Remarkable. An academic, a theologian participant at Vatican II, a Cardinal, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (responsible for explaining and upholding Catholic teaching) from 1981 – 2005. Of course a chief collaborator with Pope Saint John Paul II. And then Pope himself from 2005 until his resignation for health reasons in 2013. Certainly one of the most important Catholic thinkers in the last century.
I read a number of his books including several full length book interviews. Here are three that I read:
The first one being The Ratzinger Report book length interview he gave in 1985. I've bought several copies over the years and given them away.
Here's a great short book meditation on the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus – Behold the Pierced One. Ditto on buying and giving copies away.
And an epic two volume Jesus of Nazareth, with an additional short monograph on the Nativity. Wonderful. As Benedict wrote – “This book is . . . my personal search ‘for the face of the Lord.’”
Also all of Farandaville was fortunate to see him at Yankee Stadium! Here is a brief excerpt from wikipedia about his 2018 trip to NY and then I've put 12 of our pictures up from his Mass at the stadium.
April 20 (New York)
The Pope visited Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center towers which were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. He prayed for the victims of the 9/11 attacks and met with a small group of relatives of the victims as well as a handful of first responders and survivors. He blessed the site, lit a candle,[16] and gave a prayer for the dead. He prayed for "eternal light and peace" for those killed and for healing for their families.[17]
The Pope said Mass to a crowd of nearly 60,000 at Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees. Over 200,000 had requested tickets, which were free, for the event.[18] The New York Times said the crowd "roared with all the sustained excitement of spectators at a pennant-clinching game."[19] The altar was set up on second base.[20] In his homily, he said the unwavering truth of the Catholic Church's message guarantees respect for the dignity of all human life, "including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb."[citation needed] The Mass marked the third time a Pope had visited the stadium, a record for any venue in the United States. (Pope Paul VI celebrated Mass at the stadium in 1965, and Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass there in 1979.[21]) MLB changed the Yankees schedule to accommodate the Mass, resulting in the Yankees playing 18 of their 20 games in April on the road, the most in one month in MLB history.[21]
Whole family and some friends
And the warm-up on the big screen –
We met up with two New England friends, Mary and Laurie –
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