Archbishop Georg Gänswein tells how Pope Emeritus, who was vaccinated on Thursday morning, lives these difficult times.
By Vatican News
This was Benedict XVI’s first Christmas without his brother Georg, although his presence was felt somehow, said Archbishop Georg Gänswein, personal emeritus of Pope Emeritus. The archbishop, who also serves as prefect of the Pontifical House, spoke to Vatican News on the day that Joseph Ratzinger was vaccinated at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.
“Benedict XVI’s brother, during this Christmas vacation – the first after his death – was felt in some way: in fact, we heard CDs several times, not only the Bach Christmas Oratory, but also concerts with Christmas songs, performed by Regensburger Domspatzen, the choir directed by Georg Ratzinger ”. Archbishop Gänswein added: “For Benedict XVI, this absence is a wound that caused him pain during these holidays, but he also told me that he felt the comfort of the Lord, in the certainty that his brother now lives in His embrace.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI with his brother, Georg Ratzinger (archive photo)
The personal secretary of Pope Emeritus also spoke about how this pandemic time is being lived inside the Mater Ecclesiae monastery. “The day-to-day organization has not changed much. The pace of the days has remained the same, although the number of visits has decreased significantly. Benedict XVI follows the news that reaches us on television and shares our concern about the pandemic, with what is happening in the world, with the many people who are losing their lives with the virus. There are people he knows who died from Covid-19. “
After the images of his meeting with Pope Francis and the new cardinals were released last November, Archbishop Gänswein confirms that Ratzinger is physically fragile, but completely lucid: “From a physical point of view, he is very fragile and can only walk one little with a walker. Your voice is also weak. The rest time has increased, but we continue to go out every afternoon, despite the cold, to the Vatican Gardens. Every day I celebrate Mass and he concelebrates sitting … We have prepared extended texts for his daily prayer so that he can better follow the Liturgy of the Hours, and we continue to eat together as we always have ”.