archives
WYD: Benedict the theologian offers seminar on Spirit
Posted on Jul 19, 2008 00:47am CST.By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
As pope, Benedict XVI is many things: A universal pastor, a media superstar, a voice of conscience in world affairs, and the leader of the 1.1-billion strong Catholic Church. As Joseph Ratzinger, however, this particular pope is also a world-class theologian, with decades of classroom experience in rendering complex ideas accessible to young minds.
That side of the pope’s personality stood out in especially clear fashion tonight, as Benedict XVI delivered what amounted to a theological exposition on the Holy Spirit – sometimes, as the pope put it, the “neglected person of the Blessed Trinity” – to a throng of young pilgrims estimated at 235,000 gathered for a vigil at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse.
WYD: 'New Age' spirituality, Benedict XVI style
Posted on Jul 19, 2008 15:04pm CST.By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
In language that was at turns almost lyrical, Pope Benedict XVI today offered a paean to “new age” spirituality – though, to be sure, certainly not of the “tune in, turn on and drop out’ variety.
Instead, Benedict described a vision of the “new age” proclaimed by Christ, and animated by the Holy Spirit, in which:
• “Love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty”;
WYD: Madrid to host 2011 World Youth Day
Posted on Jul 19, 2008 16:49pm CST.By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Pope Benedict XVI announced today that the next World Youth Day will take place in Madrid, Spain, in 2011.
The pope made the announcement at the conclusion of his Sunday Angelus address, delivered after the closing Mass of World Youth Day in Australia, held at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse.
The choice of Madrid as the setting for the next international gathering of Catholic youth was first reported by NCR earlier this week.
