Five years of Benedict XVI
by Georg Gänswein
Translated from
the 4/21/10 issue of
Editor's Note: Benedetto XVI urbi et orbi: Con il Papa a Roma e per le vie del mondo [Benedict XVI urbi et orbi: With the Pope in Rome and in the world] is the title of the book edited by the Pope's private secretary for the fifth anniversary of Benedictine XVI's Pontificate. It was published in German by Herder and in Italian by the Vatican publishing house. Here is a substantial excerpt from the Introduction.
"Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature" (mk 16,15).
Faithful to this command of the Lord, the Successor of St. Peter goes on the road to bring 'the word of eternal life' (Jn 6,68) to the extreme ends of the earth.
Every trip, every encounter that the Pope makes has a very precise purpose: 'to confirm in the faith' (cfr Lk 22,32) his brothers and sisters.
But at the same time, each visit has its own character, possesses a specific dynamic and an unmistakable color.
Men and women of every nation and continent, from all kinds of origins, skin color or education, seek closeness - including and especially physical closeness - to the Successor of Peter. And I can confirm that. as witness to the encounters and the travels that Benedict XVI has had so far.
Day after day, numberless persons undertake a trip to get to the Eternal City, in order to 'meet' the Holy Father, to see him, to listen to him, so they can pray with him, and celebrate the mysteries of the faith with him.
They want to follow his footsteps but also to be placed on the right path by him.
But the converse is equally true: the Successor of Peter goes out into the world, to all men of goodwill, in order to perceive what is the right way to reach them all.
His message is as simple as it is profound:
Faith is not a problem to resolve. It is a gift that must constantly be rediscovered. Faith gives joy and completion. Faith has a human face: Jesus Christ. In him, the hidden God has become visible, tangible. God in his incommensurable greatness offers himself to us in his Son.
For the Holy Father, it is urgent to announce God-become-man urbi et orbi, to the city and to the world, to children and grown men, to those who have power and those who don't, within the Church and out of it, to those who will listen and those who won't.
But even if all the TV cameras may be pointed at the Pope, it is not about him. The Holy Father does not place himself in the center, he does not announce himself - he announces Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the world.
Whoever lives at peace with God, whoever allows himself to be reconciled to him, find peace for himself and with his neighbor, and with all Creation that surrounds him.
Faith helps us to live, faith gives us joy, faith is a gift: this is the deepest conviction of the Holy Father.
For Pope Benedict XVI, it is a sacred duty to lay down the signs that point to this gift. In words and images, this book is testimony to that duty.