Pope Benedict XVI: Encyclicals & Other Works

With his first encyclical,Pope Benedict XVI describes the essential place of love in the life of the Church and links the Church's charitable work with the love of God as Trinity,noting that the Church must express love through acts of justice and charity.

In his encyclical "On Christian Hope",Pope Benedict XVI shows that faith in Christ brings well-founded hope in eternal salvation and helps sustain people through the trials of this world.

"Caritas in veritae" is the principle around which the Church's social doctrine turns,a principle that takes on practical form in the criteria that govern moral action.I would like to consider two of these in particular,of special rlevance to the commitment to development in an increasingly globalized society:justice and the common good.

In response to Benedict XVI's first encyclical, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies and Marriage and Family reflects, together with the Holy Father, on love. From the very beginning, the fundamental work of the Institute has been pursuing a deeper understanding of God's plan for marriage and family. In these twenty-five years various generations of students and professors, following the legacy of John Paul II, have been able to discover and communicate the beauty of the vocation for which all men have been created: the call to love. Twenty-six professors from the Institute's various sessions express what in their understanding are the main themes of the document, approaching the topics raised by the Holy Father with different theological and philosophical perspectives; by so doing they have highlighted the significance and fecundity of the lines of thought suggested by the Pope. This book is offered as a path towards a fuller understanding of the profundity and richness of the love with which God fills us and wants us to communicate in our turn.

An outstanding collection of stellar scholars here takes the study of Catholic social teaching far past the standard parameters. They join social analysis and natural law with theology and spirituality, yet expose dangers in giving love priority over justice. They confront new complexities of global governance and economics, both challenging and expanding the received ideal (still operative in Benedict XVI) of sovereign states cooperating for the common good under the unified authority of the U.N. The analyses are interdisciplinary, international, and representative of the Catholic right, left, and middle. The productive friction that results yields a glimmer of hope that the faith-based efforts of Christian intellectuals, leaders, and activists can help shape a world order that is more participatory, reciprocal, and just.

This is a major work on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, by a highly regarded German theologian, priest and writer. Since his election to the Papacy, Ratzinger's theology,and in particular his ecclesiology (theology of the Church), has been in the limelight of theological and ecumenical discussions. This important work studies in detail Ratzinger's ecclesiology in the light of Vatican II, against the ongoing debate about what Vatican II really says about the life of the Church, its liturgy, its worship, its doctrine, its pastoral mission, and more. Has his theology of the Church changed since Vatican II, or has it continued to develop consistently? Is the Catholic Church one church among many churches? Is she the object of hope or a historical reality? Ratzinger the theologian figures centrally in this investigation, not as the former Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,but as a thinker and as a writer.

During his six-day apostolic visit to Washington and New York, Pope Benedict addressed millions of people--in person or via the media. He gave some fifteen major addresses, ranging from his remarks to the President of the United States, to his address to ecumenical leaders at St. Joseph Parish in New York, from his speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations, to his message to the Jewish community celebrating the feast of Passover. In all of his addresses, Benedict spoke as the Vicar of Christ, with the message of divine truth and love, of genuine faith and a well-founded, Christ-centered hope. This book contains all of Benedict's major addresses in a handy slim size deluxe hardcover edition perfect for use to study and reflect on the Pope's profound and insightful words on a variety of important spiritual, moral and social issues.

Christ Our Hope is a complete set of Pope Benedict XVI's addresses, speeches, and homilies given in Washington, DC, and New York, from April 15 to April 20, 2008. This collection offers the opportunity to read and reflect upon the message of hope that the Holy Father proclaimed during this historic,second transcontinental journey of his pontificate.

Presented at the 10th Workshop for Bishops February 1991-Dallas,Texas.

In these previously unpublished texts, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a scholar of international repute, leads the reader into the heart of the Christian faith and its central mystery. Cardinal Ratzinger compellingly shows us the biblical, historical, and theological dimensions of the Eucharist. The Cardinal draws far-reaching conclusions, focusing on the importance of one's personal devotion to and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, for the personal reception of Communion by the individual Christian, as well as for the life of the Church. For Ratzinger, the drive toward any transformation of the world on the social plane also grows out of the celebration of the Eucharist. He beautifully illustrates how the omnipotent God and Creator comes intimately close to us in the Holy Eucharist, the Heart of Life.

The celebration of the Eucharist, in which Jesus Christ becomes present, is the center of the Catholic faith. This volume brings together substantive texts of the Holy Father on the many aspects and dimensions of the Mass and the Mystery of the Eucharist, a rich source for every Christian and a spur to reflection and personal prayer. Delivered in addresses and homilies to a wide variety of audiences, these reflections reveal the depth and breadth of Pope Benedict XVI's profound and life-long lover for the Holy Eucharist.

This collection of quotations from Pope Benedict XVI's homilies and sermons during the early months of his pontificate is offered to readers free of charge by Roman Catholic Books just as his words were offered to the faithful by the Holy Father himself freely,with the hope that the faith and spiritual lives of readers will be enhanced.

