Five
overseas trips, four pastoral visits in Italy, an Apostolic
Exhortation, a consistory, 45 general audiences, a book-interview.
These are
just some of the event’s that marked 2010 for Pope Benedict XVI. Twelve
intense months, not without difficult times.
A year, acknowledged the
Pope in his address to the Roman Curia, marked by the scandal of abuse
by clergy.
Focusing on four main events in 2010, Director of the
Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi begins his reflection
with the painful tragedy of the sex abuse scandal:
“The problem
is not an entirely new one. Countries like the United States had already
intensely experienced the problem a dozen years ago. In Ireland the
problem dates back to the past and, in 2009, it was addressed by the
Pope, together with some Irish bishops: the Pope announced a letter to
the Catholics of Ireland on this issue. It 's true, however, that during
the year the problem gathered strength in other European countries and
this has generated a considerable response and dismay. The Pope has
drawn up many acts and made many interventions on how, and with what
spirit, to intervene on the issue, which have been exemplary. He
demonstrated by listening to the victims on several occasions, an
attitude of readiness to listen, to understand, to participate in their
suffering. On various occasions he invited the Church to a profound
renewal; let us not forget his closing address for the Year of the
Priest, which touched us all very deeply. He has also concretely
encouraged all those who are committed to prevention, and healing these
wounds. So we are in the right direction to overcome the tragedy of this
scandal, which has deeply hurt many people, but one which must be seen
as an occasion for a renewal, for a capacity to listen, to reflect in
depth on all issues at stake. Not only the issue of priestly holiness,
but also on issues of sexuality and respect for the person in the world
today, where so often this respect is missing from the dimension of
sexuality and realm of affections. I hope , this great tragedy will
serve as an impulse for renewal and deeper commitment within the Church
on the frontiers of service to human dignity and the sanctity of life”.
Q.
The Pope has dedicated the message for World Day of Peace to religious
freedom,, an issue of relevance today, given also the resurgence of
anti-Christian persecution ...
“When we think of the
persecutions, the difficulties of Christians, we primarily tend to look
to the Middle East, but unfortunately it is true that problems are also
present in many other regions of the world; we think of events in India,
the Philippines and in other parts of Asia. What has been particularly
painful for us, especially in recent months, are the problems posed to
freedom of religion, of conscience of Christians in China. Vatican
authorities made some very explicit and important interventions in this
regard. The document for the World Day of Peace this year, however, also
invites the West, secularized societies, to broaden our vision. The
theme of "Christianophobia" was used for the first time, in [the Pope’s]
address to the Roman Curia, and it is something that also affects our
countries and our cultures, this attempt to exclude Christian signs and
expressions of Christian life from public life in particular. One of the
Holy Father’s most significant messages during his trip to the United
Kingdom, in particular in his speech in Westminster Hall, was his
insistence on the right to practice the Christian faith freely and
explicitly in all areas of the world, even in secular countries, as
contribution to a healthy society”.
Q. - One of the highlights in
the life of the Church in 2010 was the Synod of Bishops for the Middle
East. Also on this occasion, the Pope reminded us as Christians, and not
only in the Holy Land, to be promoters of reconciliation,
peace-builders ...
" Yes, even if there were, unfortunately, even
after the Synod, signs of violence and difficulties for Christians - we
remember the bombing of the church in Baghdad - the Synod gave us an
impression of the vitality, commitment, desire to actively witness, of
Christians of the various rites, the various communities in the region.
So, it was also a sign of hope, despite the difficulties that persist".
Q.
– Pope Benedict made many trips during the year: four in Italy and five
overseas. The journey to the UK, in his own words, was memorable,
especially the beatification of John Henry Newman ...
“The figure
of Newman was important on this trip. The figure of Newman a figure of
crucial significance for this Pope, because of the relationship between
faith, reason and spirituality. In the his speech to the Roman Curia,
the Pope spoke of one aspect in more depth than he had while travelling
in the United Kingdom, that of consciousness: what does conscience mean,
for Cardinal Newman, as a criterion in the search for truth. Newman,
especially in the Anglophone world, but also for the universal Church,
is held up by the Pope as a luminous figure at a time when we must find
even amid difficulties, the right path in the context of a very
challenging cultural, religious, spiritual, debate”.
Q. - Among
the wide horizon of decisions taken by the Pope this year is the
establishment of a dicastery for the New Evangelization. Also the
creation of a "Courtyard of the Gentiles", proposed by Benedict XVI for
the people of our time ...
“The creation of a new Congregation
was perhaps a surprise, because nobody thought that we needed new
institutions as part of the Roman Curia. However it sends a very clear
message; that of the priority of proclaiming the Gospel, the mission of
the Church, always down through the centuries, even in difficult
situations. The Council for New Evangelization is a specific message,
but must work within the context of the broader mission of the Church,
contextualising the proclamation of the Gospel in today's world”.
Q.
– You described the book- interview, "Light of the World" an “act of
true communicative courage. " In your opinion, what is Benedict XVI’s
challenge to the world of communications, a phenomenon that
distinguishes - almost defines - this the era in which we live?
“We
continue are still discovering Pope Benedict XVI specific
characteristics towards communications. There was the idea that the Pope
was not communicative, compared to his great predecessor. In fact, he
is finding the formulas that are his, characteristic, but new - even for
a pope - to communicate his message. We only have to think of the book
"Jesus of Nazareth", of which we are awaiting the second volume, hope to
have a third volume: a theological and spiritual book, written
personally by a theologian Pope, is another great novelty of this
pontificate, as is the book-length interview. This certainly shows the
Pope’s reflection on and search to find suitable, appropriate and
personal ways to communicate. I would add the other classical forms of
his communication, which are the homilies, catechesis or great
addresses. The homilies, in particular, qualify the service of the Pope
as a great contribution to the synthesis between theology and
spirituality for the Church today: a teacher of homiletics for the whole
Church.
SIC: VR/INT'L