Pope's interview book
comes out on Nov. 24
Translated from the 10/8/10 issue of
Seewald interviews the Pope in Castel Gandolfo (taken 7/21). From the front page of tomorrow's OR, from a bad PDF image. Surprisingly, the picture was not posted as a regular jpg in the summary webpage.
At the Herder presentation in Frankfurt - both the dummies for LICHT DER WELT and GESU DI NAZARETH-2 on display. I am unable to bring out the book titles clearer in this photo enlarged from OR online.
There is great anticipation for Benedict XVI's interview book with Peter Seewald which will be published in German on November 24. Its full title is
LICHT DER WELT: Der Papst, die Kirche und die Zeichen der Zeit (Light of the world: The Pope, the Church and signs of the times).
This was announced today at the Frankfurt Book Fair in the presence of Seewald who previously published two interview books with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger:
Salz der Erde: Christentum und katholische Kirche an der Jahrtausendwende, 1996 (Salt of the earth: Christianity and the Catholic Church at the turn of the millennium), and
Gott und die Welt: Glauben und Leben in unserer Zeit, 2201 (God and the world: Faith and life in our time).
"I am still overwhelmed by the kindness and availability of the Pope", said Seewald, saying that like the first two times, before he became Pope, Benedict XVI did not shy away from any question.
"I believe", Seewald said, "that everyone will be surprised to find the Pope so accessible and open".
Seewald met newsmen at a forum hour arranged by his German publisher Herder and Libreria Editrice Vatican (LEV), the Vatican publishing house, to present the interview book and Benedict XVI's JESUS OF NAZARETH-Vol. 2.
Don Giuseppe Costa, director of LEV, said that Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI's writings are in great editorial demand around the world.
"There is an eagerness among the faithful for the messages of the Holy Father, and therefore, an interest by publishers worldwide to meet the demand". Fr. Costa said.
One consequence is the growing partnership between LEV and Herder. "We both share the historic responsibility of translating into products for the book market the words and writings of a Pope who employs language that is easy and immediate, synthesizing and clear".
On the Pope's decision to grant an interview to Seewald, Fr. Costa said "The simple fact that he agreed to do it means he appreciates the use of books as a communications tool".
He says the book will certainly stimulate new contemporary reflection on the Church.
Before having seen the text, 12 international publishing houses have already acquired rights to publish the book. including Ignatius Press for the United States and Bayard in France, which were represented at the session by Jesuit Fr. Joseph Fessio of Ignatius and Frederic Boyer of Bayard.
As for JESUS of NAZARETH, the first volume was a worldwide best-seller, with at least 3 million copies sold in 30 languages. A similar success is expected for Volume 2 to be published next spring.
On July 11, 2007, Benedict XVI said, addressing a diocesan convention at the Lateran Basilica: "For Christian education and formation, prayer and our personal friendship with Jesus are decisive: Only he who knows and loves Jesus can introduce others to a vital relationship with him. Urged by this need, I thought it would be useful to write a book that will help to know Jesus".
Unfortunately, the article does not say when the first translation of the Seewald book may be expected, presumably in Italian, as it will be published directly by LEV.
The centerpiece of the LEV booth in Frankfurt: Vol. 1 of Joseph Ratzinger's OPERA OMNIA (Collected Works) on the liturgy, which has just come out in Italian. Five books in the 16-volume series have already been published in German. [Thanks to Gloria for this photo.]
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 08/10/2010 01:10]