What we previously knew only in theory has become for us a practical experience: the Church stands and falls with the Liturgy. When the adoration of the divine Trinity declines, when the faith no longer appears in its fullness in the Liturgy of the Church, when man's words, his thoughts, his intentions are suffocating him, then faith will have lost the place where it is expressed and where it dwells. For that reason, the true celebration of the Sacred Liturgy is the centre of any renewal of the Church whatever. But how, today, at the beginning of the third millennium, do we achieve "the true celebration of the Liturgy"? These are the issues that were discussed in the presence of Cardinal Ratzinger at the conference held at the Abbey of Notre Dame at Fontgombault from July 22-24 2001. This volume makes available in English translation the papers from that conference - papers which inform and challenge, and which make a significant contribution to the consideration of the question of the Liturgy in our day.

Fr. Vincent Twomey, a former doctoral student of Joseph Ratzinger, and a long time friend of the Pope's, felt the need to respond to the common question he read and heard often after Ratzinger's papal election, "What kind of person is the new Pope?" So often Twomey had read in the past false depictions of both the man, and his thought and writings, especially the image presented by the media as a grim, hard-line, enforcer, "panzer Cardinal", etc. Twomey offers here a unique double-presentation of the man, Pope Benedict XVI -- a "theological portrait" that encompasses both an overview of the writings, teachings and thought of the brilliant theologian and spiritual writer, as well as the man himself, and his personality traits and how he communicates with others.

"From Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI" brings together the writings of Catholic News Service journalists-who spend their lives covering the Catholic Church-with the reflections of seven U.S.cardinals who cast their votes in the papal election,full-color photos by award-winning photographer Nancy Wiechec,and essential charts and timelines that complement the text.It also features reflections by Sister Mary Ann Walsh-the award winning editor of the best-selling "John Paul II : A Light for the World" and a frequent commentator throughout the papal transition.

This is not simply a book to satisfy curiosity about a "celebrity",though it certainly will do that.It is a beautiful portrait of Catholic family life and,in the most literal sense, of enduring fraternal charity.Georg has a talent for telling a story,and the co-author,Michael Hesemann.Many photographs,both in black and white and in color,round out a thoroughly enjoyable and inspirational book.

Few persons of the theological stature of Joseph Ratzinger — and with such a developed corpus of theological works — have been elected Pope. There is no question that his pontificate will be extremely influential for the Roman Catholic Church and the world. But the question is In what ways? / This volume, published on the fourth anniversary of Benedict's election as Pope, offers considered insights into that key question. William Rusch has pulled together an ecumenical gathering of viewpoints — Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Reformed, and Roman Catholic. Coming from this spectrum of Christian traditions, the authors examine how the life experiences and theological reflections of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger will likely influence the pontificate of Benedict XVI.

Essays by the staff of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explore key themes of Benedict's papacy,including his work on environmental issues,his efforts toward peace in the Middle East,and his response to papal abuse in the United States and Europe.Reflections from church leaders reveal Benedict's profoundly human side.The book also features excerpts from Benedict's own writings and an essential resource section.

Presents an assortment of quotations, arranged alphabetically, that illumine the Pope's thoughts on such topics as atheism, baptism, the Eucharist, love, reason, terrorism, and worship.

"Pope Benedict XVI:An Introduction to His Theological Vision " is a timely,concise,ans insightful overview of Benedict's theological vision-most notably his Eucharistic,ecclesiology,his theology of liturgy,his Christology, and his relentless refusal to reduce Sacred Scripture to mere history or literature.It is a critical examination of his theological vision,but one offered with great respect.

No one can tell the story of exactly what took place during the closed doors meeting, known as the conclave, when Cardinals from around the world cast their votes for the next pope, better than John L. Allen, Jr. As a correspondent for National Catholic Reporter and a Vatican analyst for CNN and National Public Radio, Allen has spent years covering Vatican politics and personalities, and his unique access to Roman halls of power has enabled him to write the ultimate behind-the-scenes account of the election of Pope Benedict XVI. The Rise of Benedict XVI is based on extensive research and exclusive interviews with eight cardinals representing five nationalities, guaranteeing readers an intimate glimpse into this monumental decision.

"This guide introduces students of theology to the theoretical axes upon which the theology of Benedict XVI revolves. It begins with a presentation of the key ideas in the works of his intellectual antecedents and contemporary interlocutors and then moves to an account of Benedict's responses to a number of theological crises."--Page 4 of cover.

Addresses given by Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the Holy Land from May 8-15, 2009.

In "God's New Man",Paul Collins,a leading commentator on religious affairs, investigates who Joseph Ratzinger is and how he became Pope Benedict XVI.He also analyses the legacy of John Paul II's uncompromising and absolutist style, and sketches the challenges the new Pope must confront if he is to unite and heal the Catholic Church.