Ratzinger's Faith: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI by Tracey Rowland

Synopsis

A popular reading of Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) is that he started out as a progressive but had second thoughts after the cultural revolution of the late 1960s. A more negative portrait is that of an ambitious and intellectually precocious young man who changed theological allegiances for the sake of promotion within the Catholic hierarchy.
Now, in this probing book, Tracey Rowland offers a third reading, one that situates the thought of Pope Benedict within the intellectual history and academic circles of his time. The first serious assessment of the new Pope's theological vision, this thoughtful volume covers topics such as the interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Benedict's relations with other important scholars and theologians, and his attitudes on moral and political theology, western culture, the structure of the Catholic Church, liturgy, and love. It has become a commonplace observation that Pope Benedict has been influenced by the thought of St. Augustine in contrast to many of his predecessors in the papacy who were much more strongly influenced by St. Thomas Aquinas. This work therefore addresses the topic of in what way Benedict is an Augustinian. The volume also includes a bibliography arranged thematically for those who want to explore his thought more deeply in a particular area.
A penetrating account of the thought of the reigning pontiff, this volume offers a wealth of insight for everyone interested in Pope Benedict and the direction of the modern Catholic Church.

John-Leonard Berg - Library Journal

These texts provide accessible overviews of Pope Benedict's theological foundation, a foundation that influenced his priesthood as a young cleric and continues to direct his thinking as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike many other recent popes, Benedict has been deeply influenced by the teachings and writings of St. Augustine, which have flavored his understanding of issues of morality, politics, ecclesiology, worship, and history. Here, Rowland (political philosophy & continental theology, John Paul II Inst., Melbourne, Australia) brilliantly identifies the subtle influences between Benedict and his theological peers and speculates on the direction of his pontificate. Her work is more theoretical than Thomas E. Woods Jr.'s Sacred Then and Sacred Now: The Return of the Old Latin Mass, which provides a useful handbook in understanding the reasons why Benedict restored the Missal of 1962 as well as commentaries on the liturgy's actual actions. Woods's book, with its practical focus, is better suited to lay worshipers, though it nicely complements Rowland's more academic text. Both are recommended for select theological collections.

Biography

Tracey Rowland is Dean and Associate Professor of Political Philosophy and Continental Theology of the John Paul II Institute, Melbourne, Australia, and Member of the Centre of Theology and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham.