Vatican City, May 22, 2005 / 22:00 pm
On May 19th, during a ceremony honoring his brother, Msgr.Georg Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI expressed delight at the 30 years of sacred music that his brother had produced for Austria’s Ratisbone Cathedral.
After his brother received the Austrian First Class Cross of Honor for Science and Art, assigned him by Austrian president Hienz Fischer, the Holy Father said that, "It feels strange for me to speak now. As I came down here, my secretary said to me: 'Now, dear Holy Father, your brother is the most important person'.”
“There is no doubt about that,” he said. “I find it pleasing that my brother, who for 30 years has so committed himself to sacred music in Ratisbone Cathedral and in the rest of the world, should receive recognition from such a competent body.”
"When I speak,” the Pope continued, “despite my inadequacy, I feel, so to say, like the spokesman for those present here who feel joy, gratitude and satisfaction for this moment.”