Wojtyla’s beatification, the World Youth Day in Madrid, the interreligious meeting in Assisi, the visit to Rebibbia prison in Rome.
Four historical events.
The Vatican Insider met Giovanni Maria Vian, a historian of Christianity and director of the Holy See’s newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, to glance back at the Vatican events that marked 2011.
“It was the first time since the 11th Century that a Pope raised an immediate predecessor to the altars: Karol Wojtyla’s exemplarity goes beyond Christianity – Professor Vian remarked.
It was Benedict XVI himself who placed special emphasis on the World Youth Day out of the list of his activities in 2011, during the exchange of Christmas greetings with the Roman Curia.
These two symbolic events were followed by the meeting with non-believers in Assisi and the frank exchanges at Rebibbia prison. This was the first time that a Pope responded to inmates’ questions.” Just as during Karol Wojtyla’s pontificate the great vision of history was the prophesy made by the primate of Poland, Stephan Wishinsky (that is, leading the Church into the third millennium), - Vian said - so, Joseph Ratzinger’s vision was that of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the greatest religious event of the 20th Century: The Second Vatican Council.
“Indeed, Benedict XVI called it the year of faith, as Paul VI did in 1967, in memory of Peter and Paul’s martyrdom, up until the proclamation of the people of God’s creed in 1986,” Vian underlined. “More than institutional reform, Pope Benedict XVI is more concerned with keeping the flame of faith alive, a flame which is at risk of going out in Countries that still follow the ancient Christian tradition: the joy of faith seen in Madrid and in the Pope’s trip to Benin, is medicine against weariness and tedium,” the director of L’Osservatore Romano emphasised.
“No wonder Joseph Ratzinger’s first book was about Christian fraternity: the Pope wanted to speak to everyone, not just as a theologian, but also as a pastor; he does not use ecclesiastical jargon and has the added bonus of having experience in teaching in lay State universities and relating to students.”
In the seven years of his pontificate however, “Benedict XVI’s kind government, has substituted 95% of top figures in the Curia and acts with collegiality, after long consultations, as the document signed in Benin by the Pope, surrounded by bishops and cardinals, demonstrated.”
Vian also stressed that “the way in which the Pope reacted to the sex abuse scandal involving the clergy, was exemplary: people both in and outside the Church knew he was being serious.”
In terms of the burden presented by some national church structures such as the German Church, Benedict XVI points to a form of Christianity which being a minority, is able to be creative, agile and capable of speaking to everyone: “Travelling light makes the long journey across the desert much easier,” Vian said: “As the Bishop of Rome and the most important theologian since Leo the Great, Benedict XVI knows that the Church is governed by Christ, he focuses on silence, on returning to our inner selves.”
But this year, other than the various public events which Benedict XVI attended, the Vatican has also had to manage a number of important dossiers: the talks with the Society of Saint Pius X for the traditionalist group’s re-entry to the Catholic Church went ahead and negotiations are still going on.
Then there was Ireland, where problems arose after the publication of a new government report on cases of sex abuse by priests in the Diocese of Cloyne; On many occasions over the past months, Benedict XVI stressed his firm condemnation of these acts, inviting the Church itself to undergo a process of purification and renewal.
However, there was still a lot of diplomatic friction between the Holy See and Dublin. Another occurrence which had an even more widespread international resonance was the publication of a note on the economic crisis issued by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
The note called for the establishment of a world authority to regulate financial transactions and trade policies.
One of the most significant events of the pontificate took place just this month: Benedict XVI’s meeting with Rebibbia’s inmates, the prophetic and living sign of a Church that is open to the world.
One of the topics that most concerns the Holy See, is the persecution of Christians throughout the world. On many occasions, both in Italy and abroad, the Pope has emphasised the seriousness of the economic crisis that has struck Europe and the rest of the planet and has called leaders and citizens to engage in a common effort inspired by solidarity, in order to come out of this difficult period.
One of the most striking decisions taken recently by the Pope was that of not addressing individual speeches to each new ambassador who presents his letters of credence. By doing so, Benedict XVI placed Vatican diplomatic praxis in line with that of the other States.
Finally, the Pope’s second book dedicated to the life of Jesus of Nazareth was published this year.