. It will be the standard. It is effectively an instrument of reinterpretation of the Council along the lines described.

The Holy Father’s move in Summorum Pontificum to say that the Roman Rite necessarily includes the integral use of the pre-Conciliar Roman Rite, the CDF’s document about subsistit, are terrifying to the hierophants of the discontinuity machine and their localized cells of minions. The progressivist Church establishment see these moves of the Holy See much as the tenders of a great machine welcome the approach of interlopers carrying monkeywrenches and buckets of gravel.

--------------------------------------

A comment by a Benedictine reader is very telling:

Father,
Just recently we read A Brief History of Vatican II by Alberigo in refectory (a very poor choice for public reading). The book is horribly mis-titled and should instead be titled “An Apologia for everything progressive I find in the Council and how to discredit any apparent continuity in the Council documents: by Giuseppe Alberigo”

He states his purpose to be the education of younger generations ignorant of the true “spirit of Vatican II” (the scare quotes are mine, not his). It really is an unfortunate book – though I’m not terribly worried, as I doubt that the younger generations he wanted to reach are going to run out and buy this book… however I won’t be surprised if faculties try to foist it on their students.
Pax,
Pater, OSB

And this one by a layman:

I once started to read Alberigo’s A Brief History of Vatican II and was immediately repulsed by his utterly imbalanced perception of the importance of the Council in the history of the Church. I think that this imbalance leads inevitably to a hermeneutic of rupture inasmuch as it represents a “whig version of history”: We, the oh-so-enlightened denizens of the post-Vatican II Church can now judge the past 2000 years of Church history as faulty and inhumane!

What blind arrogance! I stopped reading the book after about five pages as it can hardly be called a history in any professional sense of the term.


And this provocative but certainly not unwarranted point of view:

Isn’t the discontinous interpretation of Vatican II actually a fairly historically honest one? The theologians whose ideas were taken up by the progressive majority – Rahner, Kung, Schillebeeckx, Congar, Bugnini – were in fact heterodox or outright apostates, as their post-conciliar writings make clear.

The object of the leaders of this majority was to dispense with features of Catholic faith and tradition that they did not like; in order to achieve this goal, which could not have been attained if it was made explicit, they arranged to have the conciliar documents formulated in ambiguous ways, in order to be able to give a heterodox interpretation of them after the council.

Because the documents were ambiguous, it is in fact possible to understand them in a Catholic sense – so the documents are not discontinuous with the faith; and this lack of discontinuity is all the the Holy Spirit promises to provide to ecumenical councils.

However, the Alberigo claim that the ‘event’ of Vatican II - i.e. the goal that the leaders of the council had in mind, and worked for during the council – was discontinuity with faith and tradition, seems to be simply an established historical fact. Is it not a fact that the theologians I name rejected the faith? And is it not a fact that they provided the intellectual leadership of the council?

LORENZAGO UPDATE - 7/25/07

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27




Pope takes his evening jaunt
after another big storm
7/24/07
By Francesco Dal Mas

LORENZAGO. First, a storm that blew away the outdoor-bar canopies in town, especially those in front of the town hall. Then the sun came out, and with it the peaks of the Marmarole and the Cridola sparklingly 'clean' as fresh laundry.

Tuesday had begun with a bright sun and limpid skies - the Pope had gone to Auronzo for his meeting with the diocesan clergy - and then the heat built up, condensed, and discharged itself in the afternoon in a summer storm with gusty winds, thunder and lightning.

But the sun came back before day's end bringing new splendor to the Dolomite peaks - and seeing all this from his villa in Mirabello (a name chosen to describe what the place offers), Pope Benedict XVI decided to take his evening excursion.

Not far from home. His car took him through the road to the suburbs towards the church of Saint Anthony Abbot. Where he had his walk through the woods while he prayed the rosary.

During these last few days of his vacation in Lorenzago (he leaves Friday afternoon), security appears to have tightened. The road from Castello Mirabello toward Mauria Pass has been blocked. And Vatican security men are strict, even with newsmen.

One cameraman who had stationed himself about a kilometer away from the entrance to the Pope's villa was reportedly told, "If you don't leave now, you'll find yourself without a job tomorrow!"

But in another article with a potpourri of little items about the Pope's vacation, Del Mas reports this:

Photo session on the bridge
7/23/07



The Pope may be well guarded, but when he's available, he's very cooperative.

The other evening, when he was on the bridge over the lake of Centro Cadore in Domegge, he had stopped to look around him.
Photographers asked him to turn towards them so their pictures would not all be over his shoulder.



Smiling, the Pope followed their 'orders', keeping himself available for at least 10 minutes, without fretting,
and with utmost courtesy.

"Oh, you photographers!" was all he said at the start.

