Benedict XVI: The pillar that sustains
Interview with Cardinal Cottier
by Salvatore Mazza
Translated from
February 21, 2012
A great feast of the Church. A moment of joy, in which "the Church closed ranks around the Pope" to show him "their affection".
"In the great perplexities of our time, he is the pillar that holds us up. And he does it simply, without fuss".
Cardinal Georges Cottier, who turns 90 in April, and who was the theologian of the Pontifical Household in John Paul II's time for almost 20 years, recalls the four days of Benedict XVI's fourth consistory for new cardinals.
Which confirmed, he says - with disillusion at the polemics about the Vatican in recent days, "that his principal concern is that Christians turn back to the central questions of the faith".
What did you think of the Pope these days?
I was struck by his serenity. He must suffer from all these things that are being said in the media these days, but he is serene at heart. It's the power of the Holy Spirit that guides his life. It is his faith. And the specific vocation of Peter is to sustain the faith of his brothers. And so, here through all the difficulties, and all these great perplexities, he is the pillar that sustains.
He may appear a bit tired, but these days, he presented a stupendous synthesis of of what the believer's attitude should be - never to seek power and glory but only to serve, to serve till martyrdom if necessary, following the example of Jesus.
Public opinion is interested in certain things, but the interests of the Church that professes her faith in Jesus is something else. And it is beautiful to see the witness of this man - humble, simple and modest - who has this spiritual power that is so great that it can bring peace.
One can say that, for him, it is a way to 'go beyond', to transcend. He allows these 'waves' to pass which are supposed to rock the Church, this great agitation of the waters, because he knows that the fundamental movement is different.
I had occasion to reflect on all this in the past four days. And discussing it with my brother cardinals, I found I was not alone in what I think. Which is that in all this agitation around the Church, one can see to the malignant one at work. In the sense that if the Church were to be swamped by mediocrity and occupied by intrigues, then the devil would have little to do.
But if the waters are being agitated this way, then it also means that there is vitality in the Church, which the devil wants to oppose. This vitality is the power of faith. It is the Christian life which is manifest all over the world.
Where can this vitality be seen?
Recently I was talking to a friend who travels a lot. And he was telling me how, everywhere he went, it seems that young people have somehow reinvented the sense of Eucharistic Adoration. That is one sign of this great vitality - and the reality of the Church is in such phenomena that should not be obscured by the sins of Christians.
The mystery of the Church is that she is holy but her members are sinners who are called upon to be saints. If we are all called to holiness, we are also called on to bear witness, to have a life consistent with what we profess.
This Pope often cites the words of Paul VI who said that men of our time will respond more to witnesses than to teachers, and even more, to teachers who are also witnesses.
[Of which Benedict XVI is a shining example!] So this should be the plan for everyone of us. Of all Christians, and for us Pastors, especially those who are entrusted to our care.
What example does Benedict XVI set?
A great example, every day. He is 85, and sometimes, he may look tired, which is normal at that age, and the false tales circulating about him will certainly make him feel bad. But we have seen how he succeeds at doing extraordinary things. We saw that in Madrid, we saw it in Germany, where he reminded us that the most beautiful structures are worth nothing if there is no faith.
We saw it when he visited the prisoners in Rebibbia. And very soon, he will be going to Mexico and Cuba. His Wednesday catecheses are extraordinary.. These are the things we ought to look at.
Everything he does is always with the basic guideline that the fundamental problem, especially in Europe and the Wes,t is the need for re-evangelization, to recover a faith that has been lost or is being lost.
This is also the strong point of his Pontificate - this invitation to
reconsider anew the love of Christ, the Eucharist, all the central points of Christian faith. This is what the Pope speaks of, because this is what the world needs.
Quite by coincidence, around this time last year - on February 19, 2011, in fact - Cardinal Cottier was the resource person at a round-table discussion sponsored by the Vatican publishing house on LIGHT OF THE WORLD [See account onPage 188 of this thread] at which time he said this about Benedict XVI, at the end of his talk on 'How to read Joseph Ratzinger":
"What is most amazing about Benedict XVI is that he remains a happy man. The theme of joy is very much present in his work, and even in his preaching. So many readers have been struck by the authenticity and simplicity of many things the Pope says in Light of the World.
Readers may well ask, 'Is this the same person we read about in the newspapers? The same person who has been transformed by the media into a caricature, in an amazing display of bad taste?
In many pages of the book, one encounters a Pope who is relaxed, confident, and who expresses himself freely, holding back nothing. He takes note without censure of secularization and relativism which prevail in the experience of so many today.
In the face of all this, his serenity does not seem to rely on something he has discovered, or on any particular formula. Rather, he simply reiterates it is Jesus himself who keeps the living flame of faith lit in the Church.
How remarkably consistent Cottier is with what he says one year later!
P.S. A follower of Lella's blog cites another comment made by Carinal Cottier about Benedict XVI, this one on the occasion of his 80th birthday in 2007:
World-class in his use of the unparalleled word, master of catechesis, he is great because he does not impose, humble as only the greatest ones are, attentive and respectful of the opinion of others even if from the heights of his knowledge and culture, he can outclass anyone...
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 21/02/2012 23:17]