In the quiet surroundings of Castel Gandolfo, with all audiences and almost all public commitments suspended, Benedict XVI is working on his third book on Jesus of Nazareth and the Gospels of Childhood. The much awaited book could be published next Christmas.
Ever since he was a cardinal, Joseph Ratzinger used his holiday time to study and write books and is capable of sitting at a desk for hours: indeed this is how he produced the first two lengthy volumes of the series - “Jesus of Nazareth” (Rizzoli, 2007) and “Jesus of Nazareth. From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection” (LEV, 2011) – one of which explores the public life of Christ and the other, the last days of his life, the crucifixion and the resurrection, that is, the events that are at the heart of the Christian faith.
In the preface of first volume, Benedict XVI announced: “it is clear that the infancy narratives would not fall directly within the scope of the present book. I will try, however, to keep the promise that I made in Part One (p. xxiv) and to prepare a small monograph on this subject, if I am given the strength.” In the second volume, Ratzinger explains that the infancy narratives could not form the key element of the book but stresses that "I wish to remain faithful to my promise and present a small work on this subject, if I am granted the strength to do so."
The Pope also spent last summer working on the new publication which looks like it is going to be more than just a monograph, but nevertheless shorter than other volumes (the first was 448 pages long and the second 348).
The new volume will be published by the Vatican Publishing House and the release date will depend on the length of the work and above all on the time it will take to translate and edit.
Jesus’ childhood is a topic Ratzinger had not really looked into in great detail in his theological work.
Only two of the four evangelists describe Christ’s birth, which both describe as taking place in Bethlehem.
The first, Matthew, describes Joseph’s family tradition and contains the episode of the three Wise Men who came from the East, the slaughter of the innocents and the escape to Egypt.
The second, Luke, describes the Marian tradition and is full of details on the Annunciation, the census, the journey to Nazareth and the shepherds’ worship.
Luke also offers the only description of an episode of Jesus’ life between his infancy and adulthood, when Mary and Joseph lose sight of their twelve year old son during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The child is found listening and interrogating the masters of the Temple. Short and essential stories.
The apocryphal Gospels on the other hand are rich in detail and often contain descriptions of miracles.
Some scholars see the Infancy Gospels as an addition to the core content which is dense in meaning, symbolic for the most part.
But Ratzinger wrote that real historical events are essential to biblical faith. Biblical faith does not narrate history as a collection of symbols, but is based on the historical events that took place on the surface of this Earth.
Benedict XVI has often warned against presenting Jesus in such an idealistic way that he ends up sounding like a character out of a fable.
The Pope also recalls that only the child that lies in the crib possesses the true secret to life.
A part from becoming international best-sellers, the Pope’s books on Jesus have sparked interest and debate within the university world as well.
A world Ratzinger has always maintained close links with, as is evident from his ten conventions on the second book which were held in ten Italian universities.
The proceedings have already been published by the Vatican Publishing House, under the title “Jesus of Nazareth at the University” (pp.416, Euro 18).