From what I've seen of BILD online - it always features their very graphic front page - this German daily tabloid is as tawdry, sensation-seeking and scandal-driven as most 'tabloids' are. But since its now iconic WIR SIND PAPST headline on April 20, 2005, to introduce Benedict XVI, urbi et orbi, as it were, it has provided steady coverage of the Pope, not on a daily basis, but on all important occasions and during his trips abroad. The coverages I have seen are always respectful and never critical.
I have not had a chance to see how it has reported the current feeding frenzy, but I don't think any other German secular publication has thought of devoting special attention to the fifth anniversary of Benedict XVI's Pontificate, so I am grateful to them for that.
The interview with Mons. Gaenswein is actually Part 2 of the series, but I have translated it first.
'A gentle Pope, but
rock-firm in what he does'
Interview by Sarah Majorcyzk
Translated from
April 13, 2010
Five years ago, a German was elected to be the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates five years in office next April 19. BILD visited the Pope in Castel Gandolfo and at the Vatican, for a special series to mark the occasion. In this article, BILD interviews the Pope's private secretary, Mons. Georg Gaenswein, 53.
Left, from the North balcony of the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo, one can see Rome 25 miles away;
right, Mons. Georg looks towards the Mediterranean, which can be seen from Castel Gandolfo.
Mons. Gaenswein, you have been with the Holy Father almost every day for the past five years. What do you consider the most beautiful moment on your part?
There is a chain of beautiful moments. I especially remember the images from the beginning: the election in the Sistine Chapel and what followed, moving into the Apostolic Palace, the first audiences and trips. So many unforgettable things. And daily, there are beautiful moments.
Are there difficult times as well?
Of course. For me personally, it was a great challenge at the start.
The mass of letters, questions, requests for audience,. invitations, etc. was daunting. It seemed like the whole world was knocking at the door, and I asked myself, how can I cope with this? What should I follow up, what not? I felt like I was in the shower in a cloud of steam and could not find the knob to turn off the water. Then I regained my inner peace, and that is what keeps me going.
Has the Holy Father successfully carried out what he set out to do?
A Pope cannot step in with a prepared program of government to work from. He is, above all, a witness to the faith, the latest in the line of Successors to Peter, and he has his mission set for him. The Pope clearly spelled out that task in his homily at his inanugral Mass: it is about God, about faith in Jesus Christ, about the Church, about man. Faith, hope, charity - the pillars of his Magisterium. That he who believes in Christ is never alone.
The trinity of theological values are like a red thread in everything he has done in the past five years. Therefore, he does not let himself be irritated by any intimidation or criticisms.
Is there a moment that you would consider a defeat?
I would not call it defeat but disappointments. There are such moments, especially when the decisions and statements of the Holy Father are wrongly reported or deliberately distorted. Those times are deeply disappointing and make me feel really bad.
I am thinking for instance about the Williamson case, after the Pope had lifted the excommunication of the four Lefebvrian bishops. It tunrs out one of them was a Holocaust-denier, but that had nothing to do with his excommunication and lifting it. It was an unfortunate coincidence. But the Holy Father's good intention was not only misunderstood - it was completely misrepresented and the occasion was instrumentalized to be used against him.
Is the Holy Father aware of the criticisms in Germany that he has been silent on actual cases of sexual abuse by priests? ['aktuellen'= 'now', 'current'] [In fact, none of the cases from Germany are new - only that many of them have been uncovered for the first time.]
Criticism when it actually helps is always right. I doubt, however, that the critics in this case have really had this intention. One thing is definite: Every single case of sexual abuse is monstrous and must be condemned. No one has made that more clear than the Holy Father and the Catholic Church. Not just recently, and not just in words!
Benedict XVI has met with some victims in America and in Australia. The recent letter of the Pope to the Catholics of Ireland has stated his position on this issue very clearly, in a way that has never been done before
It does not make sense nor does it help that the Holy Father should say something himself about every case. It is too easily overlooked that in these cases, individual bishops and their bishops' conferences also bear responsibility. There are clear jurisdictions that must be taken into account and respected.
Anyone who wants to hear what the Pope has to say [on this issue] should read his detailed pastoral leter to the Irish very attentively.
In Germany, the number of Catholics has been decreasing since the 1970s. Does this bother the Holy Father or must he have an overview of all countries as Pastor of the Universal Church?
Of course, what happens in Germany concerns him, especially in Bavaria. Good or bad. But he is concerned about the present crisis of faith everywhere. On the other hand, he cannot overlook that there are good things happening, that even in Germany, faith still flourishes and grows.
As head of the Church, he meets almost daily with bishops from different countries who report to him what is taking place in their dioceses, and thank God, he does hear many positive things from them.
The bishops from Africa, especially, tell him how the faith is truly flourishing and that there are so many vocations for the priesthood and the religious life. To hear that is very soul-satisfying.
The Holy Father once said that he felt his election as Pope like a guillotine... How does he find his responsibilities?
The guillotine is a very strong image. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, had a mainly defensive task - he had to defend and protect the faith, and often had to take hot coals out of the fire.
But as Pope, he has many more possibilities to be proactive. The Holy Father is an excellent teacher, he has the gift of words, he loves to write. He speaks clearly and is easily understood. He is able to fill the heart with his words.
If you had to name three qualities that you treasure most about the Pope, what would they be?
His unsakeable faith, his humble firmness, and his disarming gentleness. His manner is always gentle but ghe is rock-solid in what he does.
You work closely together - do you ever find yourself irritated?
Close collaboration does not lead to bad humor - on the contrary, it helps keep it away. Of course there are moments when the Pope needs a break because of some external reasons. In that case, I try to give him the opportunity to take a breath, as it were, and to keep out any external pressures while he does that.
But I must point out that neither as cardinal nor now as Pope, I have never seen him in a bad mood. In dealing with anyone, he is always very accommodating and kind.
BILD's iconic headline, and the new picture book from Herder to mark the first 5 years of the Benedictine Pontificate.
The book title is BENEDICT XVI, URBI ET ORBI, subtitled 'With the Pope on the go in Rome and in the world', edited by Georg Gaenswein.
His Holiness with 'his' cows, in the Castel Gandolfo dairy.
The Pope arrives at the Vatican heliport for the GA last Wednesday, April 7.
He greets the BILD team afterwards in St. Peter's Square.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 14/04/2010 05:14]