What A Year It’s Been

On December 22, Pope Benedict gave an address to the Roman Curia in which he reflected on the events of the past year, which included the death of John Paul II, the interregnum, his own election, and the first year of his pontificate (including World Youth Day and the Synod on the Eucharist).

I recently read one prelate who described this address as amounting to "almost an encyclical," and I’ve read rumors that B16 has delayed the release of his first encyclical (by a couple of weeks; word is it’ll be out in the second half of January) in order to let this address sink in before hitting the Church with something new to absorb.

It really is a wide ranging address–including discussions not only of the above-mentioned topics but also the correct and incorrect interpretations of Vatican II, the relationship of the Church to science, and the Church’s social teaching–delivered with the characteristic frankness of B16.

It’s well worth your while to read, so

CHECK IT OUT.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live." View all posts by Jimmy Akin