"Joseph and Chico"

Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told By a Cat Ignatius Press (March 2008) In this beautifully illustrated book for children, Chico the cat describes the life of his "best friend", Pope Benedict, in this authorised biography of the Pope for young people approved by the Vatican. "Dear Children, here you will find a biography that is different than others because it is told by a cat and it is not every day a cat can consider the Holy Father his friend and sit down to write his life story," the Pope's personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, says in the foreword. The Pope is known for his fondness of animals, especially cats, and Joseph and Chico is narrated by Chico, a real cat who took up with the Pope in his native Germany long before he became the Pope. Chico tells the story of the life of "my best friend" from his birth in Germany in 1927, through his days as a young man, priest, bishop and cardinal. With a colorful and sometimes amusing language, the author makes this funny cat tell us about the life of the young Joseph all the way up to his election as Pontiff on April 19, 2005. It recounts the Nazi era in Germany when the Pope was a teenager, calling the war years "one of the most dramatic and shameful times in the history of man". Later when he became Cardinal Ratzinger, Chico recounts how each time when the Cardinal returned to Germany from Rome for a vacation, the cat would run into his house and sit on his lap as he played the piano. Related Images from "Joseph and Chico" Sample Pages from "Joseph and Chico" Chico is one of the most famous cats in the world. He is 9 years old and famous for being one of Benedict XVI’s best friends… in fact the only friend to have slept on the papal piano. (ROMEreports TV 10/19/07). Cat Lovers Appreciate Soul Mate in Vatican, by Andy Newman New York Times April 21, 2008.

Ratzinger's Faith: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI, by Tracy Rowland

Ratzinger's Faith: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI by Tracy Rowland. Oxford University Press, USA (March 6, 2008). A popular reading of Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) is that he started out as a progressive but had second thoughts after the cultural revolution of the late 1960s. A more negative portrait is that of an ambitious and intellectually precocious young man who changed theological allegiances for the sake of promotion within the Catholic hierarchy. Now, in this probing book, Tracey Rowland offers a third reading, one that situates the thought of Pope Benedict within the intellectual history and academic circles of his time. The first serious assessment of the new Pope's theological vision, this thoughtful volume covers topics such as the interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Benedict's relations with other important scholars and theologians, and his attitudes on moral and political theology, western culture, the structure of the Catholic Church, liturgy, and love. It has become a commonplace observation that Pope Benedict has been influenced by the thought of St. Augustine in contrast to many of his predecessors in the papacy who were much more strongly influenced by St. Thomas Aquinas. This work therefore addresses the topic of in what way Benedict is an Augustinian. The volume also includes a bibliography arranged thematically for those who want to explore his thought more deeply in a particular area. A penetrating account of the thought of the reigning pontiff, this volume offers a wealth of insight for everyone interested in Pope Benedict and the direction of the modern Catholic Church. Reviews Review by Thomas M. Osborne, Jr. The Thomist Vol. 73, 2009. Review by Edward T. Oakes, SJ Theological Studies, Sept, 2009. Review by Thaddeus J. Kozinski The Catholic Social Science Review 14 (2009). Review by Lawrence Cunningham Commonweal March 13, 2009. The shy professor bringing Benedict to the masses, by Anna Arco. Catholic Herald July 4, 2008. Theologian of the Heart, by David G. Bonagura, Jr. The University Bookman (Russell Kirk Center) Emerging from the shadow of the ‘Panzerkardinal’ The Catholic Herald April 18, 2008. An assault upon relativism, by Edward Norman. Spectator Book Club. April 8, 2008. Ratzinger's Faith and Reason, by Fr. James V. Schall. Ignatius Insight May 2008. "Gardener with a thirst for beauty", by Fergus Kerr. The Tablet March 20, 2008.

God's Word: Scripture - Tradition - Office

God's Word: Scripture - Tradition - Office Ignatius Press (March 2008). In this book Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, presents the Word of God as a living reality in the Church. God's Word, according to Ratzinger, is encountered in the Bible, in Tradition, and through the teaching Office of the Bishop, who, through apostolic succession, is to be the servant of and witness to the divine Word. Ratzinger examines as well the relationship between the Episcopacy and the Papacy. He also considers the nature of Apostolic Succession, and he responds to Reformed objections to the Catholic view of the subject. His treatment is sympathetic to the concerns of non-Catholic Christians while remaining faithful to Catholic teaching and practice. This book also includes the famous Erasmus Lecture of Cardinal Ratzinger, which assesses the strengths and weaknesses of modern critical approaches to biblical interpretation. Ratzinger proposes a new approach that avoids the pitfalls of a narrowly critical outlook on the Bible without succumbing to fundamentalism. God's Word provides profound insights into Pope Benedict XVI's efforts to renew the Church's participation in God's Truth through the divine Word, as well as the Church's mission to proclaim the Word to all people. Excerpts Introduction to God's Word: Scripture - Tradition - Office, by Peter Hünermann and Thomas Södin.

Benedict of Bavaria An Intimate Portrait of the Pope and His Homeland

Benedict of Bavaria An Intimate Portrait of the Pope and His Homeland Ignatius Press (March 2008). An Intimate Portrait of the Pope and His Homeland Highlighting a little-known personal side of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, this book places him in the context of his homeland, Bavaria a place which the author, Brennan Pursell, has come to know well through extensive travel and study over the last twelve years. Explore the extraordinary brilliance of Pope Benedict's mind and the universality of his vocation within the context of his identity as a simple son of his beloved homeland, Bavaria. Includes color photos and a rare look at a day in the life of the Pope.