Msgr. Georg Gänswein gave an interview to the Vorarlberger KirchenBlatt in Austria.
Newsroom (07/06/2022 11:23 AM, Gaudium Press) Monsignor Georg Gänswein, private secretary of Pope Benedict XVI, was in Vorarlberg, one of the Austrian federal states, to celebrate a pontifical mass on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of KIM, the Catholic youth movement. He granted an interview to the church newspaper. We highlight a number of questions:
How would it be possible to have more religious vocations in Central Europe again?
Gänswein: There are no recipes. For me, Christ’s word points the way: “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few in number; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. In concrete terms, this means that we must take the Lord’s word seriously and harass him with requests for vocations. Pray, pray, pray: this is the first and most important response to the lack of spiritual vocations. I am convinced that if we ask him honestly and sincerely, Christ sends vocations. […] We must not diminish the image of the priest. A young man who starts on the path to the priesthood needs to know what awaits him and what he is entering into. We must have the courage to be fully committed to the faith of the Church and to celibacy. This is not an unpleasant obstacle, but a gift from Christ!”
The daily life of the Pope Emeritus
Has the daily life of the Pope Emeritus changed significantly after his resignation?
Gänswein: After he stepped down at the end of February 2013, a new daily routine was established for Benedict XVI. To this day it remains the same with minor changes. Let us not forget that Benedict XVI turned 95 on April 16.
His day begins with Holy Mass in the morning, at which I, Gänswein is the main celebrant. Benedict XVI concelebrates at the altar in a wheelchair. We pray the Liturgy of the Hours together. Breakfast follows, and a break for him to engage in correspondence and keep up to date on what is happening in the church and the world. He always listens to music to relax. Playing the piano has become very rare, as “the fingers don’t want it anymore.” Another part of the daily Liturgy of the Hours is prayed before lunch. After lunch, a nap is an integral part of his daily life. Afterwards, he prays Vespers. Since his physical strength has greatly diminished, he rarely receives visitors, and devotes himself to reading or someone reads to him. Later, he goes to the Vatican Gardens in his electric wheelchair to pray the Rosary. Returning, dinner is served. Then he watches the news on Italian television and prays the Compline.
With information kath-kirche-vorarlberg.at.