The photographers had been taken to the area an hour before the Pope arrived without being told where they were going,
and they were told to turn off their cellphones for security reasons.

Corriere delle Alpi, 25 luglio 2007



Lakeside encounters
7/23/07

Radio Vatican's Amedeo Lomonaco interviewed a couple of persons the Pope spoke to during his lakeside stroll:

Marcello De Deppo came across the Pope in the vicinity of the little church of Our Lady of Health:

"I had gone for my customary walk by the lake, cetainly not expecting to see the Pope! Then, suddenly I saw a man dressed in white walking in my direction. 'Oh goodness, could it be the Pope?' I thought. I was about 50 meters away, so I stepped out to the side of the road, and I instinctively clasped my hands together in front of me.

"Then he saw me, and started to approach me. I heard his secretary tell the security escort, 'It's all right.' So I went forward to meet him and I said, 'The Lord has made this possible!' and he answered, 'Divine Providence is great.'

"It was an indescribable emotion for me, because I also happen to be a very religious man. I thought of all that I had read before about unexpected meetings with a Pope. And here it had happened to me. I was truly very moved. All night, I could think of nothing else but the Pope."



And this is what Rosanna Coffen said:

"We were on our way to the sports area, and there were two policemen who very politely asked us if we could proceed by foot from there. So I did. When I was approaching the the little pillar with Our Lady of Sorrows, I saw a figure in white walking in the woods in my direction - and I realized it was the Holy Father.

"Imagine how I felt when he started walking towards me and asked, 'Madame, are you also taking a walk?' I kissed his ring and started to genuflect, but he motioned me not to. Afterwards, Fr. Georg gave me a rosary....It was an emotion so huge that I think I will never again experience in my life!"

On the way back to the Papal vacation villa, the motorcade went through the town of Domegge, where the Pope greeted all those who were waiting for him at the roadside. He caressed many babies and gave his blessing to all.

LORENZAGO UPDATE -7/26/07 #2

THE POPE ON VACATION, LORENZAGO DI CADORE, JULY 9-27



The Italian newspapers all led off their Papal coverage today, of course, with the Pope's meeting with the diocesan clergy of the Veneto yesterday. As the substance of that encounter was pretty well reported yesterday, I will post first a sidebar from Avvenire about the reactions of the priests to the Pope.


What's most striking about the Pope?
'His simplicity and clarity',
parish priests agree
By Francesco del Mas
in Auronzo Di Cadore
for Avvenire



"He looks you in the eye, profoundly, he lets you speak and makes you feel at ease. At the same time, he is showing you that you are important to him and that what you are saying interests him."

This was the first reaction of Don Claudio Bosa, parish priest of Porcellengo, who had the singular fortune of asking the first question to Pope Benedict XVI at this encounter with the clergy of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso yesterday. His question had to do with guidance on how to deal with young people and their problems.

Mons. Giorgio Marcuzzo, parish priest of the Cathedral of Treviso, said: "He presented himself to us 'humble' priests not as a personage, but as a person."

Francesco Cassol, parish priest of Lognarone: "You realize that the first one most convinced about what he's saying is the Pope himself, and so he becomes more convincing to his listeners."

Mons. Giuseppe Andrich, Bishop of Belluno-Feltre, presented the Pope to the more than 400 priests present at the church of Santa Justina yesterday, said Benedict XVI had once again held a 'lectio magistralis' - "highly intellectual in many places, but also very much in tune with the personal and pastoral problems that priests must live with every day."

Everyone seemed happy, in fact, including those who had reservations because of recurrent or persistent stereotypes about Joseph Ratzinger.

Don Cassol says: "Benedict XVI showed us again that he is a man who listens and who goes to the heart of things. I was very impressed by how he responded seriously to all the questions even those that were most provocative."

The parish priest of Vajont said, "I think the remark that hit home with everyone was the Pope's invitation for each of us to live our Catholic faith with joy, 'with our feet on the ground but our eyes raised to heaven.'"

What about Ratzinger, the Latin-Mass advocate? "What he showed us at Auronzo, once again, is that he is the 'Pope of the Council' (Vatican-II)," said Don Armando Durighetto, 96, who came for this encounter, although he had met the Pope two Sundays ago in Mirabello.

Mons. Marcuzzo said, "He is the Pope of the essential - that's how I see him. In one and three-fourth hours, he never said one word more, nor one word less, than he had to. You can tell he is a scholar, but also someone very solid, concrete, who is very aware of our problems as parish priests and of the day-to-day reality of parish life."

"That is why," he continued, "it was very providential that he asked us to be pastors, not bureaucrats, pastors of ferment, but without triumphalism."

Don Bosa said all the priests, old and young, caught and appreciated "the profundity, the lucidity, the clarity and the concreteness' of his responses."

