Priest Swaps Clerical Hats with a 'Sharp, Healthy' Benedict XVI

Catholic News Agency ^ | 11/12/14 | Elise Harris

[marshmallow]

Rome, Italy, Nov 12, 2014 / 11:49 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A priest who met and exchanged zucchettos with retired pontiff Benedict XVI last week marveled at the former pope's joy, mental clarity and good health.

“We were so, so enthused by the joy in Benedict, (by his) his serenity. He's a man at peace, at peace in the will of God for him today, which is to pray for the Church,” Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo told CNA Nov. 7.

Benedict XVI is like a wise grandfather, he said, pointing out how as “a tender man who is full of humility,” the retired pope is a living example of what Pope Francis means when he often speaks of the importance of tenderness.

“He is in fantastic health, fantastic health, and his mind is as sharp today and perhaps even sharper than when he was the great theologian and the great Pope that we knew him as.”

Msgr. Figueiredo serves as spiritual director at Rome's Pontifical North American College. He was one of five leaders of the new “Caritas in Veritate International” confederation, for which he also serves as Vice President for Relations with Bishops, who met Benedict XVI last Thursday.

Inspired by the retired pontiff's encyclical letters “Deus Caritas est” – God is Love – and “Caritas in Veritate” – Charity in Truth – the organization is made up of several Catholic communities, international groups and charitable institutions who are involved in missions in 80 countries throughout the world.

By using these two encyclicals as the foundation for their work, the organization, who also met with Pope Francis at the end of their Nov. 4-9 leaders' forum in Rome, seeks to unite works of charity with the preaching of the Gospel.

[Romulus]

It’s entirely characteristic of Ratzinger that he honors this innocent custom notwithstanding any private opinion of it that he may have. Like the red shoes and the camauro and all the rest. Because it isn’t all about him.