The Christian is the man who undertakes "the path of Truth resolutely", through his "two wings of faith and reason", said the Pope. During today’s general audience, taking place in St. Peter’s Square in the presence of about 45 thousand believers, the Pope lingered over the figure of Clemens Alexandrinus, "one of the standard-bearers of dialogue between faith and reason within the Christian tradition". His writings, said Benedict XVI, make up "a real trilogy destined to accompany the maturation of the Christian effectively". Clemens’ catechesis, explained the Holy Father, "accompanies the steps of the catechumen and the baptized because, with the two wings of faith and reason, they achieve an intimate knowledge of Truth, which is Jesus Christ, the Word of God". "Just this knowledge admonished Benedict XVI, – is the real gnosis". It is the building erected by reason under the impulse of a supernatural principle, which is faith itself. The real gnosis is a development of faith, encouraged by Jesus Christ". For this reason, "Clemens comes to dividing Christians in two categories, the simple and the gnostic". (to be continued)
