Papa Benedetto XVI and the West

[Ederico]

Papa Benedetto XVI, then Cardinale Ratzinger, in an article with the significant title "Se l'Europa odia se stessa" (If Europe hates itself), featured on Italian newspaper Avvenire of the 14.5.2004, affirms:

«C'è qui un odio di sé dell'Occidente che è strano e che si può considerare solo come qualcosa di patologico; l'Occidente tenta sì in maniera lodevole di aprirsi pieno di comprensione a valori esterni, ma non ama più se stesso; della sua propria storia vede oramai soltanto ciò che è deprecabile e distruttivo, mentre non è più in grado di percepire ciò che è grande e puro».

English translation:

"There is a hate of itself in the West that is strange and that can only be considered as something pathological; the West tries to open itself full of comprehension to outside values in a laudible manner, but it does not love itself anymore; of its own history as of now it only sees what is deplorable and destructive, without being able of perceiving that that is great and pure".

What are your opinions on this statement of our current Pope Benedict XVI and how do you think that this Holy Father would react to the evils that afflict our Civilisation?

[Ederico]

Once again Papa Benedetto XVI, at that time Cardinal Ratzinger, on Europe, from his latest book in Italian "Senza Radici" (Without Roots) co-written with Marcello Pera, President of the Senate of the Italian Republic, the phrase is by the Pope:

«L’Europa, proprio nell’ora del suo massimo successo, sembra svuotata dall’interno, come paralizzata da una crisi circolatoria, una crisi che mette a rischio la sua vita affidandola a trapianti che ne cancellano l’identità. Al cedimento delle forze spirituali portanti si aggiunge un crescente declino etnico. C’è una strana mancanza di voglia di futuro»

English Translation:

"Europe, in the same hour of its maximum success, seems emptied from its interior, like paralized due to a circulatory crisis, a crisis that puts in peril its life by trusting it in the hands of transplants that cancel its identity. With the lowering of the sustaining spiritual forces it is added an increasing ethnic decline. There is a strange lack of will for future"

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Cardinal Jospeh Ratzinger, Avvenire, 14.5.2004:

"There is a hate of itself in the West that is strange and that can only be considered as something pathological; the West tries to open itself full of comprehension to outside values in a laudable manner, but it does not love itself anymore; of its own history as of now it only sees what is deplorable and destructive, without being able of perceiving that that is great and pure".

What are the inside values of this "West", as opposed to outside values to which this "West" is opening itself?

Then further...

Cardinal Ratzinger, on Europe, from his book in Italian "Senza Radici" (Without Roots, 2004.) co-written with Marcello Pera, President of the Senate of the Italian Republic, the phrase is by the Cardinal Ratzinger:

"Europe, in the same hour of its maximum success, seems emptied from its interior, like paralyzed due to a circulatory crisis, a crisis that puts in peril its life by trusting it in the hands of transplants that cancel its identity. With the lowering of the sustaining spiritual forces it is added an increasing ethnic decline. There is a strange lack of will for future"

The ethnic decline is obvious, the future Pope is very right about pointing it out. But the phrase: Europe, in the same hour of its maximum success, seems a bit contradictory to the second part of the quotation. Can that what is Europe currently going through be considered as "success"? Hardly.

[Weltschmerz]

Originally Posted by Marulus

Cardinal Jospeh Ratzinger, Avvenire, 14.5.2004:



What are the inside values of this "West", as opposed to outside values to which this "West" is opening itself?

Surely he must mean the traditional west, the Roman Catholic sphere, possibly also including its offshoots of Protestantism? I don't think he means the neoconnish "west".

Originally Posted by Marulus

The ethnic decline is obvious, the future Pope is very right about pointing it out. But the phrase: Europe, in the same hour of its maximum success, seems a bit contradictory to the second part of the quotation. Can that what is Europe currently going through be considered as "success"? Hardly.

He must mean the period before the first world war? Whether it can be considered maximum success is still questionable, especially I'm thinking about the dubitably successful colonialism.

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by Gnist

He must mean the period before the first world war? Whether it can be considered maximum success is still questionable, especially I'm thinking about the dubitably successful colonialism.

I understood that he was thinking of the present era: these statements were made in 2004, so I inferred that he was probably referring to the current state of affairs in Europe.

That is at least how I understood it.

[Weltschmerz]

Originally Posted by Marulus

I understood that he was thinking of the present era: these statements were mad in 2004, so I inferred that he was probably referring to the current state of affairs in Europe.

That is at least how I understood it.

In that case I have no clue as to what it could mean to him.

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Marulus

I understood that he was thinking of the present era (...)

Originally Posted by Gnist

In that case I have no clue as to what it could mean to him.

Of course, Benedict XVI was referring to the present era. He was talking of the materialist side, underlining Europe's present state of wealth, and material confort. This is a case of political correctness, don't forget that the book's co-author, Marcello Pera, is a politician. This book is supposed to be read and understood by the present day European, a materialist and atheist (or agnostic) man. Today, if by success you mean spirituality, civilization or nation, don't expect today's Zeropeans to understand you.