INTERVIEW OF HIS HOLINESS
BENEDICT XVI
TO THE POLISH TELEVISION
Sunday, 16 October 2005
Thank you, Holy Father, for
granting us this brief interview on the occasion of the Pope’s Day,
which is being celebrated in Poland.
On October 16th, 1978,
Cardinal Karol Wojtyla became Pope, and from that day Pope John Paul
II, for more than 26 years, as the Successor of St. Peter, as you
are now, led the Church together with the bishops and cardinals.
Among the cardinals, your Holiness was also present, enjoying the
appreciation and esteem of your predecessor: a person about whom
Pope John Paul wrote in his book “Arise, and let’s be on our way” –
and here I quote “I thank God for the presence and help of Cardinal
Ratzinger. He is a proven friend,” John Paul II wrote.
Holy Father how did this
friendship begin and when did your Holiness meet Cardinal Karol
Wojtyla?
A. I met him personally during the two pre-Conclaves and Conclaves
of 1978. Naturally I had heard about Cardinal Wojtyla, especially in
the context of correspondence between the Polish and German Bishops
in 1965. The German Cardinals told me about the great merits and
contribution of the Cardinal of Cracow and how he was the soul of
this historic correspondence. I had also heard from university
friends about his stature as a philosopher and thinker. But as I
said, the first personal encounter took place during the Conclave of
1978. I liked him from the beginning and, thanks to God, without any
merit on my part, the then Cardinal immediately made friends with
me. I am grateful for this trust that he showed me. Above all, when
I watched him pray, I saw and understood, that he was a man of God.
This was my first impression: a man who lives with God and in God. I
was also impressed by the unprejudiced cordiality with which he made
my acquaintance. On various occasions he addressed these
pre-conclave meetings of the cardinals, and it was here I had the
opportunity to experience his stature as a thinker. Without using
big words, he created a heartfelt relationship and immediately after
his election as Pope he called me to Rome several times for talks
and in the end he appointed me Prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith.
Q. So this appointment and
convocation to Rome didn’t come as a surprise?
A. It was hard for me,
because when I was made Bishop of Munich, with a solemn consecration
in Munich cathedral, I felt I had an obligation towards this
diocese, almost like a marriage. So I felt bound to this diocese.
There were several difficult unresolved problems and I didn’t want
to leave the diocese that way. I discussed all of this with the Holy
Father, with great frankness and he was very paternal towards me. He
gave me time to reflect and said he also wanted to reflect. Finally
he convinced me that this was the will of God. Thus I could accept
this calling and this great responsibility, which wasn’t easy and
which was beyond my capacity. But trusting in the paternal
benevolence of the Pope and in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I
could say yes.
Q. This experience lasted
for more than 20 years…
A. Yes, I arrived in
February 1982 and it lasted until the death of the Pope in 2005.
Q. In your opinion, Holy
Father, what are the most significant moments of the Pontificate of
John Paul II?
A. We can see it (the
Pontificate) from two perspectives: one “ad extra” – toward the
world – and the other “ad intra” – toward the Church. With regard to
the world, it seems to me that through his speeches, his person, his
presence, his capacity to convince, the Holy Father created a new
sensitivity for moral values, for the importance of religion in the
world. This has created a new opening, a new sensitivity towards
religion and the need for a religious dimension in man. Above all,
the importance of the Bishop of Rome has increased immensely.
Despite the differences and despite their non-recognition of the
Successor of Peter, all Christians have recognized that he is the
spokesman of Christianity. No one else in the world, on an
international level can speak in the name of Christianity like this
and give voice and strength to the Christian reality in the world
today. He was the spokesman of the great values of humanity for non
Christians and other religions too. He managed to create a climate
of dialogue among the great religions and a sense of common
responsibility that we all have for the world. He also stressed that
violence and religion are incompatible and that we must search for
the path to peace together, taking common responsibility for
humanity. Regarding the situation of the Church, I would say that,
first of all, he knew how to infuse enthusiasm for Christ in young
people. This is something new, if we think of the youth of late
sixties and seventies. That youth has become enthusiastic for Christ
and for the Church and for difficult values. It was his personality
and charisma that helped mobilize the youth of the world for the
cause of God and for the love of Christ. In the Church, he created a
new love for the Eucharist. We are still in the Year of the
Eucharist, called by him with so much love. He created a new
awareness of the greatness of Divine Mercy; and he deepened devotion
to Our Lady. In this way he guided us toward an internalizing of the
faith and, at the same time, toward a greater efficiency. Of course
we have to mention his essential contribution to the great changes
in the world in 1989, contributing to the collapse of socialism.
