Conversation with the Pope's brother

National Catholic Register has published a two-part interview, conducted by Robert Rauhut, with Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, the older brother of Pope Benedict XVI. From part one (April 20-26):

But is it possible for you to distinguish your “little brother” from your Holy Father?

Certainly I have respect for him and one has to distinguish between the general human aspect, him being my brother, and the ecclesial one, that he is my superior in that regard. And there he also enjoys my particular admiration.

But in our personal conversation we are just the same as ever.

Do you talk about theology and ecclesial politics?

Hardly. Our conversation is everyday talk, but also remembrances. On ecclesial politics very little, because I generally do not want to interfere in his job and I do not want to influence him in any way.

Issues that are known generally are sometimes taken into the discussion, but generally little.

And theology?

I like reading his works, but talking about it is something different. Sometimes when I have read something, I will ask him about it so that he can explain it to me. But we … are together in a human way and talk about everyday human life.

He asks about people he knows from Regensburg and other places. He wants to know how they’re doing and what they’re up to.

Read part one. And here is part two, just published (May 11-17).

• The Pope's Childhood: In His Own Words | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | An excerpt from Salt of the Earth: The Church at the End of the Millennium.

Comments

[Dan]

If I were the Pope's bother I have to say that I would pick the Pope's brain a littttle bit more.