An excellent companion piece to LOTW is the USCCB's beautifully-conceived book on the first five years of Benedict XVI's Papacy, which offers a generous revealing sampler of how others see him in essays and word portraits, as well as in photographs. The new site dedicated to it facilitates ordering it at a pre-Christmas price.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
launches website for new book
www.popebenedictbook.com
Dec. 1, 2010
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops launched today an extensive new website dedicated to the new book
Benedict XVI: Essays and Reflections on His Papacy, which was published this fall by the USCCB in conjunction with Sheed & Ward, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
The new website offers a full-color tour of the new book, with a photo gallery, excerpts from the essays and a selection of the personal reflections featured in the book, and Q&As with several of the contributors.
Video clips of Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York add lively reflections from three of the book's contributors. Visitors to the site can click to purchase the book from a variety of retailers.
The website gives a sense of the unprecedented look into the first five years of Benedict’s reign. The book, edited by Sister Mary Ann Walsh, RSM, features forewords by King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Shimon Peres of Israel, and includes introductory material from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Francis George, OMI, and John Thavis, Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service.
“With brief essays on various themes of this papacy, the book serves as ‘Cliff Notes’ for understanding Pope Benedict XVI,” says Sister Walsh.
The book has been praised by reviewers, including Michael Sean Winters of National Catholic Reporter Online, who called it “a splendid book...brings the human face of our faith, in the person of the Pope, closer to us.” Library Journal called the book
“ beautifully illustrated and skillfully edited work.”
Elegantly designed and produced, the book includes more than 100 full-color photographs. Images range from formal public appearances and meetings with leaders and lay Catholics around the globe, to quiet moments of personal study or contemplation.
Meanwhile, let me post five of the brief essays online that come under the heading UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. These are anecdotes we have not heard before. All of them will bring you to tears.
Still witnessing at the empty tomb
by
Cardinal John Foley
Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
After he appointed me Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Pope Benedict XVI kindly invited me to accompany him during his visit to the Holy Land.
For me, a very memorable moment was when he faced the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre and he said that, like St. Peter, he was looking at the empty tomb and giving witness to the Resurrection of Jesus.
He also thanked our Order of the Holy Sepulchre for all that the members have done for the Christians in the Holy Land.
The most touching moment of the trip, however, was — in the quiet of Mount Calvary — seeing the Holy Father kneeling in silent prayer for almost 15 minutes at the spot where Jesus died and from which he was taken to his tomb just a few yards away.
It is said that one of the most powerful arguments for religion is a strong man on his knees — and the Pope kneeling in silent prayer at the place of the Crucifixion of Jesus is in itself a powerful sermon.
He wanted to be there
by
Helen Osman
Secretary for Communications, USCCB
I could not sit or stand still on the grandstands at Andrews Air Force Base on April 15, 2008. The Pope was due to arrive at any minute. I probably hadn’t slept more than three hours a night for weeks, as we crammed what was usually 18 months of preparation for a papal visit into less than six months.
Now the plane was on the ground, and we were waiting for the door to open. The buzz and anticipation among the crowd were palpable. Then someone appeared at the doorway.
A somewhat small, white-robed figure literally bounded down the steps. He was obviously delighted, excited, waving at the crowds, who were wildly cheering.
It’s like a grandfather coming to see his family, I thought. Forget the “Rottweiler” image, folks.
And I knew, no matter what snags we might have in the days ahead, the rest of the visit would be wonderful.
He wanted to be here. We wanted him to be here. It would be a great family reunion.
A father with his children
by
Cardinal Francis George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago
During Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States, every moment was programmed, every event scheduled, every person instructed so that everything came together as planned and as necessary.
Watching the visit unfold hour by hour within the net of security and the prescriptions of the Pope’s staff was fascinating; but even more fascinating was watching the Pope as he broke out, at odd moments, to respond to those who had come to see him.
He responded with unexpected spontaneity to the seminarians and young religious at Dunwoodie Seminary in New York.
He responded with quiet tenderness to the disabled children and their parents and caregivers in the seminary chapel, taking time to be personally present to each person in ways that he or she might be able to grasp.
Early on in his visit, he responded with good humor to the children who had come to greet him as he left the Apostolic Nunciature to begin the day’s program.
Children from the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Washington had gathered outside the Nunciature to greet the Pope as he began his visit. He would not have time to come to any school, so they came to him. It was his birthday, and they sang “Happy Birthday” in German!
The Pope stopped as he came down the stairs and looked at the children, mostly African American and Hispanic. Then he went to them and greeted them, telling them how exact their German pronunciation was.
He left his entourage waiting until he had greeted them all, a father with his children, each going out of his or her way to honor the other.
Healing compassion
by
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley
Archbishop of Boston
Prior to Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States in 2008, much discussion took place about whether or not the Holy Father would address the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Once the Pope arrived, his words and actions made clear that he would not avoid this painful reality.
In the midst of Pope Benedict’s second day in Washington, two of my colleagues from the Archdiocese of Boston and five survivors of clergy sexual abuse gathered in the chapel at the Vatican embassy for what turned out to be a historic and pivotal meeting with the Pope.
We spoke with the Holy Father about the impact of the abuse crisis and heard his message of hope and reconciliation. For many Catholics in the United States, and members of the wider community, this meeting was the high point of the papal visit and one of the Holy Father’s most important actions.
During our very prayerful and emotional encounter with the Holy Father, we were blessed with an extraordinary opportunity to witness Pope Benedict not only as the leader of our Church, but as our pastor.
The Holy Father took care to address each person individually and provided the survivors the time to speak freely. It was evident that at times they shared their painful experiences in a whisper. The Holy Father listened intently, often clasping the survivors’ hands, and responded tenderly and reassuringly.
One of the survivors, unable to find words, conveyed her heartache through tears that spoke volumes with her sounds of sorrow. Though we would not hear the Pope’s private conversation with the woman, by observing her moving from tears to a calmed, smiling expression, we knew that the Pope had gently comforted her.
Later that day, she shared with us that the Holy Father had offered his congratulations on learning that she would soon be married. In doing so, the Holy Father helped her to experience a healing moment and to see a future that would hold the promise of renewed hope and joy.
Concern for the flock
by
Mons. Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans
Each time I have met Pope Benedict I find him most personable, and he has extremely effective eye contact. His humility has impressed me as he always asks for prayers in order that he may carry out his ministry effectively.
Most recently, I had the opportunity to meet him the day after receiving the pallium for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. I went up to him and said, “Holy Father, I bring you the affection and the respect of the people of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.”
Quickly, he said, “What is the situation there? Is the rebuilding continuing?” I answered his question and then he said, “Please assure them of my prayers.”
Obviously, he is a man of compassion and humility. As the Successor of Peter, he remembers many things that happen in various local churches and expresses that concern.
Bringing him a piece of home
by
Mons. Robert J. Carlson
Archbishop of St. Louis
I have had the privilege of meeting His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on three different occasions — at the Pallium Mass in 2009, a general audience in October 2008, and a private meeting in the spring of 2006.
It was then that I had just finished a pilgrimage from Germany to Poland, and among the places visited was the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI in Marktl Am Inn, Germany.
Stopping in Rome on the way back to the United States, I had the opportunity to meet with the Holy Father; but, because the meeting was not planned, I had nothing to give him.
Looking through my luggage, I noticed a small booklet, bearing an official stamp, from the parish where he was baptized.
It was immediately obvious he was not familiar with some of the pictures, and a tender moment occurred as his eyes captured that precious time in his life.
It is that same joy and tenderness that he shares with you each time he meets you in crowds large and small.
