Letter
John Paul II
to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
on the 50th anniversary
oh his Ordination to the Priesthood
To my venerable Brother Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
With deep joy, Your Eminence,
I offer you my warm congratulations and most fervent good
wishes on the happy event of the 50th anniversary of your
ordination to the priesthood. The coincidence of your Jubilee
day with the liturgical solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter
and Paul reminds me of the their vision of broad spiritual
and ecclesial horizons: personal holiness extended to the
supreme sacrifice, missionary outreach combined with constant
concern for unity, the necessary integration of spiritual
charism and institutional ministry.
These are horizons, Venerable
Brother, which you have attentively explored in your theological
research: in Peter, the principle of unity is outstanding,
founded on faith as firm as the rock of the Princes of the
Apostles; in Paul, the need, intrinsic in the Gospel, to call
every man and every people to the obedience of faith. Moreover
these two dimensions are combined in the common witness of
holiness which sealed the generous dedication of the two Apostles
to the service of the immaculate Bride of Christ. How can
we not also see in these two elements the fundamental features
of the path that Providence prepared for you, Your Eminence,
in calling you to the priesthood?
Your brilliant philosophical
and, in particular, theological studies and your precocious
call to teaching roles in the most important German universities
should be seen in this perspective of faith. You expressed
the intention that has always guided you in your commitment
to study and teaching in the motto you chose on the occasion
of your episcopal appointment: Cooperatores veritatis.
The aim for which you have always
striven since your very first years as a priest has been to
serve the truth, seeking to know it ever more thoroughly and
make it ever more widely known.
It was precisely the consideration
of this pastoral aspiration which has constantly marked your
academic activity that induced Pope Paul VI of venerable memory
to raise you to the episcopal dignity and entrust you with
responsibility for the great Archdiocese of München und
Freising. It was a crucial transition in your life, which
was to give a direction to later developments. Indeed when,
shortly afterwards, the unforgettable Pontiff mentioned above
created you a Cardinal, you found yourself directly bound
to collaborating with the Apostolic See. Twenty years ago
I asked you to collaborate full time as Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith. Since then you have not ceased
to expend your intellectual and moral energies in promoting
and protecting the doctrine of the faith and its morals throughout
the Catholic world (cf. Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus,
n. 48), while encouraging studies aimed at increasing knowledge
of the faith so that the new problems arising from the progress
of science and civilization could be conventiently answered
in the light of the Word of God (cf. ibid., n. 49).
In this office, Your Eminence,
the Apostles Peter and Paul have inspired your priestly life
and your ecclesial service further and in the loftiest way.
This happy event is a favourable opportunity for me to reiterate
my deep gratitude to you for the impressive volume of work
you have carried out and directed in the dicastery entrusted
to you, and even more, for the spirit of humility and self-denial
that has constantly marked your activity. May the Lord lavish
his rewards upon you!
On this occasion which is so
significant for you, I would like to tell you that the spiritual
communion you have always shown with regard to the Sucessor
of Peter has been a great comfort to me in the daily effort
of my service to Christ and to the Church. I therefore pray
the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
for the choicest heavenly favours for you, for your ministry
and for all your loved ones, as I impart a special heartfelt
Apostolic Blessing to you with a fraternal sentiment of affection.
From the Vatican, 20 June 2002,
the 21st year of the Pontificate.
JOHN PAUL II
Source: www.vatican.va