Q. During the course of your
personal encounters and your talks with John Paul II, what made the
most impression on Your Holiness? Could you tell us about your last
meetings, perhaps of this year, with John Paul II?
A. Yes. I had two encounters
with him at the end: one was at the “Gemelli” Hospital, around
February 5 or 6; and the second was the day before his death, in his
room. During the first encounter, the Pope was visibly suffering but
was perfectly lucid and very aware. I had gone to see him about work
because I needed him to make certain decisions. Though visibly
suffering the Holy Father followed what I was saying with great
attention. He communicated his decisions in a few words, and gave me
his blessing. He greeted me in German and confirmed his trust and
friendship. I was very moved to see how he suffered in union with
the suffering Lord, and how he bore his suffering with the Lord and
for the Lord. I also saw his inner serenity and how totally aware he
was. The second encounter was the day before his death: he was
visibly in great pain, and was surrounded by doctors and friends. He
was still very lucid and he gave me his blessing. He could not talk
much. The patience he showed at this time of suffering was a great
lesson for me: to see how he believed he was in the hands of God and
how he abandoned himself to the will of God. Despite his visible
pain, he was serene, because he was in the hands of Divine Love.
Q. Holy Father, often in
your speeches you evoke the figure of John Paul II and of John Paul
II you say he was a great Pope, a venerated late predecessor. We
always remember the words you pronounced at the Mass last April 20,
words dedicated precisely to John Paul II. It was you, Holy Father,
who said – and here I quote – “it seems as though he is tightly
holding my hand, I see his laughing eyes and I hear his words, which
at that moment he is directing to me in particular: ‘do not be
afraid!’” Holy Father, finally a very personal question: do you
continue to feel the presence of John Paul II, and if you do, in
what way?
A. Certainly. I’ll begin by
answering the first part of your question. Initially, in speaking of
the Pope’s legacy, I forgot to mention the many documents that he
left us – 14 encyclicals, many Pastoral Letters, and others. All
this is a rich patrimony that has not yet been assimilated by the
Church. My personal mission is not to issue many new documents, but
to ensure that his documents are assimilated, because they are a
rich treasure, they are the authentic interpretation of Vatican II.
We know that the Pope was a man of the Council, that he internalized
the spirit and the word of the Council. Through these writings he
helps us understand what the Council wanted and what it didn’t. This
helps us to be the Church of our times and of the future. Now for
the second part of your question. The Pope is always close to me
through his writings: I hear him and I see him speaking, so I can
keep up a continuous dialogue with him. He is always speaking to me
through his writings. I even know the origin of some of the texts. I
can remember the discussions we had about some of them. So I can
continue my conversations with the Holy Father. This nearness to him
isn’t limited to words and texts, because behind the texts I hear
the Pope himself. A man who goes to the Lord doesn’t disappear: I
believe that someone who goes to the Lord comes even closer to us
and I feel he is close to me and that I am close to the Lord. I am
near the Pope and now he helps me to be near the Lord and I try to
enter this atmosphere of prayer, of love for our Lord, for Our Lady
and I entrust myself to his prayers. So there is a permanent
dialogue and we’re close to each other in a new way, in a very deep
way.
Q. Holy Father, now we are
waiting for you in Poland. Many are asking when is the Pope coming
to Poland?
A. Yes, if God wills it, and
if my schedule allows for it, I have every intention of coming to
Poland. I have spoken to Msgr. Dziwisz about the date and I am told
June would be the best time. Naturally everything still has to be
organized with the various institutions. It’s early yet, but perhaps
next June, God-willing, I could come to Poland.
Holy Father, in the name of
all of our television viewers, thank you for this interview.
Thank you. Top
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