Three years after the death of Pope Benedict XVI, interest in his theological vision remains strong. To reflect on his enduring legacy, EWTN Vatican spoke with three people who knew Joseph Ratzinger closely and continue to safeguard his spiritual and intellectual heritage: Archbishop Georg G\u00e4nswein, his longtime private secretary; Professor Ralph Weimann, organizer of the Benedict Forum and promoter of his theology; and Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.<\/p>\n
Theology of Pope Benedict XVI<\/p>\n
Introducing the conversation from the EWTN Vatican office in Rome, Andreas Thonhauser set the tone for the reflection.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere at the EWTN Vatican office in Rome, we will ask three prominent figures to share with us their impressions of a pope who had a profound impact on Rome and the world,\u201d he said, before turning first to Cardinal Koch.<\/p>\n
A Faith That Speaks to the Modern World<\/p>\n
Asked about his experience of Benedict XVI as prefect, pope, and later as Pope Emeritus, Cardinal Kurt Koch emphasized the deep unity between faith and reason that marked Benedict\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a Christian who was deeply rooted in his faith and who wanted to justify this faith in response to the questions people ask today and pass it on to others,\u201d Cardinal Koch said. \u201cHe always was convinced that faith is the best thing that could happen to people.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Archbishop Georg G\u00e4nswein, memories of Pope Benedict are not fading with time, but growing stronger. Reflecting on the years he spent at Benedict\u2019s side, he spoke of both personal gratitude and spiritual formation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe memories stay with me throughout the years,\u201d Archbishop G\u00e4nswein said. \u201cBut as the anniversary of his death approaches, Benedict’s presence, his spiritual presence, becomes ever stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that living and working closely with Benedict XVI shaped him profoundly. \u201cThis combination of living together and learning from him has influenced my personality and my life in a very special way. For that I am only grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Christ-Centered Theology for Every Generation<\/p>\n
Much of Pope Benedict\u2019s legacy is preserved and shared through initiatives such as the Benedict Forum, organized by Professor Ralph Weimann. Asked about the relevance of Benedict\u2019s writings today, Weimann pointed to their enduring appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cPope Benedict has left us a rich treasure trove of theological works in which he provides guidance and principles,\u201d Weimann explained. \u201cEveryone must then apply these in their own way to their own lives. But these principles are valid, and more and more people are longing for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the heart of Benedict\u2019s theology, Weimann said, is a clear focus on Christ.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, first of all, it is a Christ-centered theology,\u201d he noted. \u201cHe looks to Jesus Christ in everything. He is the one who gives us meaning. He is the meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cardinal Koch expanded on this vision, highlighting Benedict\u2019s conviction that God is not distant or abstract.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Benedict XVI, it was of course crucial that Jesus Christ is the gateway to God,\u201d Cardinal Koch said. \u201cGod is not an unknown being who lives somewhere beyond the world, but one who wants to have a relationship with us humans.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Koch, Benedict\u2019s entire life was devoted to reopening that relationship in a world increasingly deaf to God.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is such a deafness toward God today,\u201d he said, \u201cand there is nothing more important for the Church, and therefore also for the Pope, than to reopen people’s access to this living reality of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Truth, Love, and Witness<\/p>\n
Addressing the continuing interest in Benedict\u2019s theology across age groups, Archbishop G\u00e4nswein observed that his appeal transcends generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to interest in theology or the theological work of Pope Benedict or Joseph Ratzinger,\u201d he said, \u201cthere are actually no differences between generations. People are not just looking for theologians, they are looking for witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Cardinal Koch, the heart of Benedict XVI\u2019s theology can be summed up in two words.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say that Pope Benedict’s entire theology revolves around two central words,\u201d he explained. \u201cFirst, truth, and second, love.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stressed that for Benedict, faith and reason were never in conflict. \u201cIt is not unreasonable to believe, because God himself is reasonable. But God is not a mathematical reason, but rather a reason that reaches out to people, that loves people.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the end, Benedict\u2019s message was simple yet demanding: humanity needs truth, and that truth is not an idea, but a Person.<\/p>\n
\u201cHumans are not only capable of truth, but need truth,\u201d Cardinal Koch said. \u201cAnd the real answer to this truth is God himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three years after his passing, Pope Benedict XVI continues to speak\u2014through his writings, his witness, and a theology that insists God is not only Reason, but Love.<\/p>\n
Adaptat de Jacob Stein<\/p>\n