Former dicasteries
113-519: Former dicasteries The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei ( Latin : Pontificia Commissio Ecclesia Dei ) was a commission of the Catholic Church established by Pope John Paul II 's motu proprio Ecclesia Dei of 2 July 1988 for the care of those former followers of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre who broke with him as a result of his consecration of four priests of his Society of St. Pius X as bishops on 30 June 1988, an act that
226-523: A "mundane" reorganization that recognized how much the commission had achieved in establishing traditional communities within the Church. Dicastery A dicastery ( / d ɪ ˈ k æ s t ə r i / ; from Greek : δικαστήριον , romanized : dikastērion , lit. 'law-court', from δικαστής , 'judge, juror') is the name of some departments in the Roman Curia of
339-712: A ceremony held at the Vatican on 3 June 2007. Preca is the first Maltese saint since the country's conversion to Christianity in A.D. 60 when St. Paul converted the inhabitants. In October 2008, the following canonizations took place: Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception of India, Gaetano Errico , Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran , and Maria Bernarda Bütler . In April 2009, the Pope canonized Arcangelo Tadini , Bernardo Tolomei , Nuno Álvares Pereira , Geltrude Comensoli , and Caterina Volpicelli . In October of
452-464: A child. He recalled: "at the moment the elderly Archbishop laid his hands on me, a little bird – perhaps a lark – flew up from the altar in the high cathedral and trilled a little joyful song". He celebrated his first Mass later that summer in Traunstein, at St. Oswald's Church. Ratzinger's 1953 dissertation was on Augustine of Hippo and was titled The People and
565-538: A departure from traditional Catholic teachings. Despite his reformist bent, his views increasingly came to contrast with the liberal ideas gaining currency in theological circles. He was invited by Rev. Theodore Hesburgh to join the theology faculty at the University of Notre Dame , but declined on grounds that his English was not good enough. Some voices, among them Küng, deemed this period in Ratzinger's life
678-549: A doctrinal nature" and that a special within the CDF would take on the commission's responsibilities. A Vatican source said Francis' action represented "a normalization of the ecclesiastical status of traditionalist communities in the Pius X ambit which many years ago were reconciled with the See of Peter, as well as those celebrating the extraordinary form". He characterized the suppression as
791-674: A hand-written letter assuring him that it was indeed his personal decision. In July 2012, the society held a general chapter to consider the June communication from the Holy See and issued a declaration that "the Society continues to uphold the declarations and the teachings of the constant Magisterium of the Church in regard to all the novelties of the Second Vatican Council which remain tainted with errors, and also in regard to
904-399: A highly regarded theologian by the late 1950s. He was appointed a full professor in 1958 at the age of 31. After a long career as a professor of theology at several German universities, he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising and created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1977, an unusual promotion for someone with little pastoral experience. In 1981, he was appointed Prefect of
1017-431: A hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. "Friendship with Jesus Christ" was a frequent theme of Benedict's preaching. He stressed that on this intimate friendship, "everything depends". He also said: "We are all called to open ourselves to this friendship with God ... speaking to Him as to a friend, the only One who can make the world both good and happy ... That
1130-477: A letter delivered to him today. This evaluation notes that the position that he expressed is not sufficient to overcome the doctrinal problems that are at the basis of the rift between the Holy See and the aforesaid Society. At the conclusion of today's meeting, out of a concern for avoiding an ecclesial rupture with painful and incalculable consequences, the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X
1243-803: A mass that marked the conclusion of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and the Year of the Eucharist . Benedict canonized Bishop Rafael Guízar y Valencia , Théodore Guérin , Filippo Smaldone , and Rosa Venerini on 15 October 2006. During his visit to Brazil in 2007, Benedict presided over the canonization of Frei Galvão on 11 May, while George Preca , founder of the Malta-based MUSEUM , Szymon of Lipnica , Charles of Mount Argus , and Marie-Eugénie de Jésus were canonized in
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#17327647979631356-517: A nun working with lepers in what is now the state of Hawaii; Giovanni Battista Piamarta , an Italian priest; Jacques Berthieu , a French Jesuit priest and African martyr ; Carmen Salles y Barangueras , a Spanish nun and founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception; Peter Calungsod , a lay catechist and martyr from the Philippines; and Anna Schäffer , whose desire to be a missionary
1469-584: A subject of controversy during the sex abuse cases . For 20 years, Ratzinger had been the man in charge of enforcing the document. While bishops hold the secrecy pertained only internally, and did not preclude investigation by civil law enforcement, the letter was often seen as promoting a coverup. Later, as pope, he was accused in a lawsuit of conspiring to cover up the molestation of three boys in Texas , but sought and obtained diplomatic immunity from liability. On 12 March 1983, Ratzinger, as prefect, notified
1582-519: A turn towards conservatism, while Ratzinger himself said in a 1993 interview, "I see no break in my views as a theologian [over the years]". Ratzinger continued to defend the work of the Second Vatican Council, including Nostra aetate , the document on respect of other religions, ecumenism , and the declaration of the right to freedom of religion . Later, as the Prefect of the Congregation for
