1. 4.10 Today's challenges
A striking quality of Benedict XVI is his capacity for analysis. The study of the history of philosophical and
theological ideas, the experiences of his life under different political models, knowledge of classical
literature ... coupled with his insight and clarity of mind, makes him worthy of being considered a great
analyst.
Here we collect some challenges, particularly 10retos-and-50ideas some ideas to give a number, "he said at
various times and interventions. Are challenges for people today, for Christians, for the Church. Do not try
to collect all, or try to rank them. Aim only some of which he pointed out. Before you pick up some
suggestions and requirements to enable us to accept and address.

2. 3.4 Lighting up the night of the world
[Each Christmas] reminds us of two things: first, that the presence of God in the world has already begun, and that he is already present in a
hidden way, secondly, that this presence of God has just begun, not yet total, but is in the process of growth and maturation. His presence has
already begun, and we, the believers who, by his will, we must do this in the world. It is through our faith, hope and love as he wants to shine
the light continuously on the night of the world. So we turn the lights on dark nights this winter will be both comfort and warning: comforting
certainty that "the light of the world has been turned on and in the dark night in Bethlehem and has changed the night of human sin on the
holy night of divine forgiveness on the other hand, the awareness that this light can only-and only wants to "continue to shine if it is sustained
by those who, being Christians, continue through the time the work of Christ. The light of Christ wants to light up the night of the world
through the light that is us, their presence has already begun to continue growing through us. Where in the holy night and again sound the
anthem Hodi Christus natus est, we must remember that the start that there was in Bethlehem to be in us a permanent home, which that holy
night is again a 'today' increasingly a man allows the light of good will do away in it the darkness of selfishness the child God (...) arises where
work is the inspiration of the love of God, which does more than exchanging gifts.
Monday January 1, 2007
3.4.a
4.4 We can recreate the world
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God to proclaim the deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into
his wonderful light" (1 p.2, 9).These words of the Apostle Peter reminds us not only the dignity that we thank God, but also pose a challenge
and ever greater fidelity to the glorious inheritance received in Christ (cf. Eph 1:18). Challenge us to examine our consciences, to purify our
hearts, to renew our baptismal commitment to reject Satan and all his empty promises.Challenge us to be a people of joy, heralds of hope
does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5) born of faith in the Word of God and trust in his promises. In this land, you and many of your neighbors pray
every day to the Father in the Lord's words: "Thy kingdom come." This prayer needs to shape the minds and hearts of every Christian in this
nation.Should bear fruit in the way you live your hope and how you build your family and your community. You must create new "places of
hope" (cf. Spe Salvi, 32ss) in which the Kingdom of God is made present in all its saving power. In addition, to pray fervently for the coming of
the Kingdom means being constantly alert to the signs of their presence, working to grow in every sector of society. This means addressing the
challenges of the present and the future confident of the victory of Christ and committed to extend His Kingdom. It involves not lose
confidence with resistance, adversity or scandals. It means overcoming every separation between faith and life, opposing the false gospels of
freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, because, as stated by the Second Vatican
Council, "no human activity even in temporal affairs, can escape the sovereignty of God "(Lumen Gentium, 36). This means striving to enrich
American society and culture to beauty and truth of the gospel, never losing sight of that great hope which gives meaning and value to all the
other hopes which inspire our lives.
New York. April 20, 2008.
4.4.a
No shade, no matter how dense it is, you can dim the light of Christ. Therefore, those who believe in Christ always maintain hope, even today,
given the great social and economic crisis afflicting humanity to the destructive hatred and violence that continue to bloody many regions of
the earth, before the selfishness and pretension of man to establish itself as a god of himself, which sometimes leads to dangerous changes in
the divine plan for life and human dignity, the family and the harmony of creation.
St. Peter's Basilica, Tuesday, January 6, 2009
4.4.b
I ask you, more, more, partners in the Pope's universal apostolic ministry, opening the doors to Christ. This is the best service in the Church
men and a very special way to the poor, for the life of the person, a more just order in society and peaceful coexistence among nations, find in
Christ the "cornerstone "on which to build the genuine civilization, a civilization of love. The Holy Spirit gives believers a superior vision of the
world, life, history and custodians of hope does not disappoint.
Saturday June 3, 2006.
