Vatican City, Oct 3, 2007 / 07:38 am
The Holy Father took up again today his catechesis on the Apostolic Fathers, reflecting on the figure of Cyril of Alexandria, proclaimed doctor of the Church in 1882 by Pope Leo XIII. In the presence of 40,000 people, Pope Benedict explained how St. Cyril shows us that Jesus’ birth marked the entry of God, who existed before all time, into real history.
St. Cyril is a true guardian of the faith because he “constantly referred to and quoted from the ecclesiastic authorities prior to his time, to show the continuity of his theology with the tradition of the church.” For this reason, Benedict noted, he was called the “seal of the Fathers” and the “guardian of exactitude” of the faith.
St. Cyril’s Life
Before being elected bishop of Alexandria, little is know of his life. The Holy Father noted that “he entered early into the ecclesiastical life and received a good education, both culturally and theologically.” He was nephew to the then ruling bishop of Alexandria. Both he and his powerful uncle traveled to Constantinople to attend a synod in 406 to depose the bishop of that city. Upon his uncle’s death in 412, Cyril was elected bishop of Alexandria, “which he governed with great energy for thirty-two years, looking always to affirm its primacy in the East, while maintaining its traditionally strong links with Rome”.