Tomorrow, the Pope meets with members of Communion and Liberation:

At least 70 to 80 thousand people of the Communion and Liberation Movement will be in Saint Peter’s Square on the 24th of March for an encounter with Benedict XVI. The pontefice granted an audience to the ecclesiastical group in occassion of the 25th anniversary of the papal recognition of the Fraternity of CL, which took place on the 11th of February 1982 with John Paul II. The gathering will begin at 11.00 and will conclude at 13.00.

This is the first time that the CL Movement, together with its leadership, is officially meeting with the Pope after the death of its founder don Luigi Giussani on 22 February 2005. As a cardinal, Pope Ratzinger never camouflaged his esteem for don Giussani and his movement. And he himself, as papal legate, presided the liturgy for the funeral of the founder, defined by him as a “beloved friend. Before thousands of people in Milan’s Duomo, the then Cardinal Ratzinger, spoke of don Giussani as a man of “imperturbable faith,” who had “earned many hearts to Christ” not testifying Christianity as a “package of dogmas,” but as a “love story” and as “falling in love with Christ.” Some of these themes recur in Benedict XVI’s speeches and in his encyclical letter, seen by him as an important instrument for the evangilisation in Europe and in the world. In the wake of Pentecost last 3 June, which was celebrated with all the ecclesiastical movements, Benedict XVI remembered a definition by John Paul II: “The entire Church is one big movement animated by the Holy Spirit.”

In a high-profile move, Pope Benedict XVI has invited Professor Ali Bardakoðlu, who heads the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate, to the Vatican.

In a written invitation sent to the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate it was stated that the Vatican would be honored to host Bardakoðlu in the Vatican. Upon the directorate’s acceptance of the pope’s invitation, a papal representative will come to Turkey to finalize details of the visit.

But why an exhibit on Joseph Ratzinger in Cologne rather than, say, Regensburg or Munich in his native Bavaria?

Peter Scharr, the curator who is very proud of this effort, says, "There are three reasons. It was in Bonn, which is part of the Archdioocese of Cologne, that the young Ratzinger had his first university professor’s chair. Then, he hit it off right away with Cardinal Frings, which led to a calm but fruitful relationship. Finally, we cannot forget, that Benedict came to this city on the Rhine in August 2005 for World Youth Day, in his first trip abroad as Pope."

Then he adds, "Actually, there’s another very good reason, pehaps the most decisive one. It’s the extraordinary friendship between the Pope and Cardinal Joachim Meisner, the present Archbishop of Cologne."

"Well, everyone knows it," Meisner tells me as he accompanies me through the exhibit. "I have always been deeply and sincerely in agreement with him, even when many were criticizing him. We think the same way.

"When I started to study theology, it was his book, Introduction to Christianity, that formed me, in a convincing and substantial way. God has given us a great Pope who knows how to propose the truths of our faith clearly and simply. At the Conclave, we did not choose him because he is German. We chose him because he was the best."

Meisner is a river in full spate when he gets started about Benedict XVI. At the opening of the exhibit, he delighted the audience with rare anecdotes and sharp observations.

That opening did not lack music by Mozart, a quartet for flute and violins. About Ratzinger’s love of Mozart, Meisner says, "Maybe because his theological thinking unfolds like Mozart’s music – clear, tender and enchanting." [ Meisner once called Ratzinger ‘the Mozart of theology.‘]

The archbishop recalls the time when Ratzinger was nearing his 75th birthday and the Prefect of the CDF told him he wished to leave the Vatican to devote himself to his studies. "I’ve already beaten all previous records for length of time in this post," Ratzinger told him. "It’s time for me to go."

John Paul II, says Meisner, was appalled, and entrusted him with the assignment to talk his friend out of it. "Tell him that without him, I cannot do what I need to do, that Wojtyla’s pontificate needs the theological support of Joseph Ratzinger."

So Meisner went to Ratzinger to carry out his mission. "You’ll have all the time to study when you finally retire. But for now, give it a few more years at the Vatican." Obviously, he succeeded in his assignment.

But retirement? Look where RAtzinger is now.

"You were a terrible prophet," the new Pope jestingly chided Meisner the day after the Conclave.
But why an exhibit on Joseph Ratzinger in Cologne rather than, say, Regensburg or Munich in his native Bavaria?

Peter Scharr, the curator who is very proud of this effort, says, "There are three reasons. It was in Bonn, which is part of the Archdioocese of Cologne, that the young Ratzinger had his first university professor’s chair. Then, he hit it off right away with Cardinal Frings, which led to a calm but fruitful relationship. Finally, we cannot forget, that Benedict came to this city on the Rhine in August 2005 for World Youth Day, in his first trip abroad as Pope."

Then he adds, "Actually, there’s another very good reason, pehaps the most decisive one. It’s the extraordinary friendship between the Pope and Cardinal Joachim Meisner, the present Archbishop of Cologne."

"Well, everyone knows it," Meisner tells me as he accompanies me through the exhibit. "I have always been deeply and sincerely in agreement with him, even when many were criticizing him. We think the same way.

"When I started to study theology, it was his book, Introduction to Christianity, that formed me, in a convincing and substantial way. God has given us a great Pope who knows how to propose the truths of our faith clearly and simply. At the Conclave, we did not choose him because he is German. We chose him because he was the best."

Meisner is a river in full spate when he gets started about Benedict XVI. At the opening of the exhibit, he delighted the audience with rare anecdotes and sharp observations.

That opening did not lack music by Mozart, a quartet for flute and violins. About Ratzinger’s love of Mozart, Meisner says, "Maybe because his theological thinking unfolds like Mozart’s music – clear, tender and enchanting." [ Meisner once called Ratzinger ‘the Mozart of theology.‘]

The archbishop recalls the time when Ratzinger was nearing his 75th birthday and the Prefect of the CDF told him he wished to leave the Vatican to devote himself to his studies. "I’ve already beaten all previous records for length of time in this post," Ratzinger told him. "It’s time for me to go."

John Paul II, says Meisner, was appalled, and entrusted him with the assignment to talk his friend out of it. "Tell him that without him, I cannot do what I need to do, that Wojtyla’s pontificate needs the theological support of Joseph Ratzinger."

So Meisner went to Ratzinger to carry out his mission. "You’ll have all the time to study when you finally retire. But for now, give it a few more years at the Vatican." Obviously, he succeeded in his assignment.

But retirement? Look where RAtzinger is now.

"You were a terrible prophet," the new Pope jestingly chided Meisner the day after the Conclave.