4.4.c
Dear friends, God's creation is unique and good. The concerns for nonviolence, sustainable development, justice and peace, caring for our
environment are of vital importance for humanity. But all this can not be understood apart from a profound reflection upon the innate dignity
of every human life from conception to natural death: a dignity conferred by God himself and thus inviolable. Our world is tired of greed,
exploitation and division, the tedium of false idols and partial responses, and the pain of false promises. Our hearts and our minds yearn for a
vision of life where love reigns, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom has its own meaning in truth and where identity is
found in respectful communion. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the hope that the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You have been recreated in
Baptism and strengthened through the gifts of the Spirit in Confirmation precisely to bear witness to this reality.
WYD Sydney. Thursday July 17, 2008
4.4.d
Many times the signs of power held by the powerful of this world are an insult to truth, justice and the dignity of man! Many times their
ceremonies and their big words, in reality they are nothing but lies pompous, a caricature of the task to be by his office, to catch the service of
good. Jesus, precisely because it is mocked and wears the crown of suffering, is the true king. His scepter is justice. The price of justice is
suffering in this world: he, the true King, does not reign through violence but through love suffering for us and with us. It takes upon itself the
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3. Cross, our cross, the burden of being man, the weight of the world. This is how it goes before us and shows us how to find the way to eternal
life.
Friday, 03/24/2005
4.4.f
5.4 Do not relocate your lampstand
The Lord, in the Old Testament and New, announces the trial of the unfaithful vineyard. Isaiah foresaw the trial that took place in the great
wars and exile at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians. The trial announced by the Lord Jesus refers mainly to the destruction of
Jerusalem in AD 70. But the threat of trial, we also concerns us, the Church in Europe, Europe and the West in general. With this Gospel, the
Lord speaks to us also to us the words in the Revelation sent to the Church of Ephesus: "Repent . (...) If not, go to you and remove your
lampstand from its place "(Rev 2, 5). Also we can remove the light, which is why we must allow resonate with all its seriousness in our soul the
warning, saying at the same time to the Lord: "Help us to become. Grant us all the grace of true renewal. Do not let turns off your light among
us. Strengthen our faith, our hope and our love, that we may bear good fruit. "
Sunday 2 October 2005
5.4.a
6.4 The two essential coordinates
Two priorities: first, the choice of the "primacy of God: life and work of the Church depend on putting God first, but not a generic God but the
Lord, with your name and face , the God of the covenant, which brought out the people from slavery in Egypt, raised Christ from the dead and
wants to lead humanity to freedom in peace and justice.
The other option is to put in the center to the individual and the unity of his existence in the various areas in which it is done: the emotional
life, work and party, its own fragility, tradition, citizenship. The triune God and the person in relationship: these are the two references to the
Church's mission is to provide every human generation as a service to the construction of a free and unified society. Certainly the Church does
with its doctrine, but mainly through the testimony.
Genoa. Sunday May 18, 2008.
6.4.a
7.4 Challenge 1: A real Jesus
When I ask what causes that emptied our churches, that faith be fading quietly, I would reply that the central reason is the process of
emptying the figure of Jesus, while the formulation of the term deist God. The substitute of Jesus, more or less romantic, which is offered is
not enough. It lacks reality and closeness. The Jesus of the Gospels, which become known in the Catechism, is contemporary because he is the
Son, and is accessible because it is human. Its human history is never pure past, all this is taken in him and in the community of his disciples as
this, and I touch.
Evangelization, catechesis and catechism. Lecture given at the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, April, 4, 1998
7.4.a
Following in the footsteps of St. Augustine, you too must be a church that boldly announce "good news" of Christ and his proposal of life, its
message of reconciliation and forgiveness. I've seen your first pastoral objective is to lead people to Christian maturity. I appreciate the priority
that otorgáis personal training, because the Church is not just an organization of mass demonstrations, or the opposite, the sum of individuals
living a private religion. The Church is a community of people who believe in the God of Jesus Christ and commit to live in the world the
commandment of love he left us. Therefore, it is a community that teaches us love, and this education takes place not in spite of the events of
life, but through them. So it was for St. Peter to St. Augustine and all the saints. So also for us.
Sunday April 22, 2007.
7.4.b
9.4 Challenge 3: First of materialism
What about the fact that in today's consumerist society of profit and success have become the new idols before which many fall down? The
result is that people tend to give value only to those who, as the saying goes-" has made a fortune "and is" famous "and not who laboriously
each day must fight to survive. The possession of material goods and the applause of people have replaced the work on oneself which serves
to temper the spirit and form an authentic personality. There is a risk of being superficial, to traverse dangerous shortcuts in search of success,
delivering and life experiences that arouse immediate satisfaction, but are in themselves precarious and deceptive. It increases the tendency
to individualism, and when the person concentrates only in itself, inevitably becomes fragile, lack the patience to listen, to understand the
essential phase one and work together.
