A personal letter of Benedict XVI on the continuity with the pontificate of Pope Francis was made public by the Prefect of the Secretariat for Communication, Monsignor Dario Edoardo Vigano, who received it on the occasion of the presentation of the ‘Theology of Pope Francis’ collection, published by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), which took place Monday in the course of a press conference at Rome in the Marconi Hall of the Palazzo Pio.
“I welcome this initiative – writes Benedict XVI – which intends to oppose and react to the foolish prejudice by which Pope Francis is only a practical man deprived of particular theological or philosophical formation, whereas I was only a theoretician of theology who understood little of the concrete life of a Christian today.”
The Pope Emeritus is grateful for having received the gift of eleven books written by, among others, theologians of international fame, who make up the collection edited by Father Roberto Repole, President of the Italian Theological Association. “The small volumes – adds Benedict XVI – show with reason that Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological formation and, therefore, they help to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, although with all the differences of style and of temperament.”
During the event, the new Chief Editor of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Friar Giulio Cesareo , OFM Conv., specified that negotiations are underway with publishers around the world. Up to now, agreements have been signed for the distribution of the collection in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Polish and Romanian.
