Just over a week ago, in Freiburg, Pope Benedict XVI said that the Church should be less worldly, less tied in with materialistic and political privileges, and embrace poverty.
Sunday, September 25, the last day of his third trip to Germany, Pope Benedict met with “Catholics who are committed to the Church and society” at Freiburg’s Konzerthaus, and gave a speech using certain allusions that were more explosive and “historical,” in relation to the one held three days prior before Berlin’s Bundestag.
What follows are some passages from Pope Ratzinger speech, which started off with a statement about how religion is practiced less nowadays, and the issue of necessary change and renewal when it comes to the Church, which “must always confirm its faithfulness” in relation to the mission that has been entrusted to it: to be a living testimony, make disciples of all people, and proclaim the Gospel to every living creature.
To carry out its mission, the Church should also “distance itself from the environment, in an ongoing manner, and because of that, become “desecularized.”
The Church "does not possess anything, by itself, before Him founded it, in such a way that one can say: we have done so very well! Its meaning consists of being the instrument of redemption, in allowing itself to be filled by the word of God, and in introducing people to union with, and the to the love of God. The Church is absorbed with the Redeemer’s indulgent attention to Man. When it is truly itself, it is always in motion; it should always place itself at the disposal of the mission it has received from the Lord. And because of that, it should again open itself up to worldly concerns, for which, precisely speaking, it is a part of, and devote itself, with no reservations, to such concerns, to continue and make known the holy exchange that started with incarnation.”
"But with the historical development of the Church, an opposite trend appears: namely, that of a Church that is satisfied with itself, makes itself at home in this world, that is self-sufficient, and which adapts itself to worldly principles. It is not strange, then, that it thus lends greater importance to organization and institutionalization than it does to its calling to be open to God, and to opening this world up to the neighbor.”
"To fulfill its true task, the Church should always make an effort to detach itself from secularization and, once again, become open to God.”
Therefore, Benedict XVI mentioned the positive effects certain “instances of secularization” and losses of power have had on the Church:
"Indeed, secularization—whether the expropriation of Church assets, cancellation of privileges, or similar things—will, in every instance, mean a profound liberation of the Church from different forms of worldliness: it sheds itself, so to speak, of its worldly assets and turns itself in the direction of fully embracing poverty on this earth. With this it shares the destiny of Levi’s tribe, which, as confirmed by the Old testament, was the only tribe in Israel that did not possess an earthly patrimony, but which, as a part of its legacy, had exclusively accepted God Himself, that is to say, His word and His signs. With such a tribe, the Church, at that time in history, shared in the requirement of a poverty that was opened to the world, so that it would rid itself of its material attachments; in that way, its missionary activity would turn out to be credible.”
"The historical examples show that the missionary testimony of a Church that has become “desecularized” come out more clearly. Free of burdens, and material and political privileges, the Church is able to better devote itself, and in a way that is truly Christian, to the entire world; it can truly be open to the world. It can once again, and more easily, experience its calling to the ministry of the worship of God, and service to one’s neighbor. The missionary task, which is tied in with Christian worship, and should determine the Church’s organization, becomes clearer.”
"It is not a matter of finding some new tactic for reviving the Church. Rather, it has to do with abandoning all that is only tactic and looking for total sincerity, which does not ignore or repress any of today’s Truth, but which faithfully carries it out, through precisely experiencing it, completely inside of today’s sobriety, bringing it to the point of complete recognition, removing what appears to be only faith, but which, in truth, is convention and habit.”
"This is another reason to believe that it is again time to find real detachment from the world, to remove, with courage, what is worldly from the church. This, of course, does not mean that it should withdraw from the world, but quite the opposite. A Church that is relieved of worldly elements is capable of communicating with Man—those who are suffering, as well as those who help them—even in a charitable social environment, which is the specific thrust of Christian faith.”
A sober Church relieved of worldly elements, shed of its earthly riches: because of that, it is more “transparent” and essential when it comes to testimony and communicating what it has received.
These words of Pope Benedict XVI were set aside too quickly, too hastily.
They were addressed to the highly organized German Church, but their value extends well beyond Germany’s borders.
It is a “conversion” that is asked by the Church throughout the whole world.
They are words that deserve to be meditated on, assimilated, and put into practice wherever the Church is found.
Starting with the Vatican.