1695-462: A well-known academic theologian of the Nouvelle théologie and a proponent of Church reform. In 1966, Ratzinger was appointed to a chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tübingen , where he was a colleague of Hans Küng. In his 1968 book Introduction to Christianity , he wrote that the pope has a duty to hear differing voices within the Church before making a decision, and he downplayed
1808-561: Is all we have to do is put ourselves at His disposal ... is an extremely important message. It is a message that helps to overcome what can be considered the great temptation of our time: the claim, that after the Big Bang , God withdrew from history." Thus, in his book Jesus of Nazareth , his main purpose was "to help foster [in the reader] the growth of a living relationship" with Jesus Christ. He took up this theme in his first encyclical Deus caritas est . In his explanation and summary of
1921-449: Is contradictory to the modern acclamation of science whose excellence is based on the power of reason to know the truth. He said that this self-amputation of reason leads to pathologies of religion such as terrorism and pathologies of science such as ecological disasters . Benedict traced the failed revolutions and violent ideologies of the 20th century to a conversion of partial points of view into absolute guides. He said "Absolutizing what
2034-495: Is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." The document angered many Protestant churches by claiming that they are not churches, but "ecclesial communities". Ratzinger's 2001 letter De delictis gravioribus clarified the confidentiality of internal church investigations, as defined in the 1962 document Crimen sollicitationis , into accusations made against priests of certain crimes, including sexual abuse . This became
2147-557: Is not absolute but relative is called totalitarianism." In the discussion with secularism and rationalism , one of Benedict's basic ideas can be found in his address on the "Crisis of Culture" in the West, a day before Pope John Paul II died, when he referred to Christianity as the "religion of the Logos " (the Greek for "word", "reason", "meaning", or "intelligence"). He said: From
2260-527: Is still the most influential writing regarding the monastic life of Western Christianity . The Pope explained his choice of name during his first general audience in St. Peter's Square, on 27 April 2005: Filled with sentiments of awe and thanksgiving, I wish to speak of why I chose the name Benedict. Firstly, I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps, I place my ministry in
2373-706: Is understandable that time is needed to absorb the significance of these recent developments. As Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI seeks to foster and preserve the unity of the Church by realizing the long hoped-for reconciliation of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X with the See of Peter – a dramatic manifestation of the munus Petrinum in action – patience, serenity, perseverance and trust are needed." A December 2012 letter, in English and in French, from Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia , vice-president of
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#17327647979632486-484: The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum , which Pope Benedict published on 7 July 2007, which gave the Pontifical Commission additional functions: it was to exercise the authority of the Holy See, supervising the observance and application of the dispositions of the motu proprio , and, if a bishop was unable to satisfy the request of a stable group of the kind mentioned, the matter was to be referred to
2599-556: The Augsburg Confession might be recognised as a Catholic statement of faith. Several of Benedict's former students became his confidantes, notably Christoph Schönborn , and a number of his former students sometimes meet for discussions. He served as vice-president of the University of Regensburg from 1976 to 1977. On 26 May 1976, he was appointed a Prelate of Honour of His Holiness . On 24 March 1977, Ratzinger
2712-897: The Catholic Church . Pastor bonus (1988) includes this definition: By the word "dicasteries" are understood the Secretariat of State , Congregations, Tribunals, Councils and Offices, namely, the Apostolic Camera , the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See . Under the new structure of the Roman Curia created by Praedicate evangelium ( effective since 5 June 2022),
2825-698: The Communion and Liberation movement in the New Evangelization encouraged under the papacy of the Polish Pope John Paul ;II . Ratzinger wrote an introduction to a 1996 reissue of Guardini's 1954 The Lord . Ratzinger began as assistant pastor (curate) at the parish St. Martin, Moosach , in Munich in 1951. Ratzinger became a professor at the University of Bonn in 1959, with his inaugural lecture on "The God of Faith and
2938-789: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , one of the most important dicasteries of the Roman Curia . From 2002 until he was elected pope, he was also Dean of the College of Cardinals . Before becoming pope, he had been "a major figure on the Vatican stage for a quarter of a century"; he had had an influence "second to none when it came to setting church priorities and directions" as one of John Paul II 's closest confidants. Benedict's writings were prolific and generally defended traditional Catholic doctrine, values, and liturgy . He
3051-539: The Diocese of Rome and the official responsible for promoting the cause for canonization of any person who dies within that diocese, cited "exceptional circumstances" which suggested that the waiting period could be waived. (This had happened before, when Pope Paul VI waived the five-year rule and announced beatification processes for two of his own predecessors, Pope Pius XII and Pope John XXIII . Benedict XVI followed this precedent when he waived
3164-602: The European Academy of Sciences and Arts in Salzburg. Ratzinger defended and reaffirmed Catholic doctrine, including teaching on topics such as birth control , homosexuality, and inter-religious dialogue. The theologian Leonardo Boff , for example, was suspended, while others such as Matthew Fox were censured. Other issues also prompted condemnations or revocations of rights to teach: for instance, some posthumous writings of Jesuit priest Anthony de Mello were
