” “” “” “”A clear sign that Benedict XVI gives pride of place to trust in the ultimate victory of love over all injustice”. This is how card. Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna and president of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, greets the first encyclical written by Pope Ratzinger, “Deus caritas est”, officially presented on January 25th. “An essential text that, taking by surprise those who expected a programmatic speech in the traditional sense of the word, brings the christened back to the beating heart of their spiritual life” adds mgr. André Dupleix, assistant secretary general of the French Bishops’ Conference. These are some passages of the European bishops’ comments on the encyclical, which have been put together by Sir into a service that will be online from tonight, at: old.agensir.it. They include the opinion of Kieran Conry, bishop of Arundel and Brighton, a diocese in the south of England: “The Pope’s words are full of optimism and positivity for sexuality and the importance it has in human life, provided it is not turned into a mere commodity”. Of a “subject of love expressed in all its aspects and dimensions” speaks mgr. Andrej Saje, secretary general of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference. “Very topical”, according to card. Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid and president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, “the Pope’s bright explanation of the close relationship between the theoretical and practical postulates of justice and the possibility of its accomplishment” by living a life inspired by love. ” “” “