Yenn. Sunday September 7, 2008
9.4.a
One can be materially poor but have a heart full of desire for material wealth and power derived from wealth. The very fact that he lives in
envy and greed shows that in his heart, belongs to the rich. Want to change the distribution of goods, but to get to be himself in the situation
of the rich as before.
Poverty, in the sense that Jesus gives the meaning of the prophets, "presupposes above all be free inside the greed of possession and the thirst
for power. This is a greater reality than just a different distribution of assets, restricted to the field rather material and harden their
hearts. First, it is the purification of the heart, by which possession is recognized as a responsibility, as a task with respect to others, placing
under the eyes of God and being led by Christ, who, being rich, became poor for us (cf. 2 Cor 8, 9).
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4. WYD. Sunday April 9th, 2006
9.4.b
Life is always a choice: between honesty and injustice, between fidelity and infidelity, between selfishness and altruism, between good and
evil. It is incisive and decisive conclusion of the Gospel: "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or be devoted to first and will ignore the latter." Finally, "says Jesus - you have to decide: "You can not serve God and mammon" (Lk 16,
13). The word used to mean money - "Mammon" - is reminiscent of Phoenician origin and economic security and success in business. We could
say that wealth is presented as the idol to be sacrificed anything to material success, so, this economic success becomes the true god of a
person.
It is therefore essential that a decision to choose between God and "Mammon" must choose between the logic of profit as the ultimate
criterion of our business and the logic of sharing and solidarity. When the logic of profit prevails, increases the disparity between rich and poor
and harmful exploitation of the planet. By contrast, when the prevailing logic of sharing and solidarity, we can correct the path and directing it
towards equitable development, for the common good of all.
Velletri, Sunday September 23, 2007.
9.4.c
Paraphrasing a reflection of St. Augustine, we might say that through earthly riches we get the real and eternal. Indeed, if there are people
willing to all kinds of injustice so to obtain a material welfare always uncertain how much more we, as Christians, we should be concerned to
provide for our eternal happiness with the goods of this earth!(Cf. Discourses 359, 10).
However, the only way to make bear fruit for eternity our personal qualities and capacities, as well as the wealth we possess, is shared with
our brothers, thus being good stewards of what God entrusts to us. Jesus says: "He who is faithful in little, it is also in much: and he that is
unjust in little is also in much" (Lk 16, 10).
Velletri, Sunday September 23, 2007
9.4.d
This also should give us pause to Christians today: our faith is pure and open enough to that, thanks to her also the "heathen" people today are
seeking and have their questions, to envisage the light of the one God, join together in the atria of faith with our prayer and questions them
may also become worshipers? The belief that greed is idolatry, "also comes to our hearts and our lifestyle? Can not we let in various ways, to
idols also in the world of our faith? Are we willing to be continually purified by the Lord, allowing us to throw and the Church everything that is
contrary to it?
WYD. Sunday March 16, 2008.
9.4.e
10.4 Challenge 4: Overcoming Relativism
Today, a particularly insidious obstacle to the educational work is the massive presence in our society and culture, relativism that, by failing to
recognize anything as definitive, leaves as the ultimate measure only the self with its whims and, under the semblance of freedom, becomes
for everyone in a prison, because it separates them from each other, leaving each locked within his own self. Thus, within that timeframe is
not possible relativistic true education, because without the light of truth, sooner or later, everyone is left to doubt the goodness of his own
life and relationships that constitute the validity of its effort to build with others something in common. It is therefore evident that not only
must try to overcome relativism in our work of training people, we are also called to counter the destructive dominance in society and culture.
Therefore, in addition to the word of the Church is very important witness and public commitment of Christian families, especially to reaffirm
the inviolability of human life from conception until its natural end, unique and irreplaceable value of the family founded on marriage, and the
need for legislation administrative and sustain families in the task of breeding and raising children, which was critical for our common
future. Also by this commitment I thank you cordially.
Monday June 6, 2005
9.5.a
11.4 Challenge 5: Respect the individual
Naturally, the child Jesus also reminds us all children of the world, which wants to go out to meet us: children living in poverty, those who are
exploited as soldiers, those who have never been able to experience the love of their parents of children sick and suffering, but also happy and
healthy. Europe has impoverished children: we want everything for ourselves, and perhaps not rely too much on the future. But the earth will
have no future if it is off the forces of the human heart and of reason illuminated by the heart, if the face of God ceases to shine upon the
earth. Where God is, no future.
