Page 17 - LOTN Spring Issue 52 2023

FAITH AND CULTURE

failings of the present age. Instead, Benedict, the faithful helped pave the way for.
and gentle teacher, offered the world a deep and profound Benedict faced tremendous challenges and difficulties
treatment of the essence of Christian love and he reflected during his life and, in the glare of the world’s media spotlight,
on what is distinctive in the Church’s practice of charity. as successor to the beloved Pope John Paul the Great. If
On a personal note, I remain immensely grateful for some commentators speak of errors or misjudgements
Benedict’s second encyclical, Spe Salvi: on Christian Hope made by Benedict after he became the Bishop of Rome,
(2007), with its penetrating reflections on faith, freedom, we remember the insight of Pope Francis in Gaudete et
progress, and the nature of authentic Christian hope. It Exsultate: on the Call to Holiness in Today’s World (2018):
is also clear to me that that author of Spe Salvi and its Not everything a saint says is completely faithful to
compassionate, realistic, and wise passages on death, the Gospel; not everything he or she does is authentic or
judgement and eternal life was as well-prepared as any perfect. What we need to contemplate is the totality of their
human being could be for the inevitable end of his mortal life, their entire journey of growth in holiness, the reflection
life. of Jesus Christ that emerges when we grasp their overall
Those of us who identify as social justice-orientated meaning as a person. (GE 22)
Catholics can recognise the contribution to Catholic Social Whether Benedict is ever formally canonised or not,
Teaching made by Benedict in his third encyclical, Caritas in when we look on ‘the totality of [his] life’, we surely discern
Veritate: on Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth the reflection of his beloved Lord, Jesus Christ, in whose
(2009). We can also recognise the use Pope Francis makes vineyard Joseph Ratzinger laboured so diligently as a
of Benedict’s writings in the environmental encyclical ‘humble worker’.
Laudato Si’: on Care for our Common Home (2015). Laudato May Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI rest in peace.
Si’ is a cornerstone of the Argentinian pope’s pontificate
and represents a major development of Church teaching, Kenneth Sadler is the Coordinator of St Mary’s Cathedral
but it is a development that Benedict, the first ‘green pope’, Justice and Peace Group

The Letter: a message for our earth to serve the poorest and care for creation.
In 2015, Pope Francis published Laudato Si’, a letter addressed

ope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in to “all people of good will.” Laudato Si’ explores today’s planetary
Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is the first pope from crisis in the light of ancient wisdom from Catholic teaching.
Pthe Americas. Dedicated to a humble lifestyle, he lives Pope Francis asks us to see that “everything is connected,” and to
in a simple apartment, cooks his own supper, and travels in “hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
a small car. He has often said, “My people are poor and I am 'The Letter' tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline
one of them.” leaders to discuss the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ with Pope
Pope Francis encourages us to protect this planet, our common Francis. The exclusive dialogue with the Pope, included in the
home, as a way to love one another and the Creator. He took his film, offers a revealing insight into the personal history of Pope
papal name from St Francis, who gave up family wealth in order Francis and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of
Rome.

theletterfilm.org/watch

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