3277-489: The Fraternity of Saint Pius X to full communion." It extends also, he said, to "satisfying the just aspirations of people, unrelated to the two aforementioned groups, who, because of their specific sensitiveness, wish to keep alive the earlier Latin liturgy in the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments." Pope Benedict XVI, he said, who was for years a member of the commission, wishes it to become an organ of
3390-476: The Holy See deemed illicit and a schismatic act. It was also tasked with trying to return to full communion with the Holy See those traditionalist Catholics who are in a state of separation, of whom the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is foremost, and of helping to satisfy just aspirations of people unconnected with these groups who want to keep alive the pre-1970 Roman Rite liturgy. Pope Benedict XVI gave
3503-856: The Institute of the Good Shepherd with a membership of priests who had belonged to the Society of St Pius X. Speaking on 16 May 2007 to the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, Cardinal Castrillón presented the Ecclesia Dei Commission over which he presides as founded for the care of those " traditionalist Catholics " who, while discontented with the liturgical reform of
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3616-675: The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace under a single president, Cardinal Renato Martino . When Martino retired in 2009, each council received its own president once again. Also in March 2006, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was briefly merged into the Pontifical Council for Culture under Cardinal Paul Poupard . Those Councils maintained their separate officials and staffs while their status and competencies continued unchanged, and in May 2007, Interreligious Dialogue
3729-486: The Second Vatican Council , had broken with Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre "because they disagreed with his schismatic action in ordaining Bishops without the required papal mandate". He added that at present the commission's activity is not limited to the service of those Catholics, nor to "the efforts undertaken to end the regrettable schismatic situation and secure the return of those brethren belonging to
3842-712: The Sistine Chapel at the beginning of each year, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord , in his pastoral role as Bishop of Rome . During his pontificate, Benedict XVI beatified 870 people. On 9 May 2005, Benedict XVI began the beatification process for his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. Normally, five years must pass after a person's death before the beatification process can begin. However, in an audience with Benedict, Camillo Ruini , vicar general of
3955-618: The Tridentine Mass . He strengthened the relationship between the Catholic Church and art , promoted the use of Latin , and reintroduced traditional papal vestments , for which reason he was called "the pope of aesthetics". He also established personal ordinariates , for former Anglicans and Methodists , joining the Catholic Church. Benedict's handling of sexual abuse cases within the Catholic Church and opposition to usage of condoms in areas of high HIV transmission
4068-509: The University of Munich . The intellectual affinity between these two thinkers, who would later become decisive figures for the twentieth-century Catholic Church , was preoccupied with rediscovering the essentials of Christianity: Guardini wrote his 1938 The Essence of Christianity , while Ratzinger penned Introduction to Christianity , three decades later in 1968. Guardini inspired many in the Catholic social-democratic tradition, particularly
4181-452: The University of Regensburg and co-founded the theological journal Communio , with Hans Urs von Balthasar , Henri de Lubac , Walter Kasper , and others, in 1972. Communio , now published in seventeen languages, including German, English, and Spanish, has become a prominent journal of contemporary Catholic theological thought. Until he was elected pope, he remained one of the journal's most prolific contributors. In 1976, he suggested that
4294-532: The Vatican Library , but John Paul refused his assent. Ratzinger engaged in a dialogue with critical theorist Jürgen Habermas in 2004, published three years later by Ignatius Press . In April 2005, before his election as pope, Ratzinger was identified as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time . While Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Ratzinger repeatedly stated he would like to retire to his house in
4407-471: The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum . It included specific norms on matters such as the function of diocesan bishops in monitoring liturgical matters in such a way as to ensure respect for the "extraordinary form" of the Roman Rite. It clarified that the "group of the faithful existing in a stable manner" who ask that the older form be celebrated need not predate Summorum Pontificum and need not be from
4520-476: The Bavarian village of Pentling near Regensburg and dedicate himself to writing books. At the papal conclave , "it was, if not Ratzinger, who? And as they came to know him, the question became, why not Ratzinger?" On 19 April 2005, he was elected on the second day after four ballots. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor described the final vote, "It's very solemn when you go up one by one to put your vote in
4633-419: The Church and its ministers cannot legitimately exercise any ministry", began on 26 October 2009 with a meeting between experts on the two sides led on the part of the commission by its secretary, Monsignor Guido Pozzo , who has long been on the staff of the CDF and on the part of the society by Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta . Before the meeting, the society's superior general Bishop Bernard Fellay indicated that
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4746-603: The Commission in that year, approached the bishops of the SSPX about regularizing relations, and told them that the Pope was prepared to grant them a personal prelature without territorial limits — the same canonical structure as that enjoyed by Opus Dei . According to William Dinges, it was the society that launched a petition drive calling for a personal prelature at least five years earlier. The SSPX leadership required two preliminary "signs" before continuing negotiations: that
