“The contribution of Pope Benedict XVI’s theological work and thought in general remains fruitful and effective, and we all feel his spiritual presence and his accompaniment in prayer for the whole Church”, said Pope Francis in his speech at the Ceremony presentation of the Joseph Ratzinger Prize.
This Thursday morning, in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the Joseph Ratzinger Vatican Foundation presented its annual award to Father Michel Fido and Professor Joseph Halevy Horovitz Feiler, in the presence of the Holy Father. a speech in which he welcomed those present and said: “I am delighted to preside over the awards ceremony again this year.” As you know, there are always moments of personal and fraternal encounter with the Pope Emeritus. Likewise, we all feel his spiritual presence and his accompaniment in prayer for the whole Church. But this occasion is important to reaffirm that the contribution of his theological work and of thought in general is still fruitful and effective.
We recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Francis continued. As we know, Benedict XVI participated personally as an expert and played an important role in the birth of some documents; Then he was called to lead the ecclesial community in its implementation, alongside Saint John Paul II, and then as pastor of the universal church. He helped us to read the conciliar documents in depth, suggesting an interpretation of the Reformation and of continuity. Even more recently, he wanted to highlight how the Council was exercising its crucial function in a lasting way, giving us the necessary guidelines to reformulate the central question of the nature and mission of the Church in our time.
In addition to Pope Benedict’s pontifical catechism, his theological contributions are once again offered to our contemplation thanks to the publication of his Complete Works, the German version of which is now nearing completion, while the other languages continue to progress. These contributions provide us with a solid theological foundation for the Church’s journey: a “living” Church, which we have learned to see and live as a communion, which is on its way – in a “Synod” – guided by the Spirit of the Lord, always open to mission to proclaim the Gospel and to serve the world in which he lives. It is in this perspective that the service of the Joseph Ratzinger Foundation to the Vatican – Benedict XVI lies in the conviction that its educational authority and its thought are not directed to the past, but rather are fruitful for the future and for the implementation of the Second Vatican Council and the dialogue between the Church and the world today, in the most immediate areas, such as integrated ecology, human rights, the human, the encounter between different cultures. I take this opportunity to also encourage collaboration with the Vatican institutions, the Blessed John Paul I Foundation and the Saint John Paul II Foundation, because the memory and vitality of the mission of these three Pontiffs in the union of goals in the ecclesial field can be strengthened.
The Holy Father went on to say that today we gather to honor two eminent personalities for their outstanding work in the field of study and teaching. They are two different fields, but both promoted by Joseph Ratzinger and considered of vital importance. Father Michel Fido Professor of Christian Theology. In his life dedicated to study and teaching, he particularly studied the works of the Fathers of the Eastern and Western Churches and the development of Christology over the centuries. But his gaze was not closed to the past. Rather, the knowledge of the faith tradition nourished in him a lively thought, which was also able to deal with current issues in the field of ecumenism and in the field of relations with other religions. In it we recognize and honor a worthy heir and complement of the great tradition of French theology, which has given the Church teachers such as Father Henri de Lupac and solid and courageous cultural projects such as “les Sources Chrétiennes”, which began to be published eighty years does. Without the contribution of this French theology, the richness, depth and breadth of meditation nourished by the Second Vatican Council would not have been possible, and we must hope that it will continue to bear fruit for its long-term application.
The Supreme Pontiff added: “Professor Feiler is the first Jew to be awarded the Ratzinger Prize, which has so far been awarded to scholars belonging to various Christian denominations. I’m really happy with this. In a difficult moment, when this has been questioned, Pope Benedict has persistently and proudly affirmed that “from the beginning, one of the purposes of his personal theological work has been to share and promote all the steps of reconciliation between Christians and Jews that had been completed undertaken by the Second Vatican Council”. There were many occasions in which he implemented this intention during his pontificate, and there is no need to enumerate them here. I continued my role in the same way, with passages additions, in the spirit of dialogue and friendship with the Jews that had always animated me during my service in Argentina.The harmony between the Pope Emeritus and Professor Fyler concerns some topics of fundamental importance: the relationship between faith and juridical reason in the world contemporary; the crisis of the juridical state and the conflicts deriving from the unlimited extension of individual rights; Correct understanding of the exercise of religious freedom in a culture that tends to relegate religion to the private sphere. Pope Benedict has always considered these central themes in his dialogue of faith with contemporary society. Professor Fyler has not only deepened his studies, but has also taken courageous positions, moving, when necessary, from the academic level to that of discussion – and we could also say of discernment – to seek consensus on fundamental values and to overcome the conflicts for the common good. Thus the union of Jewish and Christian believers in this is a sign of great hope.
Pope Francis concluded his speech by stating that these two awards, in addition to being well-deserved recognition, offer an indication of important lines of commitment, study and life, which arouse our admiration and ask us to bring them to the attention of all . Once again, my congratulations to the two winners and I wish them the best in continuing their commitment. May God bless them, their families and friends, the members and supporters of the Ratzinger Foundation and all present. And I ask you, please, to pray for me.