"For instance, his advice to seek common ground even with people from other faiths in shared values, like the Ten Commandments, is really very practical," Bosa remarked.

The parish priest of Santa Justina himself, Don Renzo Roncada, said "We all left the church full of hope and joy." Don Renzo said he had declined asking one of the questions himself because he felt he would be unable to contain his emotions.

Mons. Giorgio Lise, who runs the Papa Luciani Center in Col Cumano, a suburb of Belluno city, said: "Benedict XVI was magnificent! His answer to each of the 10 questions were lessons in ecclesiology, theology and pastoral work. And he does it all with such simplicity and humility. He reminds me so much of Papa Luciani - who had those very same unforgettable virtues."

Mons. Lise is also vice-postulator for the cause of beatifying John Paul I.

Avvenire, 25 luglio 2007

=====================================================================

This is a translation of how Repubblica reported the event, leading off with its correspondent's obligatory question to the Pope about China, which he had an opportunity to ask as the Pope left the Church after meeting with the priests.


Questions for the Pope
By MARCO POLITI


AURONZO - Going to China? Benedict XVI will not comment. "Not now," he says. It's not the time. The problem is too complicated."

The head of the Chinese Patriotic Catholics Association Liu Bainian had told a La Repubblica correspondent in Beijing that the Chinese Catholics want to see the Pope in Beijing celebrate Mass for them.

The Pope's reticence indicated the attention with which the Vatican has been tracking signals from China. Obviously, the Pope wasn't going to spoil the first concrete signals of a thaw from Beijing.

There was a lot in Liu's words. Besides inviting the Pope to China, he said Chinese Catholics, meaning the 'official' government-sanctioned Church which he represents, recognizes that the Holy See 'represents Jesus on earth', and that the problem over the nomination of Chinese bishops was something that could be resolved.

So, when we asked him to comment on this latest Chinese initiative, the Pope replied quite deliberately, "I can't talk about it at this time. It's a bit complicated."

Cardinal Joseph Zen of HongKong, who is generally free with his comments, kept absolute media silence when he was here Sunday. Back in Hongkong, he limited himself to telling AsiaNews that the Patriotic Association's Council of Bishops was not a true episcopal conference, and that dialog with Chinese officials must start from clearcut positions on both sides.

The keystone of this complex play is that the Pope - through secret channels - had informed the government in Beijing beforehand of the contents of his Letter to the Catholics of China. This, and the pope's assurances in it that the Church has no interest in playing politics, have apparently found favor in Beijing.

The Pope's extreme prudence indicates how much he thinks the matter is too delicate (though promising) at this point. [That's obvious, but more to the point, 1) coming out of a church and into his car to go somewhere else is not the right time or place for such a question; and 2) the 'invitation' was just a statement by Liu, not from the Chinese government itself, which would have to issue the invitation if the Pope were ever to visit China, so, in effect, there was nothing for him to comment on. What could he say? "I thank Mr. Liu for his kind thought, but he's not speaking for the government"?

In Auronzo, Benedict XVI yesterday met with 400priests of the dioceses of Treviso and Belluno-Feltre. An hour and a half of dialog on important issues. Starting with Vatican-II.

The Pope said: "Even I lived Vatican-II with great enthusiasm, thinking of the encounter between the Church and the world. But later, we all went through these difficulties." Some of them, he underscored, external to the Church.

The post-Conciliar years, he said, were intersected by two great 'caesura" - 1968 as a crisis of Westerns culture and 1989 with the collapse of the Communist regimes."

But the Pope was encouraging, speaking of the positiveness of the Council documents and of a Church that has grown, if not in statistics, then in the vitality of its communities.

The Church, he noted, goes on humbly, without triumphalism, often opposed by great forces.

Five questions were asked by priests from Treviso, five by those of Belluno-Feltre.

The Pope exhorted the priests never to be 'holy bureaucrats' and got a big round of applause when he said "the priest should have his feet on the ground and his eyes turned up to heaven" in conveying the beauty of Christianity.

Asked about immigrants to Italy, he pointed out that with other religions, the dialog cannot be about faith but about shared values. The immigrant must be looked on as a neighbor and loved as a neighbor.

On evolution, he said it was not necessary to make it an absolute alternative to the existence of a God-Creator. "Evolution is a fact but it does not suffice to respond to the great questions of life, to the essence of the human being and his dignity."

In view of the harmony of the cosmos, one must open up to the idea of a creative Reason.

He gave a generic response to the question of divorced Catholics: It was fundamental to prepare couples properly for matrimony, and to be with them when they are in difficulty, and even after divorce, so that they may continue to feel part of the Church. He did not say anything about communion for divorced couples who remarry .[All that needed to be said on that was spelled out in Sacramentum caritatis!] .

Repubblica, 25 luglio 2007