4859-505: The Doctrine of the Faith , Ratzinger most clearly spelled out the Catholic Church's position on other religions in the 2000 document Dominus Iesus which also talks about the Catholic way to engage in " ecumenical dialogue". During his time at Tübingen University, Ratzinger published articles in the reformist theological journal Concilium , though he increasingly chose less reformist themes than other contributors such as Küng and Schillebeeckx. In 1969, Ratzinger returned to Bavaria , to
4972-463: The Faith , formerly known as the "Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office ", the historical Roman Inquisition . Consequently, he resigned from his post in Munich in early 1982. He was promoted within the College of Cardinals to become Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni in 1993 and was made the college's vice-dean in 1998 and dean in 2002. Just a year after its foundation in 1990, Ratzinger joined
5085-575: The French Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques . He played the piano and had a preference for Mozart and Bach . Joseph Alois Ratzinger was born on 16 April, Holy Saturday , 1927 at Schulstraße 11 at 8:30 in the morning in his parents' home in Marktl , Bavaria, Germany. He was baptised the same day. He was the third and youngest child of Joseph Ratzinger Sr., a police officer, and Maria Ratzinger ( née Peintner ); his grand-uncle
5198-655: The German infantry. As the Allied front drew closer to his post in 1945, he deserted back to his family's home in Traunstein after his unit had ceased to exist, just as American troops established a headquarters in the Ratzinger household. As a German soldier, he was interned in US prisoner of war camps, first in Neu-Ulm, then at Fliegerhorst ("military airfield") Bad Aibling (shortly to be repurposed as Bad Aibling Station ) where he
5311-470: The God of Philosophy". In 1963, he moved to the University of Münster . During this period, he participated in the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) and served as a peritus (theological consultant) to Cardinal Frings of Cologne . He was viewed during the time of the council as a reformer, cooperating with theologians like Hans Küng and Edward Schillebeeckx . Ratzinger became an admirer of Karl Rahner ,
5424-608: The Holy Father a draft for restructuring the Commission with a view to… a possible return of the St Pius X Fraternity or of some of its members The 2004 report had less to say about SSPX: "Again this year, dialogue at various levels continued, though slowly, with the Saint Pius X Fraternity. The Cardinal President had meetings, some at a high level, in this regard. On the Holy See's side, the effective proposals for regularizing
5537-472: The Holy See for the specific purpose of preserving and maintaining the value of the traditional Latin liturgy. He added the comment: "But it must be stated quite clearly that it is not a matter of going backward, of returning to the times before the 1970 reform. What is in question is instead a generous offer of the Vicar of Christ wishing, as an expression of his pastoral will, to place at the Church's disposal all
5650-433: The Holy See grant permission for all priests to celebrate the Tridentine Mass , and declare null its earlier declarations that the 1988 consecrations had resulted in excommunication. Cardinal Castrillón refused to grant interviews on the matter, in order, as he said, "to maintain the privacy of the details of our dialogue". This silence was broken when his letter of 5 April 2002 to Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of
5763-478: The Holy See's side, there has been no change in the effective proposals for regularizing the question. After examining the problems faced by priests and faithful, considering the good will of several members of the Fraternity and the recurrent problems of the faithful attached to the former liturgical tradition who take part in the Fraternity's liturgy, the full membership of the Commission studied and presented to
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#17327647979635876-653: The House of God in Augustine's Doctrine of the Church . His habilitation (which qualified him for a professorship) was on Bonaventure . It was completed in 1957 and he became a professor at Freising College in 1958. In his early twenties, Ratzinger was deeply influenced by the thought of Italian German philosopher Romano Guardini , who taught in Munich from 1946 to 1951 when Ratzinger was studying in Freising and later at
5989-775: The Latin word meaning "the blessed", in honour of both Benedict XV and Benedict of Nursia . Benedict XV was pope during the First World War, during which time he passionately pursued peace between the warring nations. St. Benedict of Nursia was the founder of the Benedictine monasteries (most monasteries of the Middle Ages were of the Benedictine order) and the author of the Rule of Saint Benedict , which
6102-409: The Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", to all the members of the society indicated that the official reply of Bishop Fellay had not yet been received. Archbishop Di Noia lamented that some of the society's superiors "employ language, in unofficial communications, that to all the world appears to reject the very provisions, assumed to be still under study, that are required for the reconciliation and for
6215-495: The Roman Catholic Church and was granted the status of a Personal Apostolic Administration within that diocese. The 2003 report of the Ecclesia Dei Commission is the first of its 21st-century reports to speak of serious dialogue between SSPX and the Holy See: During the year, dialogue about the canonical situation of the St Pius X Fraternity continued at various levels. In this connection, the Cardinal President had some high-level meetings and kept up an exchange of correspondence. On
6328-574: The SSPX, was later published. The letter contained the text of a protocol summarising the meeting between the two men held on 29 December 2000, a document that Bishop Fellay accepted at a further meeting the next day. The protocol envisaged a reconciliation on the basis of the protocol of 5 May 1988; the excommunications of 1988 would be lifted , rather than declared null. In his letter, the Cardinal proposed continuing negotiations with Bishop Fellay by means of personal meetings. In keeping with Cardinal Castrillón's desire to avoid counterproductive publicity,
