The Ratzinger foundation organized a ceremony to celebrate the 95th birthday of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Munich, Germany

Newsroom (22/06/2022 07:00, Gaudium Press) Last Saturday, June 18, the Joseph Ratzinger Foundation honored Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the occasion of his 95th birthday.

The ceremony, held in the Munich cathedral, was attended by Benedict XVI’s personal secretary Cardinal Georg Gänswein and the apostolic nuncio to Germany, Archbishop Nicola Eterovic.

Msgr. Gänswein conveyed to the guests the greetings of Benedict XVI, who was following the broadcast of the ceremony through the television network EWTN.TV, at the Ecclesia monastery in the Vatican.

The private secretary stated that the Pope emeritus did not expect to live so long after his resignation and even if “the last years have affected his strength a little, his sense of humor remains intact.”  He also emphasized Benedict XVI’s peace of mind and personal gentleness as his own characteristics.

The Church is the eyes of humanity

The 2018 recipient of the Ratzinger Prize, Marianne Schlosser, professor of theology at the University of Vienna, took charge of the inaugural address.

She referred to the characteristic conception of Cardinal Ratzinger’s theology, according to which the Church must address the truth in all epochs, including in current times. The Church must be “the eyes in the body of humanity.”

The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Foundation and the Pope Benedict XVI Institute, organized the ceremony last weekend and invited the Auxiliary Bishop of Ratisbonne, the former Minister-President of Bavaria, Edmund Stoiber, as well as several of Cardinal Ratzinger’s students.

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated his 95th birthday last April 16, Holy Saturday. (FM)

With information from Vatican News.