Aug 22, 2008 / 11:57 am
Today Pope Benedict XVI thanked his brother Georg Ratzinger for having always been his companion, for being “a benchmark of confidence” and for helping him to accept his old age “with serenity, humility and courage.”
The Holy Father spoke during a ceremony presenting his older brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger with the honorary citizenship of Castel Gandolfo, the Italian town south of Rome, where the Pope’s summer residence is located.
Benedict XVI revealed that “since the beginning of my life, my brother has not only been a companion, but also a trustworthy guide with the clarity and determination of his decisions. He always has shown me the path to take, including in difficult situations."
The Holy Father recalled the years he lived in Regensburg, where his brother was the cathedral choir director for 30 years. “The Sunday music offered me comfort, consolation, and a reflection of the beauty of God" the Pontiff recalled.