Maybe the editors at TEMPI share kindred minds with Luca Volonte at Libero, who, moreover, does not overlook Benedict XVI's constant and explicit encouragement for Catholic laymen to bear witness to the faith in engaged political activity.
What's behind Benedict XVI's words
by LUCA VOLONTE
Translated from
Sept. 9, 2009
Let us return to the positive, because after a summer heavy with polemics, something positive has emerged.
The statements, and above all, the serene atmosphere between the Vatican and the Italian government was 'photographed' in the encounter in Viterbo between His Holiness and Gianni Letta, chief aide to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
All the Italian newspapers had to write Monday about the 'almost affectionate' meeting - which, even if it does not chase away all the possible clouds between the Italian bishops conference (CEI) and the Prime Minister over the Boffo case, nor rule out any eventual effects on relations between the two states - is positive, very positive for both the Vatican and for all Italian citizens, not just Catholics.
The other significant point for reflection - and a fundamental pendant of the 'catecheses' which Benedict XVI has been directing towards pour oliticians - is his well-articulated interventions about the role of lay Catholics in political activity.
Just a year ago, on his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, Papa Ratzinger urged Catholic politicians to follow a moral life, acquire strong competence in their chosen field and dedicate themselves to the common good.
[He also had a similar message during his pastoral visit to Cagliari, Sardinia, last year.]
In the past year, the Pontiff has had occasion to underscore similar reflections. As he did in Viterbo last Sunday. With the same breadth of scope and in the spirit of the motto 'repetita iuvant' (repetition helps!), the Pope reaffirmed with his characteristic clarity and firmness that:
"The seasons of history follow each other, social contexts change, but what will not change nor ever go out of fashion is the calling of Christians to live the Gospel in solidarity with the human family, in step with the times".
One can be sure that even without making an explicit reference, the Pope wanted his invitation understood to look back at the many riches of gifts and criteria of action in his recent
Caritas in Veritate, which appears to have been 'archived' in oblivion too soon by the media in their preoccupation with international conferences and the day-to-day politics of Italy.
"To live the Gospel in solidarity with the human family", as the Pope proposed, goes well beyond mere 'private' witness of his faith by the individual, and even beyond the public and stentorian witness exhibited by Catholic politicians during public debates over non-negotiable principles.
The Pope asks for more. He asks that belonging to the Church and attraction to Christ may change the lives of individual Catholics to the point that each one realizes he must "live the Gospel in solidarity with the human family" - which means everyone, including non-believers.
This, said the Pope, is "the heart of social commitment, this is the service to be rendered in political activity, towards integral human development".
Thus, the particular competence necessary for political activity, in a life that adheres to the Gospel, but even that is not enough. According to the Pope, Catholics need a sense of mission and the consequent openness that comes with it - a life in solidarity with others.
Even his later reference to St. Bonaventure as he who pushed back his concerns for temporal realities in order to attend to the spiritual needs of souls fits into his blueprint for Catholics in political life:
What interests the Pope and the Church is the Gospel and the encounter with Jesus Christ, not polemic. And this gave rise to the many positive elements in the Pope's visit to Viterbo. This is the reason for that 'almsot affectionate' encounter with Ginani Letta, who runs the administration of the Prime Minister's cabinet.
Let us leave the professional conspirators and well-known malicious tongues to invent all sorts of bargains and under-the-table dealings between the government and the Apostolic Palace on the proposed legislation on biological wills and on the 0.008% share that the Church in Italy gets from annual tax revenues.
Such minds make their own pettiness the standard by which the world should live. Too much arrogance there. Much like the retired cardinal who seems to have decided he will confide his own death into the hands of Dr. Marino-'mariolo' [scoundrel] (aspirant to the leadership of the Partito Democrata) rather than to God!
My, my, my! Better to be in the demanding but exciting company of Benedict XVI who offers so much more!
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 10/09/2009 06:45]