6441-522: The announcement of the prior day, Wir Sind Papst ( We are Pope ). At the balcony, Benedict's first words to the crowd, given in Italian before he gave the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing in Latin, were: Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with insufficient instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers. In
6554-664: The beatification of John Henry Newman . Unlike his predecessor, Benedict delegated the beatification liturgical service to a cardinal. On 29 September 2005, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued a communiqué announcing that henceforth beatifications would be celebrated by a representative of the pope, usually the prefect of that Congregation. During his pontificate, Benedict XVI canonized 45 people. He celebrated his first canonizations on 23 October 2005 in St. Peter's Square when he canonized Josef Bilczewski , Alberto Hurtado , Zygmunt Gorazdowski , Gaetano Catanoso , and Felice da Nicosia . The canonizations were part of
6667-424: The beginning, Christianity has understood itself as the religion of the Logos , as the religion according to reason ... It has always defined men, all men without distinction, as creatures and images of God, proclaiming for them ... the same dignity. In this connection, the Enlightenment is of Christian origin and it is no accident that it was born precisely and exclusively in the realm of the Christian faith. ... It
6780-437: The canonical regularization of the Fraternity within the Catholic Church". He added: "The only imaginable future for the Priestly Fraternity lies along the path of full communion with the Holy See, with the acceptance of an unqualified profession of the faith in its fullness, and thus with a properly ordered ecclesial, sacramental and pastoral life." The commission granted permission for some communities under its direction to use
6893-412: The cardinal presented the Holy See's evaluation of the April response of the society and proposed a personal prelature as the most appropriate instrument for any future canonical recognition of the society. Bishop Fellay indicated that he could not sign the document of the Holy See's evaluation. In reply to an enquiry by Fellay whether the evaluation had been truly approved by the Pope, Benedict XVI sent him
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#17327647979637006-438: The centrality of the papacy. During this time, he distanced himself from the atmosphere of Tübingen and the Marxist leanings of the student movement of the 1960s that quickly radicalized, in the years 1967 and 1968, culminating in a series of disturbances and riots in April and May 1968. Ratzinger came increasingly to see these and associated developments (such as decreasing respect for authority among his students) as connected to
7119-480: The commission additional functions on 7 July 2007, and on 8 July 2009 he made the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith the ex officio head of the commission. Pope Francis suppressed the commission and merged its responsibilities into the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 17 January 2019. According to Bernard Fellay , superior general of the Society of Saint Pius X, in 2000, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos , who became President of
7232-504: The commission and were received into full communion with the Holy See. The commission also continued its conversations with the Society of St Pius X, which, though welcoming the motu proprio , referred to "difficulties that still remain", including "disputed doctrinal issues" and the notice of excommunication that still affects its bishops. After a meeting on 4 June 2008 with the society's superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay, Cardinal Castrillón asked in writing to respond positively before
7345-471: The commission, either by the bishop himself or by others. The dispositions of the motu proprio whose observance and application were thus entrusted to the Pontifical Commission included the following: Some groups of traditionalist Catholics, such as the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (previously known as the Transalpine Redemptorists), that had been in dispute with the Holy See decided that this motu proprio gave grounds for seeking an agreement, contacted
7458-508: The different Roman Congregations and representatives from the world's Bishops in the process of decision-making. Pope Benedict put this into effect on 8 July 2009 by making the Prefect of the CDF, then Cardinal William Levada , the president of the commission, with responsibility for referring the commission's "principal cases and doctrinal questions" to the CDF's "ordinary procedures". Concrete discussion of doctrinal problems, pending clarification of which "the Society has no canonical status in
7571-412: The discussions could require much time: “The issues are vast. Our principal objections to the Council, such as religious liberty, ecumenism and collegiality are well known. But other objections could be posed, such as the influence of modern philosophy, the liturgical novelties, the spirit of the world and its influence on the modern thought that holds sway in the Church." The subjects actually brought up in
7684-428: The door is always open"; he added: "We cannot put the Catholic faith at the mercy of negotiations. Compromise does not exist in this field. I think that there can now be no new discussions." On 27 October 2012, the commission stated that the society had indicated on 6 September 2012 that it needed more time to prepare its response to the Holy See's initiatives. The commission commented: "After thirty years of separation, it
7797-503: The doors for Christ!", Benedict said: Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to Him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? ... And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful, and great. No! Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. ... When we give ourselves to Him, we receive
