Cardinal Ratzinger Online

Following is a list of resources by and about Cardinal Ratzinger available on the web.

Please note that, due to the transitory nature of internet content, some links may not be functional. I try to remedy this by reviewing the information and searching the web on a regular basis for new content. The information has been organized into the following categories and when possible arranged chronologically.

Summary of Contents
Excerpts from Books

From The Spirit of the Liturgy.

From Salt of the Earth, Ignatius Press, 1997.

From Feast of Faith: Approaches to the Theology of the Liturgy

From Many Religions, One Covenant.

Additional Texts:

Transcripts of Dialogue & Interviews
2004

2003

2002

2001

1999

1995

1983

  • Interview with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, interview was given August 15-18, 1984 in Bressanone, Italy, with Vittorio Messori. [Basis for The Ratzinger Report]. Jesus, November 1984 issue, Milan, pp. 67-81. Excerpts republished in Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 8, No. 2, March 1985. pp. 1-8.
Special Compilation: The Ratzinger-Kasper Debate

Key Articles

Supplementary Articles & Commentary

Letters from Cardinal Ratzinger
Articles and Essays by Cardinal Ratzinger
SPECIAL COMPILATION:
Complete list of articles by Cardinal Ratzinger
published in Communio
  • "Funeral Homily for Msgr. Luigi Giussani" 31, no. 4 (2004): 685–687. [.pdf format]
  • Introduction to Christianity: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 31, no. 3 (2004): 481–495. [.pdf format].
  • Thoughts on the Place of Marian Doctrine and Piety in Faith and Theology as a Whole 30, no. 1 (2003): 147-160. [.pdf format]
  • The Theological Locus of Ecclesial Movements. 25, no. 3 (1998): 480-504. [.pdf format]
  • Interreligious Dialogue and Jewish-Christian Relations 25, no. 1 (1998): 29-41. [.pdf format]
  • The Holy Spirit as Communio: Concerning the Relationship of Pneumatology and Spirituality in Augustine. 25, no. 2 (1998): 324-339 RT. [.pdf format]
  • "Truth and Freedom." 23, no. 1 (1996): 16-35.
  • "The New Covenant: A Theology of Covenant in the New Testament." 22, no. 4 (1995): 635-51.
  • "Christian Universalism: On Two Collections of Papers by Hans Urs von Balthasar." 22, no. 3 (1995): 545-57 RT.
  • "God in Pope John Paul II's Crossing the Threshold of Hope." 22, no. 1 (1995): 107-12.
  • "Christian Faith as 'the Way': An Introduction to Veritatis Splendor." 21, no. 2 (1994): 199-207.
  • "The Meaning of Sunday." 21, no. 1 (1994): 5-26.
  • "The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Optimism of the Redeemed." 20, no. 3 (1993): 469-84.
  • "Conscience in Time." 19, no. 4 (1992): 647-57 RT.
  • Communio: A Program. 19, no. 3 (1992), 436-49. [.pdf format]
  • "Biblical Foundations of Priesthood." 17, no. 4 (1990): 617-27 NC.
  • "Concerning the Notion of Person in Theology." 17, no. 3 (1990): 439-54 RT.
  • "Jesus Christ Today." 17, no. 1 (1990): 68-87.
  • "Peace and Justice in Crisis: The Task of Religion." 16, no. 4 (1989): 540-51.
  • "Man Between Reproduction and Creation." 16, no. 2 (1989): 197-211.
  • "'You are Full of Grace': Elements of Biblical Devotion to Mary." 16, no. 1 (1989): 54-68.
  • "Homily at the Funeral Liturgy for Hans Urs von Balthasar." 15, no. 4 (1988): 512-16 NC.
  • "Cardinal Frings's Speeches During the Second Vatican Council: Apropos of A. Muggeridge's The Desolate City." 15, no. 1 (1988): 131-47 NC.
  • "Freedom and Liberation: The Anthropological Vision of the Instruction Libertatis Conscientia." 14, no. 1 (1987): 55-72.
  • "Liturgy and Sacred Music." 13, no. 4 (1986): 377-91 NC.
  • "Church and Economy." 13, no. 3 (1986): 199-204. [translated by Stephen Wentworth Arndt, and republished by The Acton Institute -- courtesy of Dr. Johannes Stemmler, secretary emeritus of the BKU (Federation of Catholic Entrepreneurs) and secretary of Ordo socialis in Köln, Germany.]
  • "Interpretation-Contemplation-Action." 13, no. 2 (1986): 139-55.
  • "On Hope." 12, no. 1 (1985): 71-84.
  • "Faith, Philosophy and Theology." 11, no. 4 (1984): 350-63.
  • "Luther and the Unity of the Churches: An Interview with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger." 11, no. 3 (1984): 210-26.
  • "Problems in Catechesis Today: An Interview with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger." 11, no. 2 (1984): 145-56.
  • "Sources and Transmission of the Faith." 10, no. 1 (1983): 17-34.
  • "Technological Security as a Problem of Social Ethics." 5, no. 3 (1982): 238-46.
  • "The Church and Scientific Theology." 7, no. 4 (1980): 332-42.
Presentations & Addresses by Cardinal Ratzinger

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

  • The Ecclesiology of Vatican II, Conference of Cardinal Ratzinger at the opening of the Pastoral Congress of the Diocese of Aversa (Italy). 15 September 2001.
  • Theology of the Liturgy, delivered at a congress on the liturgy held at the Benedictine monastery at Fontgombault in France, 22-24 July 2001. Oriens, Journal of The Ecclesia Dei Society.

2000

1999

1998

  • Crises of Law, delivered by Cardinal Ratzinger on the occasion of being conferred the degree of Doctor Honor's Causa by the LUMSA Faculty of Jurisprudence in Rome, Nov.10, 1999.
  • 10th anniversary of the Motu proprio Ecclesia Dei, Conference of Cardinal Ratzinger 24 October 1998.
  • Theologie: Wissenschaft vs. Autorität?, On January 31st 1998 Cardinal Ratzinger received honorary doctorates from the University of Navarra. The doctorates were conferred by Bishop Javier Echevarria, Prelate of Opus Dei and Chancellor of the University. The following text is Cardinal Ratzinger's address.

1997

  • Question of Truth Lies at the Center of Theology, translation of Cardinal's opening address during the symposium on "The Primacy of the Successor of Peter", sponsored by the CDF. Monday, 2 December 1996. Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English. 1 January 1997.

1996

1993

1992

1991

  • The Problem of Threats to Human Life, Vatican City, April 4-7, 1991. [Note: This consistory was a key preparatory moment for the preparation of the Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae]

1990

  • Update on the Universal Catechism of the Catholic Church, given at the Synod of 1990 [provided by National Conference of Catholic Bishops/U.S. Catholic Conference : Office for the Catechism].
  • On The Nature of the Priesthood, Speech given by Cardinal Ratzinger on October 1, 1990 at the opening of the VIII Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on priestly formation.
  • The Theology of Cardinal Newman The Presentation was given in the centenary year of Newman's death (1990) during a Symposium organized by the International Centre of Newman Friends, run by members of the Spiritual Family, "The Work". L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English. 1 June 2005, page 9.

1988

1984

1983

1981

Formal Documents

Note: For documents by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, click here.

Excerpts from Books About Cardinal Ratzinger
Articles about Cardinal Ratzinger

2005

2004

2003

2001

2000

1999

1998

  • Cardinal Recollections, by Fr. John Jay Hughes. [An article about the early life of Cardinal Ratzinger]. Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., November 8, 1998.

1997