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Theologian Hector Scerri offers his unstinting allegiance to Benedict XVI. The keen Ratzinger fan speaks to JAMES DEBONO
Theologian and vice-rector of the Archbishop’s Seminary Father Hector Scerri is a keen follower of Joseph Ratzinger. As soon as I walked in his office I was overwhelmed by a display of a collection of documents and books written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
The election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI was no great surprise for Fr Scerri. “He was being mentioned a lot by the media but I was also aware of the Roman proverb ‘chi entra papa esce cardinale’. Yet there are past instances when cardinals who were tipped as favourites for the papacy eventually became Popes. The election of Pope Pius XII was practically a foretold conclusion. So was the election of Montini as Paul VI in 1963. But I kept asking myself, is it possible that he will be elected considering that he is being mentioned so much? His age was also an important factor. I was seeing this as something which could have either helped him or, on the other hand, been an obstacle.”
Many have observed that due to his age, at a ripe 78 years, Pope Benedict XVI is serving the role of a transitory pope. Father Hector is not completely convinced. “He will surely not last for twenty-seven years like Pope John II. He is the oldest pope to be elected since 1730. But if the cardinals simply wanted to elect a transitory pope there were plenty of old candidates. I think that basically the cardinals wanted continuity with the previous papacy.”
But can we compare Pope Benedict XVI’s charisma with that of John Paul II? Can we imagine him attracting thousands of so-called ‘Papa boys’?
“The impression given over the years by the media of Ratzinger is that he has an austere, cold personality. But whoever knows him knows that this is not the case. On the human level he is a very warm person. He is also an accomplished pianist. He is a man who expresses his sentiments through music. He has a different form charisma from that of Pope John Paul II.”
Many have speculated on the significance on the choice of the name Benedict. Father Hector notes that through choosing Benedict, the pope could be highlighting the bond between this pope and Saint Benedict, one of the six patron saints of Europe. Father Hector also highlighted the ecumenical significance of this choice. “The Jews and Muslims welcomed the choice of Benedict as the pope’s name. In Hebrew the name Benedict is Baruc while in Arabic it is translated as Mubarak, both of which mean blessed.”
But will Europe be on the top of the new pope’s agenda? “It seems that his message is that he wants to work for the ‘re-Christianisation’ of Europe.” Father Hector thinks that the main challenge for the new pope is religious indifference in Europe. “After the fall of the Roman Empire in the Dark Ages, Saint Benedict had an important role in the creation of a new European civilisation. Through the monasteries he managed to conserve European culture which is fundamentally Christian. Through choosing this name he is saying ‘I want to do my best to rechristianise Europe’.”
The pope seems to have a clear idea of Europe as a cultural and not a geographic expression. He even declared himself against Turkey joining the European Union. Father Hector doubts whether Ratzinger will make such a declaration as pope. “As a leading cardinal in the Curia, he was, in a sense, free to express such an opinion. I don’t think he will express himself on this matter as pope.”
Did Cardinal Ratzinger push himself to the papacy, first by his prominent role in the late pontiff’s funeral and then by addressing the cardinals just before the conclave?
“It was not his choice to address the cardinals. As dean of the College of Cardinals it was his duty. Some years back he had been chosen to be Dean of the College of Cardinals. The regulations stipulate that it is the Dean who is to preside at the deceased pope’s funeral. But one should also keep in mind that the cardinals at last week’s conclave have elected the man who had already been chosen by God. One should not forget the role of the Holy Spirit who guides the cardinal electors to elect the man with those qualities most suited at a particular moment in the history of the Church and the world.”
Father Hector laughs at those who describe Ratzinger as a conservative pope. “All of us in the Church with the duty to teach and spread the teaching of the Church are duty-bound to confirm the traditions which were passed to us. We are duty bound to conserve and transmit this 2000-year-old patrimony to the present generations. I don’t describe him as a conservative but as someone who is loyal to Christ’s truth. There is only one truth of Christ. Through the ages, the Church and its leaders have sought to explain it in different situations. Christ’s truth was the same truth at the time of St Peter; it remained the same truth at the time of Pius XII and Paul VI and remains the same truth now.”
