21st April, 2005

DENIS J. HART

Archbishop of Melbourne

Melbourne awoke yesterday morning to the news that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had been elected as the 264th successor of Saint Peter and chose the name Benedict.

It is difficult to imagine a man better prepared. He will lead the world’s billion Catholics.

Joseph Ratzinger was born in Bavaria on 16th April, 1927, and, grew up in Nazi Germany, being ordained a priest in 1951. His theological gifts and abilities as a teacher were already recognised. During the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) the young theologian was a peritus (consultant) to Cardinal Frings of Cologne.

During the council he demonstrated his ability as a theologian. From that time his long friendship with Pope John Paul II (who was a bishop at the council) began.

In March 1977 he was named Archbishop of Munich and in June of the same year, a cardinal. However, in November 1981 Pope John Paul II called him to Rome as Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine and Chairman of the International Theological Commission.

Ratzinger, who had shared in the Vatican Council, a gifted theologian, a teacher and the author of many books, is uniquely skilled to communicate the faith. He has an uncanny ability to express profound truths with simplicity.

His personal manner is sincere, unassuming. He is a profoundly spiritual, prayerful person. He has guided many tourists in Saint Peter’s Square, who were unaware to whom they were speaking. In company he is urbane and polite, and a gifted musician. He has found music as a constant recreation.

Cardinal Ratzinger recognised the danger of the downplaying of Christ. He sought to express clearly and unequivocally the traditional teachings of Christianity as a mustard seed, carrying the capacity to be true to itself and to grow. This “being true” is the basis of his insistence on orthodox doctrine as the foundation of faith.

Among his many books, the 1986 The Ratzinger Report addressed the state of the Church in a long interview with Vittorio Messori. With unerring accuracy he outlined the challenges facing the Church in rediscovering the teaching of the Vatican Council and the need to proclaim Christ with new vigour. Joseph Ratzinger is universally recognised as one of the pre-eminent Catholic intellectuals of our time. At his first appearance on the balcony of Saint Peter’s his description of himself as “a simple, humble servant in the vineyard of the Lord” is an important indication of his total dedication to his awesome office and his deep faith in Christ.

The previous Benedict XV (1914-1922) was a Pope who sought to be a figure of unity and reconciliation drawing people together. His choice of the name Benedict also suggests that he seeks to embrace the whole Catholic tradition of prayer, study and two thousand years of theological reflection and teaching. He can be expected to emphasise the dignity of the human person and the principles, which underpin our understanding of humanity, of the nature of marriage, and of the sense of God, which is essential to the faith.

He can be expected to reach out beyond Catholicism to other religions, to work constructively for peace and is acutely aware of the unique contribution which the Catholic Church makes to the world.

His emphasis on faithfulness to the doctrine taught by Christ and the church, expressed so articulately, is a reassurance of the clear vision of the Catholic Church for its own life and for humanity, as together we face the challenges of the new millennium.

I believe he is uniquely gifted and will surprise us with the service he will render to God, to the church and to the world.