Archbishop Gaenswein: thread of diplomacy links Benedict, Francis

Last updated on: June 17, 2014 at 8:03 am by CNA Daily News

Archbishop Gaenswein: thread of diplomacy links Benedict, Francis 2014-06-17T08:03:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Jun 17, 2014 / 02:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a recent interview with CNA, the prefect of the Papal Household and personal secretary to Benedict XVI recounted how the current and emeritus Bishops of Rome are connected by their diplomacy during apostolic journeys.

Archbishop Georg Gaenswein was at the June 5 conference “The Pope's journeys: between diplomacy and communication,” held at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, and noted what is common to Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, even though their diplomacy has been interpreted according to their differing characters.

The conference was an occasion for presenting “Sull'aereo di Papa Benedetto,” a recent work by Italian journalist Angela Ambrogetti, which gathers Benedict's press conferences on the papal plane during his pontificate.

“When the Pope makes an apostolic journey, it is clear that diplomacy plays a key role, with regards to both words and gestures,” Archbishop Gaenswein said, calling diplomacy a “thread” in Benedict XVI's pontificate.

He stressed the importance of the five so-called ‘political speeches’ Benedict XVI held during his apostolic journeys, in front of the representatives of the world of culture and politics. He added that through these speeches, one can better understand the Bavarian's diplomatic sense – even if the sense of his words was rarely understood.

“In the beginning, it was always surprising to me how different were the newspaper reports about the same speeches,” Archbishop Gaenswein underscored.

While Benedict XVI was subjected “to several prejudices directed against him as the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,” he noted, Pope Francis “gained the trust of journalists” from the time he first spoke on the loggia of St. Peter's.

“I myself must take into account that Benedict has been considered ‘the Pope of the word,’ while Pope Francis is considered ‘the Pope of gestures,’” Archbishop Gaenswein added.

“Pope Francis has made very eloquent and surprising gestures,” he noted.

The latest of these was his call to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli president Shimon Peres for a prayer for peace in the Holy Land held in the Vatican Gardens.

“Pope Francis invited the two leaders to the Vatican, to his home, to pray for peace, and this explains the inner meaning of his call: prayer is stronger than diplomacy,” Archbishop Gaenswein commented.

“As Pope Francis has explained, his gestures are not planned; he is struck by the Spirit. This is his character, and I see this every day, working with him, accompanying him, listening to him, speaking with him.”

This is “Pope Francis’ 'forma mentis', or 'way of thinking', since gestures are very significant for him, and this distinguishes him from Benedict XVI, being a man of thought.”

“In fact, even if Benedict XVI often spoke off the cuff, he was always prepared: this is his own 'forma mentis.'”

Europe

Previous Post

June 17, 2014

Bosnia event touches on religious violence in light of WWI

Next Post

June 17, 2014 Archbishop Cordileone counters March for Marriage critics

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which official opposed Nehemiah's wall-building and sent open letters to Jerusalem?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sanballat Haggai Geshem Tobiah