Vatican City, Oct 16, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Speaking in the first television interview of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI praised his successor, John Paul II, saying that the Polish-born pontiff broke new ground for the Church in the world, and for the office of the Pope itself.
The Holy Father spoke with Fr. Andrzej Majewski, head of Catholic programming at Polish State Television (TVP) on the occasion of the ‘Pope’s Day’--the 27th anniversary of John Paul’s election.
The interview was recorded at the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo and broadcast in Poland on Sunday October 16. An Italian version has also been made available on the Vatican radio internet site.
Pope Benedict said that John Paul II was especially significant “from two perspectives: one 'ad extra' - toward the world - and the other 'ad intra' - toward the Church.”