Benedict XVI’s Last Testament

by Jael SC · September 7, 2016

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI’s new memoir, a lengthy interview with German journalist Peter Seewald, will be released in English this November.

(Photo: LOsservatore Romano, CNA)

Letzte Gespräche is being translated as Last Testament by British theologian Jacob Phillips. It will be published by Bloomsbury.

The work is the fruit of several interviews conducted by Mr Seewald a few months after Pope Benedict resigned from the papacy.

It touches on recent events such as the reform of the Roman curia, his abdication, and Pope Francis, as well as serving as an overview of his life, from his childhood as Joseph Ratzinger to his time as Bishop of Rome.

In his responses to Mr Seewald, Benedict speaks about himself, his faith, his weaknesses, his private life, and the scandals and controversial issues of his papacy.

The retired pope also speaks about the reform of the Roman curia, the “Vatileaks” scandal that many pinned as the reason for his stepping-down, and outlines the differences between him and Francis in light of “his own peculiarities” and those of his Argentine successor.

Last Testament is Mr Seewald’s fourth book-interview with Benedict. In 2010 he published Light of the World, and while Cardinal Ratzinger was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith they produced Salt of the Earth and God and the World.—CNA