7910-412: The encyclical, he stated: "If friendship with God becomes for us something ever more important and decisive, then we will begin to love those whom God loves and who are in need of us. God wants us to be friends of His friends and we can be so, if we are interiorly close to them." Thus, he said that prayer is "urgently needed ... It is time to reaffirm the importance of prayer in the face of the activism and
8023-440: The end of that month committing himself: Reuters reported on 26 June 2008 that Bishop Fellay had given a negative response. In his letter of 10 March 2009 concerning his remission, on 21 January 2009, of the excommunication of the four bishops of the Society of St Pius X, Pope Benedict XVI announced his intention to link the commission closely to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF): This will make it clear that
8136-425: The first Australian saint, Mary MacKillop . On 23 October 2011, he canonized three saints: a Spanish nun Bonifacia Rodríguez y Castro , Italian archbishop Guido Maria Conforti , and Italian priest Luigi Guanella . In December 2011, the Pope formally recognized the validity of the miracles necessary to proceed with the canonizations of Kateri Tekakwitha , who would be the first Native American saint; Marianne Cope,
8249-550: The five-year rule for John Paul II. ) The decision was announced on 13 May 2005, the Feast of Our Lady of Fátima and the 24th anniversary of the attempt on John Paul II's life. John Paul II often credited Our Lady of Fátima for preserving him on that day. Cardinal Ruini inaugurated the diocesan phase of the cause for beatification in the Lateran Basilica on 28 June 2005. The first beatification under
8362-610: The former congregations and pontifical councils are replaced with dicasteries. As of 2022, there are sixteen dicasteries: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] This Catholic Church –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( Latin : Benedictus PP. XVI ; Italian : Benedetto XVI ; German : Benedikt XVI ; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger , German: [ˈjoːzɛf ˈʔaːlɔɪ̯s ˈʁat͡sɪŋɐ] ; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022)
8475-426: The growing secularism of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Continuing what he said in the pre-conclave Mass about what he often referred to as the "central problem of our faith today", on 6 June 2005, Benedict also said: Today, a particularly insidious obstacle to the task of education is the massive presence in our society and culture of that relativism which, recognising nothing as definitive, leaves as
8588-899: The joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help, let us move forward. The Lord will help us, and Mary, His Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you. On 24 April, Benedict celebrated the Papal Inauguration Mass in St. Peter's Square , during which he was invested with the Pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman . On 7 May, he took possession of his cathedral church, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran . Benedict XVI chose his papal name , which comes from
8701-535: The lay faithful and the clergy that Archbishop Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục had incurred excommunication latae sententiae for illicit episcopal consecrations without the apostolic mandate. In 1997, when he turned 70, Ratzinger asked Pope John Paul II for permission to leave the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith and to become an archivist in the Vatican Secret Archives and a librarian in
8814-485: The liturgical forms for the services of Holy Week as they existed before the reforms of 1955 on an experimental basis for three years beginning in 2018. Pope Francis suppressed the commission and merged its responsibilities into the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 17 January 2019, and the Holy See Press Office published his decree on 19 January. He said that the outstanding issues were "of
8927-480: The meeting listed as one of his official audiences of the day, Pope Benedict XVI , the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who in 1988 had in vain negotiated on behalf of Pope John Paul II with Archbishop Lefebvre, received for 35 minutes on 29 August 2005 Bishop Bernard Fellay, who had requested the meeting. There was no breakthrough, but statements from both sides spoke of the atmosphere as positive. The commission marked another success in establishing on 8 September 2006
9040-411: The meeting were the concept of tradition, the missal of Paul VI, the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council in line with the Church's doctrinal tradition, the themes of the unity of the Church and of Catholic principles on ecumenism, the relationship between Christianity and non-Christian religions, and freedom of religion. Meetings were to continue at approximately two-month intervals. Accordingly,
9153-409: The necessary knowledge of the language and, where pastoral needs suggest it, the manner of celebrating the older form. In January 2012 the Society of Saint Pius X delivered a substantive response to a document that the commission had presented to it in the previous September with a view to possible rehabilitation of the society and the granting to it of a canonical status within the Church. The document
9266-529: The new pope was celebrated on 14 May 2005, by José Cardinal Saraiva Martins , Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints . The new Blesseds were Marianne Cope and Ascensión Nicol Goñi . Cardinal Clemens August Graf von Galen was beatified on 9 October 2005. Mariano de la Mata was beatified in November 2006 and Rosa Eluvathingal was beatified on 3 December of that year, and Basil Moreau
9379-458: The pope was replaced by being greeted by twelve people, including cardinals, clergy, religious, a married couple and their child, and some who were newly confirmed people; the cardinals had formally sworn their obedience upon the election of the new pontiff. He began using an open-topped papal car , saying that he wanted to be closer to the people. Benedict continued the tradition of his predecessor John Paul II and baptised several infants in
9492-514: The problems now to be addressed are essentially doctrinal in nature and concern primarily the acceptance of the Second Vatican Council and the post-conciliar magisterium of the Popes. The collegial bodies with which the Congregation studies questions which arise (especially the ordinary Wednesday meeting of Cardinals and the annual or biennial Plenary Session) ensure the involvement of the Prefects of
