Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times
Never has a Pope, in a book-length interview, dealt so directly with such wide-ranging and controversial issues as Pope Benedict XVI does in Light of the World. Taken from a recent week-long series of interviews with veteran journalist Peter Seewald, this book tackles head-on some of the greatest issues facing the world of our time. Twice before these two men held wide-ranging discussions, which became the best-selling books Salt of the Earth and God and the World. Then, Seewald's discussion...
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Never has a Pope, in a book-length interview, dealt so directly with such wide-ranging and controversial issues as Pope Benedict XVI does in Light of the World.? Taken from a recent week-long series of interviews with veteran journalist Peter Seewald, this book tackles head-on some of the greatest issues facing the world of our time.? Seewald poses such forthright questions to Pope Benedict as: What caused the clergy sexual abuse in the Catholic Church? Was there a "cover up"? Have you considered resigning? Does affirming the goodness of the human body mean a plea for "better sex"? Can there be a genuine dialogue with Islam?? Should the Church rethink Catholic teaching on priestly celibacy, women priests, contraception, and same-sex relationships? What about Holy Communion for divorced-and-remarried Catholics? Is there a schism in the Catholic Church? Should there be a Third Vatican Council? Is there any hope for Christian unity? Is Christianity the only truth? Can the Pope really speak for Jesus Christ? How can the Pope claim to be "infallible"? Is there a "dictatorship of relativism" today? Twice before these two men held wide-ranging discussions, which became the best-selling books Salt of the Earth and God and the World. Then, Seewald's discussion partner was Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Vatican's chief doctrinal office. Now, Joseph Ratzinger is Pope Benedict XVI, the spiritual leader of the world's over one billion Catholics. Though Seewald now interviews the Pope himself, the journalist "pulls no punches", posing some of the thorniest questions any Pope has had to address. Believers and unbelievers will be fascinated to hear Benedict's thoughtful, straightforward and thought-provoking replies. This is no stern preachment or ponderous theological tract, but a lively, fast-paced, challenging, even entertaining exchange.
Foreword George Weigel ix\ Preface xv\ Part I Signs of The Times\ 1 Popes Do Not Fall from the Sky 3\ 2 The Abuse Scandal 18\ 3 Causes of the Crisis and a New Opportunity 34\ 4 The Global Catastrophe 42\ 5 Dictatorship of Relativism 50\ 6 Time for Conversion 60\ Part II The Pontificate\ 7 Habemus Papam 69\ 8 In the Shoes of the Fisherman 79\ 9 Ecumenism and the Dialogue with Islam 86\ 10 Proclaiming the Gospel 102\ 11 The Journeys of a Shepherd 111\ 12 The Williamson Affair 120\ Part III Where Do We Go From Here?\ 13 Church, Faith, and Society 133\ 14 Overdue Reforms? 143\ 15 How Is the Church Renewed? 155\ 16 Mary and the Message of Fatima 163\ 17 The Return of Jesus Christ 167\ 18 On the Last Things 178\ Appendix\ Serious Sins against Defenseless Children. From the Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, dated March 19, 2010 189\ Faith and Violence. From the "Regensburg Address", dated September 12, 2006 192\ Aids and the Humanization of Sexuality. From the Interview during the Flight to Cameroon on March 17, 2009 193\ Benedict XVI: Curriculum Vitae and a Brief Chronicle of the Pontificate 195
