Pope Benedict XVI pens letter noting 'interior unity' between his pontificate and that of Francis'

Michie

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tampasteve

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Speaking as a lapsed Catholic, I can say that I really, really, miss Pope Benedict XVI.
 
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Michie

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Yes a lot of us do. He really fed the flock imo.
Speaking as a lapsed Catholic, I can say that I really, really, miss Pope Benedict XVI.
 
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mark kennedy

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I really liked John Paul, but Benedict seemed to be quite the intellectual. I think it's interesting Francis has such a burden for the poor but he does seem a bit liberal.
 
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anna ~ grace

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I really liked John Paul, but Benedict seemed to be quite the intellectual. I think it's interesting Francis has such a burden for the poor but he does seem a bit liberal.
I find it really fascinating to read non-Catholics' takes on Pope Francis. Often, Catholics near to where I live will just shut down any and all charitable, careful critique of Francis, whereas a lot of non-Catholics will just say "he's certainly popular, but does seem to be weirdly liberal". Which rings more true, and sounds more honest, imho.

If there's a spiritual continuity between the reign of Benedict XVI and Francis, well.... I can not see it in some places. Benedict was charitable, but knew to not praise heresy.
 
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mark kennedy

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I find it really fascinating to read non-Catholics' takes on Pope Francis. Often, Catholics near to where I live will just shut down any and all charitable, careful critique of Francis, whereas a lot of non-Catholics will just say "he's certainly popular, but does seem to be weirdly liberal". Which rings more true, and sounds more honest, imho.

If there's a spiritual continuity between the reign of Benedict XVI and Francis, well.... I can not see it in some places. Benedict was charitable, but knew to not praise heresy.
Well with John Paul I liked the fact that he stood up to the Soviet Union, said if they moved on the Solidarity movement he would lead the rebellion, or something to that effect. When he was shot, he forgave the guy. Benedict when he first started his tenure as Pope wrote some encyclical about the importance of Christian love, I thought that very Pastoral. He also wrote a thing on the creation of Adam that I thought was very incisive, when I was embroiled in the creation/evolution thing. Francis impressed me when he washed the feet of Syrian refugees, that just sounds like something a Pope would do.

I'm sure they handle things about the same as their predecessors, that's the legacy of tradition. But the differences in the personalities and how it is expressed in their ministry is distinctive and I think, one of the more interesting things about Popes.

Grace and peace,
Mark
 
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anna ~ grace

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Well with John Paul I liked the fact that he stood up to the Soviet Union, said if they moved on the Solidarity movement he would lead the rebellion, or something to that effect. When he was shot, he forgave the guy. Benedict when he first started his tenure as Pope wrote some encyclical about the importance of Christian love, I thought that very Pastoral. He also wrote a thing on the creation of Adam that I thought was very incisive, when I was embroiled in the creation/evolution thing. Francis impressed me when he washed the feet of Syrian refugees, that just sounds like something a Pope would do.

I'm sure they handle things about the same as their predecessors, that's the legacy of tradition. But the differences in the personalities and how it is expressed in their ministry is distinctive and I think, one of the more interesting things about Popes.

Grace and peace,
Mark
Some aspects of what Francis says and does are deeply Catholic, good, and can be learned from. Other, more subtle things just strike many informed, traditional Catholics as weird, inappropriate, excessive, poorly thought out, and even destructive. He's a complicated human being who seems unsure of what to say and do as Pope.

I watched him at the Christmas Mass from Rome, and was struck by how grim and joyless he looked. It was odd.
 
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Michie

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Isn't Pope Benedict 90 now?
I find it really fascinating to read non-Catholics' takes on Pope Francis. Often, Catholics near to where I live will just shut down any and all charitable, careful critique of Francis, whereas a lot of non-Catholics will just say "he's certainly popular, but does seem to be weirdly liberal". Which rings more true, and sounds more honest, imho.

If there's a spiritual continuity between the reign of Benedict XVI and Francis, well.... I can not see it in some places. Benedict was charitable, but knew to not praise heresy.
 
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chevyontheriver

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I really liked John Paul, but Benedict seemed to be quite the intellectual. I think it's interesting Francis has such a burden for the poor but he does seem a bit liberal.
His burden for the poor is a great good thing. Not lacking in other recent popes, but nonetheless great in Francis. If that were his message, the poor have a special place in the Church of Jesus Christ and in society, that and the curial reform he was elected to do, I would be a happy camper.
 
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AvilaSurfer

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What does "interior unity" mean? Does anyone know? It's not like Benedict XVI to write vaguely. So it makes me suspect that he isn't the one who actually wrote it.
It means the alleged rift between the two, promoted by the press and some here in this forum, is a big pile of crap.
 
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MikeK

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Pope Benedict XVI adds that these volumes “reasonably demonstrate that Pope Francis is a man with profound philosophical and theological formation and are helpful to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, even with all the differences in style and temperament.”

Interior mean inside, not external, not superficial.

Continuity means unbroken, consistent.

Pope Benedict is saying what most observers who aren’t quick to believe conspiracy theories will notice - that the two Pontificates differ in style but not in substance.

Of course, there are people who, without any evidence, believe that Pope Benedict is such a coward that he cooorated with a evil coup against him by an Pope Francis. Those people will likely come up with some equally bizarre idea about why these aren’t Pope Benedict’s /real/ words.
 
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