In the periphery of the Church there is an ambiguous grey area which lies between the Catholic Church and the overtly secularised world. Some people identify with the Church but do not follow all teachings in matters like contraception, homosexuality and other issues. How can a pope who has declared himself so clearly on these matters dialogue with these Christians?
“We cannot expect dramatic shifts. We all know what this Pope stands for. When Karol Wojtyla was elected only few people outside Poland knew him. In a sense he was an unknown quantity. We only knew that he was an intrepid defender of the faith. We know so much about Pope Benedict XVI that that now it’s an uphill journey for him now because the media had said so much about him, especially since 1981 when he was appointed to head the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I am sure there will be continuity. We know his positions. Christ’s truth will not change. If something was good it will remain good. If something was evil it will remain evil. The pope is an intellectual and a good listener but he will not water down the essentials of the faith.”
Many referred to his role in the Congregation as that of a doctrinal watchdog, even as far as being dubbed ‘God’s rotweiller’. Will the change in role bring out another side of him?
“His role has changed. In his previous role he was heading a very important office directly answerable to the pope. Today he is the pope. Yet, I do not expect any change in his positions. He will continue teaching the Truth of Christ. On the other hand, I won’t be surprised if he makes significant approaches to the other faiths and other Christians.”
Some observers have commented that John Paul II was successful in filling the squares but not the churches. Will the new pope dedicate most of his energies to fill the churches?
“The pope filled the squares because all the people he gathered could not fit in a church! No church could contain two million youths when they met at Tor Vergata outside Rome. Yet it is true that Christian practice has fallen. In Malta we still have a 70 per cent rate of church attendance, but look at Italy with only eight per cent and France with just two per cent.”
But will Ratzinger’s doctrinal intransigence make the situation any better?
“Youths used to admire and follow John Paul II because he offered a challenge and because he used to say the truth in a clear way. Youths did not follow him just because he was charismatic. They followed him because he used to challenge them with real truths. He used to offer answers. How can one explain the hundreds of thousands gathering to listen to an old man speaking?”
But are these youths more interested in adventure, ritual and spectacle rather than seeking the truth?
“Man is made of soul and body. The spirit looks for truth. Youths are still asking. The problems in our churches have a lot to do with the way the message is being transmitted. It is not just a question of who is pope. On Wednesday the new pope yesterday told cardinals that John Paul II has left the church more courageous, freer and younger, a church following his teaching and example which looks with serenity at the past and is not afraid of the future. I am sure that the same crowds, which used to follow John Paul II, will follow the new pope. He is offering doctrinal security in a world of uncertainties.”
But what about Christians who use contraceptives and attend mass every Sunday? I point out to Fr Scerri that a survey published on the Sunday Times has shown that the majority of Maltese disagree with the Church’s stand on contraception. “There is a place for them in Church. But people have to ask how authentic they are. Are they living a double life?”
But with a pope like Ratzinger will these people have a place in the church? “He has a message for them. He offers them a challenge to acknowledge the truth and to see their lives in the light of truth. Christ has a message for everybody and sees the good in everyone.”
Cardinal Ratzinger is also known for the conflicts with liberation theology and theologians like Hans Küng. Will he make bridges to heal these wounds in the Church? Fr Scerri is very sceptical on reconciliation with these elements of the Church. “A bridge is built from the two sides. The two parties have to approach each other. Kung was very harsh on the previous pope and even on the choice of the new pope. This will make things difficult.”
Fr Hector does not exclude that the new pope will soon visit Malta. “He seems healthy but one has to consider his age. I hope he will visit Malta in the not too distant future to canonise Dun Gorg Preca.”
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