Pope Benedict XVI shows that true joy in life comes from the faith, says his personal
secretary
(05 Aug. 2006) : A Vatican Radio interview on Thursday with Fr. Georg Ganswein, Pope
Benedict’s personal secretary, on the occasion of his 50th birthday revealed
that the daily life of the Holy Father is filled with work but that he always has
time for prayer and mediation. If there is any one thing that is present in all that
the Holy Father says and does, it is his desire to show that only, “the faith makes
living joyful and brings joy to life. This is present in everything he says…and this
joy of the faith should infect us as well, Fr. Georg said.
The Pope’s day
begins with Mass at 7am, followed by Morning Prayer and a period of contemplation
and silence before the Lord. Afterwards we eat breakfast together, and my day then
begins with sorting through the correspondence, which arrives every day in considerable
quantity. The day continues with a brief conversation with the Holy Father and then
I accompany him, as is the custom, to the private audiences that take place before
midday in the ‘Seconda Logia.’ Afterward we eat lunch together and then take a short
walk before resting. The second half of our day begins with perusing correspondence
again, and I present to the Pope that which is most important and which requires his
signature, or his study and approval. Naturally there are a host of things that come
to the attention of the Holy Father but that are not, as such, part of the ordinary
routine and that are of a second, third or fourth order,” Father Georg explained.
He added that one of his main tasks is to “protect the Holy Father from the enormous
amount of mail, papers, and letters so that he can do what truly needs to be done,
with due tranquillity.”
Having known the Pope for eleven years, Father Georg
says he sees no difference between Joseph Ratzinger the cardinal and Joseph Ratzinger
the Pope. “Of course, the office accentuates certain characteristics, but his personality,
his friendliness and his brilliance are the same as ever,” he noted.