In the preceding page, an Acton commentary on the mislabelling of Benedict XVI as 'the green Pope'.
The fractured wrist
brought us back
Ratzinger the man
Translated from
August 6, 2009
In Castel Gandolfo at his last Angelus remarks, the Pope referred once more to his 'small injury' to thank all the faithful "for the spiritual nearness which they have shown" since his accident.
One must admit that the broken wrist, as painful and inconvenient as it is, has had some value: to bring us back Benedict XVI as he truly is.
[Not necessary for Benaddicts who always see him as Benedict XVI-Joseph Ratzinger, Pope and man.]
We sort of needed this. In the past few months, between media criticisms and outright attacks, and more generally, in the way news about the Pope has been reported, the personality of Benedict XVI has been obscured.
Now, in a way, Benedict XVI as Joseph Ratzinger is back in the public eye.
The man who stumbled in the dark, hurt himself, and chose not to wake up anyone. Who wanted to be treated like any other patient at the hospital and waited his turn for his X-rays and for surgery.
Anonymous Patient 917 who apologized to the doctors for causing such an uproar. Who, upon leaving the hospital, assured the newsmen and the public, "I'm fine, thank you".
The Pope who blesses with his right forearm bound up in a cast. Who jokes about it in public.
"He has not lost his serenity and good spirits," Fr. Lombardi has repeatedly assured us.
And yet, the injury certainly caused him to miss out on some excursions during his holiday, and may have slowed down his timetable to complete Part 2 of JESUS OF NAZARETH.
But leave it to the Pope to see the injury as having a higher purpose: "Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me to be more patient and humble".
It could well be so. But I should think that the broken wrist has been even more helpful to us - who have been too mired in analyses and 'educated' criticisms - in reminding us how much Benedict XVI-Joseph Ratzinger, with his Christian humility and patience, is a supreme example for everyone.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 07/08/2009 14:39]