Pope Emeritus Returns to the Vatican on Thursday: The Pending Encyclical on Faith

Ratzinger (with his books) back in the Vatican. Bergoglio has his encyclical for a month.

April 30, 2013

REPUBBLICA (Paolo Rodari)  

Only a few hours to the return of Benedict XVI at the Vatican. From the time Pope Emeritus sets foot in his new quarters, the monastery Mater Ecclesiae, the unprecedented "cohabitation" with his successor Pope Francis will begin within the leonine walls.

Will the two meet? Will Bergoglio, when he feels the need, leave the residence of Santa Marta to go to the other side of the Vatican gardens to find his predecessor? Difficult to answer. What is certain is that a degree of collaboration between the two has already begun, at least on a theological level.

In fact, as Ratzinger wrote his first encyclical, the "Deus caritas est" in Christmas 2005, reshaping a text he was working on from his predecessor John Paul II.  Likewise Pope Francis could soon release for the press- it is rumored by next fall - his first encyclical letter, acting on a draft dedicated the theme of faith that Benedict XVI gave him during their last meeting in Castel Gandolfo on March 23. If the publication is made, it could be the beginning of a collaboration, albeit discreet, on other issues. Ratzinger, in fact, enters Mater Ecclesiae along with most of his books - others will remain in the secret archives- for which a large study has been created, and even if he does not dedicate himself to writing, he will be well equipped to give theological advice to his successor.

The "Ratzinger draft" of this new encyclical, a text of about 30-40 folio, had a rapid origin. Last October, Pope Benedict XVI, opening the  year dedicated to the faith, asked the doctrinal office, the former Holy Office, to work on a first draft that had the central theme of faith in the light of his own works in this regard, not only the papal texts but also books, above all the 1968 volume "Introduction to Christianity".

The Vatican theologians, after a few weeks, sent a text that he sent back asking for further work.The second draft was given to him about a month before the announcement of the renunciation of the throne of Peter. He kept it with him, and then deliver it to Bergoglio - evidently satisfied with the work of the Vatican theologians- telling him to decide what to do with it. They say over the Tiber: "The text is complete. It was not written in his own hand by Ratzinger but it is thoroughly Ranzingerian. Doctrinally it is impeccable and well done. "

Faith was the main theme of Pope Ratzinger Papacy. It was no coincidence that the name he wanted to gieve his third visit to Germany in 2011 was "Where God is, there is the future". The pontificate aim was the effort to bring men back to God.  But the challenge was also about and is also about the Church, in the knowledge repeatedly made clear that the deep crisis of the Church today "is a crisis of faith." It is above all the Church to have lost her bearings, almost no longer knowing the ABCs of faith. Hence a year dedicated to the topic. Hence an encyclical now in the hands of Bergoglio that after his revision, he might make public.