9605-399: The reforms issued from it". The Holy See declared that it awaited an official response from the society. In an interview on 4 October 2012, the commission's new president Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller remarked, with regard to the Holy See's demand that the society accept the decisions of the Second Vatican Council, including those on religious freedom and human rights: "In a pastoral sense,
9718-536: The reports of the Ecclesia Dei Commission appearing in the annual publication L'Attività della Santa Sede (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) for the years 2000 and those immediately following make no mention of these negotiations. In another field, the commission made successful contact in the same year 2000 with the Priestly Union of St Jean-Marie Vianney in Campos, Brazil, which was admitted to full communion with
9831-729: The same parish, but they "must not in any way support or belong to groups which show themselves to be against the validity or legitimacy of the Holy Mass or the Sacraments celebrated in the forma ordinaria or against the Roman Pontiff as Supreme Pastor of the Universal Church." To celebrate in the older form of the Roman Rite, a priest must have enough knowledge of Latin to pronounce the words properly and understand them. Seminarians are to be offered assistance in acquiring
9944-401: The same year he canonized Jeanne Jugan , Damien de Veuster , Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński , Francisco Coll Guitart , and Rafael Arnáiz Barón . On 17 October 2010, Benedict canonized André Bessette , a French-Canadian; Stanisław Sołtys , a 15th-century Polish priest; Italian nuns Giulia Salzano and Camilla Battista da Varano ; Spanish nun Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola ; and
10057-492: The second meeting was held on 18 January 2010, with no information given on its contents. Shortly before that second meeting, Bishop Richard Williamson , speaking in his own name, not on behalf of the society, said the talks are "a dialogue of the deaf". The commission's instruction Universae Ecclesiae , issued on 30 April 2011, the feast of Saint Pius V informed that it had been given authority to decide on appeals against administrative acts of ordinaries alleged to contravene
10170-477: The service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples. Additionally, I recall Saint Benedict of Nursia, co- patron of Europe, whose life evokes the Christian roots of Europe. I ask him to help us all to hold firm to the centrality of Christ in our Christian life: May Christ always take first place in our thoughts and actions! During Benedict's inaugural Mass, the previous custom of every cardinal submitting to
10283-524: The situation remain unaltered." The 2005 report states: "During the year, the Cardinal President intensified dialogue with the Fraternity of St Pius X, finding that it had somewhat improved, with more concrete prospects of reaching more perfect communion. The Cardinal President had some meetings in this regard with His Excellency Bishop B. Fellay and other members in leadership positions, and kept up an exchange of correspondence." Without having
10396-554: The students were all sent home. Ratzinger returned to Traunstein. Ratzinger's family, especially his father, bitterly resented the Nazis , and his father's opposition to Nazism resulted in demotions and harassment of the family. Following his 14th birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was conscripted into the Hitler Youth – as membership was required by law for all 14-year-old German boys after March 1939 – but
10509-419: The subject of a notification . Ratzinger and the congregation viewed many of them, particularly the later works, as having an element of religious indifferentism (in other words, that Christ was "one master alongside others"). In particular, Dominus Iesus , published by the congregation in the jubilee year 2000, reaffirmed many recently "unpopular" ideas, including the Catholic Church's position that "salvation
10622-528: The time of the 2005 conclave , he was one of only fourteen remaining cardinals appointed by Paul VI, and one of only three of those under the age of 80. Of these, only he and William Wakefield Baum took part in the conclave. On 25 November 1981, Pope John Paul II, upon the retirement of Franjo Šeper , named Ratzinger as the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of
10735-456: The treasures of the Latin liturgy that for centuries nourished the spiritual life of so many generations of Catholic faithful. The Holy Father wishes to preserve the immense spiritual, cultural and esthetic treasure linked with the old liturgy. Recovery of these riches goes together with the no less precious riches of the Church's present liturgy." Clearly, the Cardinal already knew the text of
10848-421: The ultimate criterion only the self with its desires. And under the semblance of freedom it becomes a prison for each one, for it separates people from one another, locking each person into his or her own ego. Benedict said that "a dictatorship of relativism" was the core challenge facing the Church and humanity. At the root of this problem, he said, is Immanuel Kant 's "self-limitation of reason". This, he said,
10961-539: The urn and you're looking up at the Last Judgement of Michelangelo . And I still remember vividly the then Cardinal Ratzinger sitting on the edge of his chair." Ratzinger had hoped to retire peacefully and said that "At a certain point, I prayed to God 'please don't do this to me'...Evidently, this time He didn't listen to me." The day following Ratzinger's election, the German newspaper Bild ran what would become one of its most iconic headlines in response to
11074-543: The visiting Cardinal Archbishop of Munich, Michael von Faulhaber , with flowers. Struck by the cardinal's distinctive garb, he announced later that day that he wanted to be a cardinal . He attended the elementary school in Aschau am Inn , which was renamed in his honour in 2009. In 1939, aged 12, he enrolled in a minor seminary in Traunstein . This period lasted until the seminary was closed for military use in 1942, and
