Fr Lombardi: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's new book
precious and urgent
(Vatican Radio) A new book of
interviews by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI hit bookshelves Friday in the Italian
language. The book entitled "The Last Conversations", by German
journalist Peter Seewald covers a number of themes including his decision to
resign.
Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi
is President of the Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI ) Foundation.
He spoke to Lydia O’Kane
about some of the key themes.
For Fr Lombardi there are two
very important aspects of this book. The first he says, is the witness Pope
Emeritus Benedict gives as he lives this last phase of his life. “The last time
of his life is preparation to (for) the encounter with God. This is a very
important witness, profound, spiritual; a witness of faith.”
Fr Lombardi goes on to say
that this theme “justifies this book”, because his explanation of “how he experiences
now the presence of God in his life is something that is precious and urgent…”
Theme of resignation
Another key theme says the
Ratzinger Foundation President, is “how he says again clearly and I think in a
definitive way the reasons of his renunciation (resignation), eliminating every
rumour, every false interpretation as consequence of the scandals of the
difficulties, “no”, he says no, “it was a time I (the Pope Emeritus) had
already overcome the difficulties and then there was the good time to take a
decision before God in total responsibility and this I have done and I am happy
of (with) this decision and I have not changed my mind.”"
Recalling other interesting
themes and points in the book, Fr Lombardi mentions Pope Benedict’s reflections
on his participation at the second Vatican Council, and his collaboration with
St John Paul II.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s
"The Last Conversations” is published worldwide in Italian September 9th
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