Vatican issues first text co-written by two popes

http://www.france24.com/en/20130705-vatican-issues-first-text-co-written-two-popes

AFP - The Vatican on Friday issued an unprecedented religious text co-written by Pope Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI in which the two popes said faith should serve the "common good" but restated their opposition to gαy marriage.

Francis paid tribute to pope emeritus Benedict XVI in the encyclical, saying that the ex-pontiff had "almost completed" the text before stepping down in a historic resignation this year and that he himself had merely added "further contributions."

The 82-page text stresses that there is no contradiction between the Catholic faith and the modern world and calls for more dialogue with scientists, other religions and non-believers.

It also restates the Catholic Church's position on marriage saying it should be a "stable union of man and woman."

"This union is born of their love, as a sign and presence of God's own love, and of the acknowledgement and acceptance of the goodness of sɛҳuąƖ differentiation," reads the text.

While some passages in the encyclical have a more academic and ponderous feel characteristic of Benedict XVI, others contain the simpler expressions and brighter outlook of his successor.

Examples of Francis's input could be references to the need to protect nature and to sustainable development, as well as his oft-repeated phrase: "Let us refuse to be robbed of hope".

Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, noted there were "differences of style, sensibility and accent" between the two popes in the text but said there was "substantial continuity of the message".

Francis and Benedict, who both live within the walls of the Vatican City and wear the white papal vestments, met publicly on Friday at a ceremony in the Vatican for the unveiling of a new statue.

Benedict became the first pope to resign of his own free will in 700 years in February and Francis was elected to succeed him in March as the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years.

The central message of the encyclical, entitled "Lumen Fidei" ("Light of Faith") is that faith should be considered a "common good".

"Its light does not simply brighten the interior of the Church, nor does it serve solely to build an eternal city in the hereafter, it helps us build our societies," it says.

The text also calls for a "return to the true basis of brotherhood", saying that the ideal of equality without faith "cannot endure".

In another passage the encyclical says that believers should be humble and not "presumptuous".

"As a truth of love, it is not one that can be imposed by force... Faith is not intransigent, but grows in respectful coexistence with others."

Encyclicals are papal circular letters addressed to the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church that are intended to summarise a pontiff's thoughts on a particular aspect of Church life.

Some of them have gone down in history as significant landmarks in Church history.

Pope Leo XII in 1891 published "Rerum Novarum" in which he undertook to engage the Catholic Church in social issues, denouncing living conditions for the working class and encouraging workers to organise themselves into associations.

In 1914, Benedict XV denounced the horrors of World War I in "Ad beatissimi apostolorum principis" and Pius XI in "Mit brennender Sorge" in 1937 condemned nαzι racism.

In Paul VI's "Humanae Vitae" in 1968, Paul VI condemned all forms of contraception, while John Paul II in "Evangelium Vitae" in 1995 called for opposition to laws legalising abortion and euthanasia.

Any word on the current health status of Pope (Emeretus) Benedict XVI?

It does not seem uncommon for Popes to continue the work of their predecessors.

Everybody is looking for novelty with Pope Francis. I see the media going after his being the first "non-European" Pope, and forgetting the African Pope St. Victor I (and the first Latin writer in the Church) (and that Pope Francis is part Italian, so it is a minor issue of geography rather than any major change).

For those who expect scandal, they will find it.

Why didn't they mention the papal encyclicals that pronounced
the authentic Church teaching, which flatly contradicts these
two errors -- the inherent clash between Church teaching and
the spirit of the world, and the error of 'dialogue' with false
religions?  Those were "significant landmarks," too.

There are many encyclicals, and they are probably mentioning the ones which would be possibly interesting to those not interested in Catholic doctrine.

The relationship of the Church to various issues which are familiar to people as a whole seem more significant.

Reporters and news agencies have agendas, starting with profit. One should be careful about taking them as being authoritative and a bare reflection of reality.

Vatican issues first text co-written by two popes

Does anyone else find the current situation (and the statement above) as bizarre and completely messed up as I do?

Rosarium,

The press calls Pope Francis the first non-European in 1300 years, not the first non-European.  

We don't have to look very hard for scandal.  Vatican II was a revolution in the church so anyone who follows the new edicts and the new church of Paul VI is scandalous to the Catholic Church and those who stand fast on the traditions of the Catholic Church are scandalous to the conciliar church.

You see?  It's either one of the other.

By the way, why are using such an antagonistic tone?  Are you trying to cause trouble among your fellow Catholics?

It's not the two popes writing an encyclical that should be concerning us nor the way the press will be superficial in their explanation of these issues.

The concern in the content.  

It's not the two popes writing an encyclical that should be concerning us nor the way the press will be superficial in their explanation of these issues.

The concern in the content.  

88 pages o' nuthin'