“He was the first to act decisively on the issue of abuse,” Archbishop Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said of the late Joseph Ratzinger’s estate.
“crown”: What did you think of the funeral service for Benedict XVI. experienced?
Schoenborn: I liked that it was simple and in the style of the Pope Emeritus.
What made the person Joseph Ratzinger special to you?
As a person he was above all a teacher for me, I learned and studied a lot from him. As a great thinker and theologian, he was a real master to me. I have always said to my own students, “Hold on to the great masters!”
After the papal elections, he described this task as a “guillotine”. Why do you think he did that?
It is extremely difficult to hold such an office at 78 years old. He had hoped it would pass him by. But in the end he took it seriously.
Do you remember an encounter or an anecdote?
There were many encounters. The most moving was the day after his papal election. We cardinals had breakfast with him. I talked to him about his sister. She had always been his companion from the moment of his ordination until her sudden death. It must have been a heavy loss for him. He then said: Yes, that is true.
In another interview, you said that it would not be good if the popes’ resignation were to catch on. How’s that?
It is important to experience how someone experiences such a task not only as an office, as a duty, but as a life mission. To be pope is to be father of believers. And you stay that way all your life.
Especially in his final years, Ratzinger’s work was overshadowed by scandals involving abuses in the church. Will that define his legacy?
I believe history will be fairer than the current verdict. He was the first to act decisively in the abuse problem. He founded his own court, which is still exemplary in society. Even against the resistance in the Vatican, Ratzinger was the one who said: “Abuse must be punished in the church too.” In time, his efforts will be judged more fairly.
What else is left of Pope Benedict XVI?
his writings. They are among the most important of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
