Archbishop Lackner: In the writings of Benedict XVI. “a great source of guidance and confidence” – Cardinal Schönborn: “Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI was and is a gift to the Church and theology”
Salzburg/Vienna (KAP) – The bishops of Austria congratulate Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. for his 95th birthday, which he celebrates on April 16th. The Archbishop of Salzburg and President of the Austrian Episcopal Conference, Franz Lackner, sent the Pope a personal letter of congratulations. Excerpts from it have been published in the current issue of the Salzburg Rupertusblatt. Archbishop Lackner wrote to the jubilee thanking the Almighty for giving this time and this world “an admirable, sincere and devoted worker in his vineyard” for so many decades.
As before, according to Lackner, he finds it mainly in the writings of Benedict XVI. “a great source of guidance and confidence”. And he adds that Salzburg – the city Joseph Ratzinger often visited – remains linked to the Pope Emeritus.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn also sent his best birthday wishes for the jubilee. “Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI was and is a gift to the Church and theology,” Schönborn said in a statement to Kathpress on Thursday: his humble spirit, his personal modesty and his subtle sense of humor.” with Pope Benedikt XVI grateful for the recent visit of a Pope to the country “His 95th birthday is an appropriate occasion to wish him all the best and God’s blessings”, says Schönborn.
Kapellari appreciates theological work
Former Bishop of Graz, Egon Kapellari, recalled the important theological work of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI. to remember. In an interview with Kathpress, Kapellari described the jubilee as a “theologian of the century and an unmistakable personality”. According to Kapellari, who wrote the preface to this book, Ratzinger’s theological work continues to inspire, as shown, for example, by the recent publication by the Slovenian theologian Anton Strukelj entitled “Beauty and Holiness”.
For Kapellari, associated with the jubilee for decades, the visit of Benedict XVI. on September 8, 2007 for Mariazell’s 850th birthday “a highlight”. The Pope Emeritus was and will continue to be “a great Christian and teacher in the midst of the Church and of all humanity”.
Birthday at the monastery “Mater ecclesiae”
The Pope Emeritus will spend his birthday at his domicile, the “Mater Ecclesiae” monastery in the Vatican. Born April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Joseph Ratzinger was the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from April 19, 2005 until his resignation on February 28, 2013. Prior to that, Joseph Ratzinger was prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Vatican Faith for over 23 years and Archbishop of Munich-Freising from 1977 to 1982. Pope Francis has his predecessor Benedict XVI. made an early birthday visit on Wednesday.
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