Unpacking the Benedict-Cardinal Sarah Book Fiasco, by Edward Pentin
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January 15, 2020
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LEFT: Benedict XVI puts on his glasses to sign a guest book in Freiburg, Germany, Sept. 24, 2011. (Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images). RIGHT: Cardinal Robert Sarah signs a guest book at the Malacañan Palace in the Philippines, Jan. 29, 2014. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacañang Photo Bureau/Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).
The book’s rollout caused a backlash against Benedict appearing as co-author of the book, even though it appears the Pope Emeritus had given at least tacit prior approval for the full manuscript.
By Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register, 1/14/20
Edward Pentin is the Register’s Rome correspondent.
VATICAN CITY — The controversy regarding the book on the priesthood and priestly celibacy with parts penned by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah has produced plenty of heat but not much light.
So what are the hard facts, as far as we know? Perhaps the first place to look is precisely what Cardinal Sarah and Benedict had previously agreed upon concerning the book entitled From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy and the Crisis of the Catholic Church.
Beginning with Cardinal Sarah’s statement, published Jan. 14, we learn that:
- On Sept. 5 last year, after visiting Benedict XVI at his Mater Ecclesiae residence, Cardinal Sarah wrote to the Pope Emeritus to ask him to write a text on the priesthood, especially on celibacy.
- He told him he didn’t expect Benedict to agree because of the “polemics” that such reflections could “potentially stir in the media” but that he was “convinced the entire Church needs this gift” that could be published around Christmas.
- On Sept. 20 Benedict replied, saying he had actually begun to write a text on the subject and Cardinal Sarah’s letter had encouraged him to finish the task.
- On Oct. 12, Benedict gave him a “long text” and Cardinal Sarah thought it too profound and lengthy for a newspaper. He therefore “proposed to the pope the publication of a book, integrating his own texts as well as mine.” ….
