I don't know how much credence to give to this story in terms of what it says about an 'ambitiously massive universal publication' planned in one fell swoop. I understood from the original announcement from the Vatican that the German edition published by Herder and the Italian edition published by the Vatican would come out first, but that "copies in major languages, including English, will require a few months to be completed, given the time necessary for an accurate translation of such an important and long-awaited text".
'Absolute secrecy' about
the Pope's new book
by Lo Svizzero
Adapted and translated from
June 25, 2010
It is as if the old rules regarding the duty of absolute secrecy have been exhumed. Not a word has leaked from behind the Bronze Door about the contents of the most recent literary and theological undertaking of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI.
We know he has finished the work, the second volume of JESUS OF NAZARETH. The manuscript was delivered by his private secretary to the director of the Vatican publishing house himself, who would then turn it over to translators who would likewise be sworn to absolute secrecy.
Translation presents a major difficulty, because the Pope, understandably, wants to make sure that the translations faithfully reflect his original manuscript in German. Additionally, he is said to want the translation done in as many languages possible.
One gathers that it would be a sort of catechesis about Jesus for the third millennium. Little is known about how it would compare with Volume I (which covered the public ministry of Jesus).
[When Vol. 1 was published in 2007, the Pope said that Volume II would dwell on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, but also about his infancy, about which little has been written. However, at least two reports in the Italian media recently speculate that the Pope would write about the young Jesus in a third volume.]
Because of the translation difficulties and in view of the ambitious universal publication planned, it may not in fact come out until Easter of 2011, by some calculations.
Publication in such a 'massive' way of Benedict XVI's second Christologic work in the third millennium comes at a difficult time for the Church.
But Vatican sources are hopeful that the book could mark a turning point - one capable of working its own miracle of faith in a world inhabited by more and more people of little or no faith.
[Though these 'sources' are expressing hope not fact, such statements do not really go with 'absolute secrecy', do they?]
In a way, it is hoped that the book will constitute a great 'sign' awaited almost as much as the ancient world awaited miracles from the great hermits of their time.
Will Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI meet these expectations?
[I really find this kind of hype about the Pope's book completely unnecessary and disconcerting! He will manage to surprise everyone, as usual. So let's sit back and wait for it!]
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 26/06/2010 01:11]