Vision of Love
Encyclical gives insight into Benedict’s goals, church direction
By Scott Alessi
Staff Writer
PISCATAWAY — By focusing on the fundamental concept of God’s eternal love in his first encyclical, Pope Benedict XVI reveals his vision to refocus the church and its people on the core of their faith.
Although the encyclical “God Is Love” may not appear to break new ground on the topic that it covers, according to Father Gregory Uhrig, parochial vicar of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Edison, it can provide us with a greater understanding of Pope Benedict’s philosophy and where he plans to lead the church.
“It’s not just about learning new things,” said Father Uhrig, who discussed the encyclical at a Jan. 19 workshop at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center. The workshop was sponsored by the diocesan Office of Religious Education. “The pope has chosen to write this to let us know what he’s about and what the church is going to highlight during his time as pope.”
An immediately striking feature of this encyclical is the audience that the pope has chosen. “This document is addressed not to the world, but to the Catholic Church,” said Father Uhrig. He explained that while most encyclicals are written to a global audience, Pope Benedict specifically chose to address only Catholics in his letter.
Father Uhrig discussed in detail the early life of Pope Benedict, including his education and his role during the Second Vatican Council. By studying the pope’s past experiences and actions, Father Uhrig explained, one may arrive at a clearer understanding of the worldview he has expressed in the encyclical.
In particular, Father Uhrig said that Pope Benedict has favored tradition over interaction with the modern world and he would seem to prefer “a smaller church which is truer to living the gospel.” Father Uhrig added that although the pope feels strongly that the church must maintain its tradition and identity, he believes we must also find a balance with the modern world.
Father Uhrig also pointed out that Pope Benedict’s past feelings on charity and social justice, as well as his ideas on human nature, are made apparent in the encyclical. “He was not a big supporter of social justice,” said Father Uhrig, who explained that Benedict projects a pessimistic view of the world and skepticism about the church getting involved in politics.
Instead, the pope prefers individual charity, which he feels is a more realistic expression of God’s love. “Love of neighbor,” Pope Benedict writes, “is first and foremost a responsibility for each individual member of the faithful.” Father Uhrig explained that Pope Benedict feels that charity is equal in importance to word and sacrament. “For him, it is just as important to be charitable as it is to eat the body, drink the blood and read the word,” said Father Uhrig.
According to Father Uhrig, the pope’s primary goal is for the church to return to a more spiritual life not only through acts of charity, but through personal reflection as well. “He’s trying to pull people back to contemplation and prayer to get in touch with God,” Father Uhrig said.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law