‘What is Christianity?’: Pope Benedict XVI’s last gift

Michie · Sep 30, 2023

When Pope Benedict XVI passed into eternity at the end of 2022, many praised his professorial theological contributions to our understanding of the Catholic faith, and mourned his passing as one of the great thinkers of our time. Those who felt the loss of the German pope will be grateful to know that he left us with one last work to ponder.

‘What is Christianity?: The Last Writings’

Pulling from the writings, interviews, and speeches of Pope Benedict XVI, “What is Christianity?: The Last Writings” serves as an interpretation of several of the important documents and topics of the Second Vatican Council. Contrary to its title, this book is not a summary of Christian faith, but is rather a compilation of topics that the Holy Father had not previously discussed at length. In this sense, the book is a fitting capstone to the pope’s life of theological work, tying up anything that might be considered a loose end.

Unlike the late pontiff’s “Jesus of Nazareth” trilogy, this last work is more of an intellectual venture, seeking to clarify some of the confusion that flowed from the Council. To understand the somewhat random topics covered in the book, readers should have some familiarity with the documents of Vatican II, as well as some of the debates that have arisen as a result. The chapters focus especially on liturgy, interreligious dialogue with Muslims and Jews, and clerical celibacy, speaking with Benedict’s usual precision and clarity.

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