11187-507: Was an unenthusiastic member who refused to attend meetings, according to his brother. In 1941, one of Ratzinger's cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome , was taken away by the Nazi regime and murdered during the Aktion T4 campaign of Nazi eugenics . In 1943, while still in seminary, he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps as Luftwaffenhelfer . Ratzinger then trained in
11300-482: Was and is the merit of the Enlightenment to have again proposed these original values of Christianity and of having given back to reason its own voice ... Today, this should be precisely [Christianity's] philosophical strength, in so far as the problem is whether the world comes from the irrational, and reason is not other than a 'sub-product,' on occasion even harmful of its development – or whether
11413-499: Was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising , and was ordained a bishop on 28 May. He took as his episcopal motto Cooperatores veritatis ( Latin for 'cooperators of the truth'), from the Third Epistle of John , a choice on which he commented in his autobiographical work Milestones . In the consistory of 27 June 1977, he was named Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino by Pope Paul VI . By
11526-705: Was at the time of Victory in Europe Day , and released on 19 June 1945. Ratzinger and his brother Georg entered Saint Michael Seminary in Traunstein in November 1945, later studying at the Ducal Georgianum ( Herzogliches Georgianum ) of the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. They were both ordained in Freising on 29 June 1951 by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber of Munich – the same man Ratzinger had met as
11639-595: Was beatified in September 2007. In October 2008, the following beatifications took place: Celestine of the Mother of God , Giuseppina Nicoli, Hendrina Stenmanns, Maria Rosa Flesch, Marta Anna Wiecka, Michael Sopocko , Petrus Kibe Kasui and 187 Companions , Susana Paz-Castillo Ramírez , and Maria Isbael Salvat Romero. On 19 September 2010, during his visit to the United Kingdom , Benedict personally proclaimed
11752-408: Was believed to consist essentially in the profession of faith required of persons taking up offices in the Church and was to be published, if necessary in revised form, only later. The commission gave its response on 16 March 2012 and published a note that said: "In compliance with the decision by Pope Benedict XVI, the evaluation of the response of His Excellency Bishop Fellay was communicated to him by
11865-576: Was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II . Benedict chose to be known as " Pope emeritus " upon his resignation, and he retained this title until his death in 2022. Ordained as a priest in 1951 in his native Bavaria , Ratzinger embarked on an academic career and established himself as
11978-504: Was invited to be so kind as to clarify his position so as to heal the existing rift, as Pope Benedict XVI wished." The society, which was reported to be deeply divided on the issue of acceptance or rejection, was given until 15 April 2012 to clarify its position. On 17 April 2012 the response reached the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which studied it and submitted it to the judgement of Pope Benedict XVI. Another meeting between Levada and Fellay took place on 13 June 2012, at which
12091-449: Was originally a liberal theologian but adopted conservative views after 1968. During his papacy, Benedict advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many Western countries . He viewed relativism 's denial of objective truth , and the denial of moral truths in particular, as the central problem of the 21st century. Benedict also revived several traditions and permitted greater use of
12204-694: Was restored to its separate status again with its own president. In June 2010, Benedict created the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization , appointing Archbishop Rino Fisichella its first president. On 16 January 2013, the Pope transferred responsibility for catechesis from the Congregation for the Clergy to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. As pope, one of Benedict's main roles
12317-420: Was substantially criticised by public health officials, anti-AIDS activists, and victim's rights organizations. On 11 February 2013, Benedict announced his (effective 28 February 2013) resignation, citing a "lack of strength of mind and body" due to his advanced age. His resignation was the first by a pope since Gregory XII in 1415, and the first on a pope's initiative since Celestine V in 1294. He
12430-468: Was succeeded by Francis on 13 March 2013 and moved into the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City for his retirement. In addition to his native German language, Benedict had some level of proficiency in French, Italian, English, and Spanish. He also knew Portuguese , Latin, Biblical Hebrew , and Biblical Greek . He was a member of several social science academies, such as
12543-554: Was the German priest-politician Georg Ratzinger . His mother's family was originally from South Tyrol (now in Italy). Benedict's elder brother, Georg , became a Catholic priest and was the former director of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir. His sister, Maria, who never married, managed her brother Joseph's household until she died in 1991. At the age of five, Ratzinger was in a group of children who welcomed
12656-566: Was to teach about the Catholic faith and the solutions to the problems of discerning and living the faith, a role that he could play well as a former head of the Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. (The main points of emphasis of his teachings are stated in more detail in Theology of Pope Benedict XVI .) After his first homily as pope, Benedict referred to both Jesus Christ and John Paul II. Citing John Paul II's well-known words, "Do not be afraid! Open wide
12769-511: Was unfulfilled on account of her illness. They were canonized on 21 October 2012. On 7 October 2012, Benedict named Hildegard of Bingen and John of Ávila as Doctors of the Church , the 34th and 35th individuals so recognized in the history of Christianity. Benedict made only modest changes to the structure of the Roman Curia. In March 2006, he placed both the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and
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