Yesterday Benedict XVI went to Gemelli Hospital in Rome to visit his elder brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, who had been admitted.
All things considered, they both look pretty spry. And we wish Msgr. Georg a swift recovery. He will be 90 on 15 January.
UPDATE: Not a recent photo? Dunno. Perhaps it was since the new report talks about a private visit. Still… who cares. From what I am hearing, Benedict is looking great these days.
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I cannot tell you how much I truly love the Pope Emeritus. We took him for granted and did not pray for him enough, imho. It is wonderful to see the two brothers together. God bless them both.
I second Supertradmum. This is a heartwarming photo; the brothers appear devoted. Lovely to see (except I hope Msgr. is soon well enough to leave the hospital.)
That picture is from 2005, not yesterday, according to the link.
catholic_at_nd: Well spotted. And the mozzetta is a dead giveaway.
Aww Pope Benedict – we miss you! Come back to us! Come back to us and we can just pretend all this silly bother over the last ten months never happened!
I doubt that the picture is a recent one as Pope Benedict stopped wearing the shoulder cape and fascia since be abdicated.
There is a great new interview with Archbishop Ganswein being reported in various places that was done with German TV and another with the German magazine Cicero. In it he very frankly states the theological continuity between the two popes, even going so far as suggesting that Pope Benedict laid the groundwork for Pope Francis’ reforms. But, he notes, Pope Francis looks to “reform the faithful, not the faith.”
You can find the original story in Italian at Korazym. I would post a link but I haven’t figured out how yet to do so on my phone–so much for everyone under 30 being tech geniuses, right? Anyways, Korazym attributes the archbishop’s media blitz to a need to correct the confusion caused by mainly Italian and American media analysis if this pontificate.
Tres interessante, non?
How I miss Benedict XVI! Prayers and best wishes to Msgr. Ratzinger for a speedy recovery.
I also miss our Pope Emeritus, and often thought of him during Advent, when Father used quotes from Josef Ratzinger in his Podcazts to help remind us of the beauty and depth of the season, and to express our love and joy at the coming of the Christ Child. His words were so clear, so wise and touched me deeply.
I hope Msgr. Georg is released from the hospital soon and that the two brothers, whose devotion to each other is so evident, have many peaceful days ahead together. I will pray for them both. I agree that we did take him for granted and that he still needs our prayers.
I miss Benedict XVI very much. Most Catholics failed to appreciate the true humble and theologically genius qualities of this man.
Also, I for one and am sick and tired of the comparison of the current papal style as a baisis to denigrate the previous pontificate. This is something that has been happening more and more both inside and outside the church.
Long live Benedict XVI a true revolutionary and most humble Pope.
But Father, but Father! One thing I’ve never understood (well, actually, there are more, but this one relates to the photo): Your little brother becomes Pope, and you’re stuck at Msgr? Wasn’t there some little bishopric in Upper Lower Saxony that he could have found for his brother? What’s the point of being Supreme Pontiff if you can’t help your brother up the ranks, at least a little? Just sayin’.
johnfoster 42: Probably he loved his brother too much to make him a Bishop. :)
Dear johnfoster42 says:
4 January 2014 at 5:16 am
“What’s the point of being Supreme Pontiff if you can’t help your brother up the ranks, at least a little?” — exactly the point and it should happened in any organization, private or public, profit or non-profit. We do not use our positions to advance our “favorites (either friend or relative)” specially if one does not deserve or if there is no need for the position just as to be “nice” and “acceptable”. I do not mean that Msgr Georg does not deserve it. I just thought that PEBXVI showed the world a good example of leadership. He did not advanced his brother’s position/title just because he was the supreme pontiff.
God’s blessings of peace and joy!
Maria
1. Msgr. Ratzinger had been the choir director of one of the world’s great choirs, as well as running one of the world’s great cathedral choir schools. Being a choir director is a lot being God. Running a choir school is also being Sensei and Akela. Everybody has to listen to you, and you mold young minds. Bishops do not have this sort of power and influence. :)
2. Msgr. Ratzinger did not retire from his dream job because he was bored with it. He retired because he was almost totally blind and deaf, as his brother has apparently now become. One of his typical retirement activities has been to crank up his stereo past Spinal Tap levels in order to hear (as witnessed by many reports). How much bishoping do you think he could do? Could he be a watchman for his people, always walking ahead and behind and among them, always paying attention to everything going on? Not without psychic powers, folks.
Legisperitus — I believe that’s a pellegrina, not a mozzetta.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pellegrina
Prayers from the Holy Land for both of them!
Thanks, albinus1.