Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, addressed Benedict XVI during today’s ceremony to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Pope Emeritus’ priestly ordination.
Here is a ZENIT translation of his address:
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Holy Father, it is a great honor to be able to take part in this moment of celebration that you desired, for the happy occasion of the sixty-five years of the priestly Ordination of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Some weeks ago, for the Jubilee of Priests and Seminarians, you yourself put at the center of our reflection, the essence of the priestly mission: to allow one’s heart to be recreated by the mercy of God, so that we ourselves can help men to allow their hearts to be molded by Him. And you quoted the great French writer George Bernanos, who in his novel “Diary of a Country Priest, “ indicated “joy” as the immense gift that the Church is called to offer the world: first of all the joy of the proclamation that our sins can now expect God’s forgiveness! “Proclamation” and “joy” are words that are at the heart of the Gospel, and they are also two notes that are so proper of your Magisterium, as well as of your Predecessor.
Dear Pope Emeritus, for long years you have recalled, with words and with your life – that this “joy” comes first of all from confident abandonment to that mysterious and good design that the Risen Jesus wishes to bring to fulfilment in each one of us. The joy of the Gospel is first of all Yours; it is a gift of the Lord, and it comes from His Heart, who had pity on our nothingness and loves us, that is, He recreates us, with an eternal Love.
In fact the title of the book makes direct reference to this Love, in multiple-language editions, (today five translations are available) that we have the honor to offer you on this happy occasion: Die Liebe Gottes Lehren und Lernen. To teach and to learn the love of God. Fundamentally, everything is said here: we are called to teach what we in turn have learned from the Love of God.
You were given to this Love sixty-five years ago through the priestly seal, together with your brother Georg, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. As Saint Irenaeus said, whom we commemorate today, the two princes of the Apostles are the apostolic foundation of the Roman Church. This Feast of the two Apostles already prefigured, so to speak, the essential traits of your mission: to proclaim the Word of God (Paul) and to confirm brothers in the Faith (Peter). Time has then revealed in an admirable way what in that beginning was mysteriously pre-contained.
Dear Pope Emeritus, we are grateful for having been able to follow for long years, together with you, what the Lord was realizing through your priestly action. Now we ask, with all our heart, that you be able to bring to fulfilment what He wrought in you and that has already brought abundant fruit among us. Thank you again for everything, Holiness, and thank you from the heart.
[Translation by ZENIT]