MARIAZELL. Saturday September 8
11.4.a
The Church [...] is aware that, to promote development, it is necessary that our "look" on the man resembles that of Christ. In fact, it is quite
impossible to respond to the material and social needs men without filling, especially of the profound desires of their hearts. It should be
emphasized more strongly in our time of great change, we perceive an ever more vital and urgent our responsibility towards the poor of the
world [...] The primary contribution that the Church offers to human development and peoples not based on material means or technical
solutions, but in the proclamation of the truth of Christ, Who educates consciences and teaches the authentic dignity of the person and work,
promoting the creation of a culture that truly responds to all questions of man.
Sunday, March 29, 2009.
11.4.b
The eternal Word became small, small enough to fit into a manger. He became a child so that the Word is in our power. God teaches us to love
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5. the little ones. A love for the weak. A respect for children. The child of Bethlehem directs our gaze towards all children who suffer and are
abused in the world, the born and the unborn. Towards children who are placed as soldiers in a world of violence on children who have to beg,
in children who suffer deprivation and starvation, in children who are unloved. In all cases, the child of Bethlehem who calls us, calls us the
God who has become small. On this night, we pray that the brightness of God's love enfold all these children, and ask God to help us to do
everything in our power to respect the dignity of children born to all the light of love, which mankind needs so much more than the material
necessities of life.
Vatican Basilica, December 25, 2006
11.4.c
12.4 Challenge 6: Be open
His Kingdom is universal. Met the ancient hope of Israel: the royalty of David and knows no boundaries. It extends "from sea to sea" as the
prophet Zechariah (9.10), ie spanning the globe. But this is only possible because it is the sovereignty of political power, but is based solely on
the free membership of love, a love that responds to the love of Jesus Christ who gave himself for all. I think we always have to relearn
both. First of all, universality, catholicity. This means that nobody can consider himself, his culture and his world time as absolute. And that
requires us all let us accept each other, giving up something of ours. The universality includes the mystery of the cross, overcoming
themselves, obedience to the word of Christ, which is common in the church common. Universality is always an excess of themselves, give
something personal.Universality and the cross go together. Only thus establishing peace.
WYD. Sunday April 5, 2009.
12.4.a
Dear brothers and sisters, this year closes with the consciousness of a growing social and economic crisis, which affects the whole world, a
crisis which requires all more sober and solidarity to help particular individuals and families with more severe difficulties . The Christian
community is already committed, and I know the diocesan Caritas and other charities do their best, but we need the collaboration of all,
because nobody can think about building its own his own happiness.
Although the horizon is not a few shadows loom over our future, we should not be afraid. Our great hope as believers is eternal life in
communion with Christ and all God's family. This great hope gives us the strength to confront and overcome the difficulties of life in this
world. This afternoon, the maternal presence of Mary assures us that God never abandons us, if we give ourselves to him and follow his
teachings. Thus, with filial affection and trust us entrust to Mary the hopes and desires and fears and difficulties we have in the heart. She, the
Virgin Mother, we offer the Child lying in the manger as our sure hope. Filled with confidence, we can then sing the Te Deum at the end: "In te,
Domine, speravi: non confusing in aeternum," "You, Lord, are our hope, we will not be confused forever. "Yes, Lord, you hope, today and
forever, you are our hope.
Vatican Basilica, December 31, 2008
12.4.b
On the surface this looks away from the world and its problems, but in reality it is found that just knowing God more closely, the signs are also
fundamental to our life, as happened to Moses at Sinai and stay up in the presence of God, received the law engraved in stone tablets, in
which the people found a guide to move forward, to find freedom and to train as people in freedom and justice. From the name of God
depends on our history, in the light of your face depends on our way.
This reality of God, which he himself has released revealing his "name", ie his face, derives a certain image of man, namely, the concept of
person. If God is a dialogical unity, being in relation, the human creature made in His image and likeness, reflected that constitution. It is
therefore called to be in dialogue, the symposium, at the meeting. It is a being in relationship.
In particular, Jesus revealed to us that man is essentially "son", a creature that lives in relationship with God the Father, and thus in relation to
all his brothers and sisters.The man is not at the absolute autonomy, mistakenly believing he is God, but on the contrary, recognizing child,
child open geared to God and neighbor, whose face is the image of the common Father.
Genoa. Sunday May 18, 2008.
12.4.c
13.4 Challenge 7: Show the taste of freedom
The bitterness against the Church also presents a specific reason. In the midst of a world governed by harsh discipline and inexorable
constraints now and always rises to the Church a silent hope: she could, in the midst of this small island a better life, an oasis of freedom in
that when then one can retire. Anger, or disappointment, against the Church are of a completely particular, because she expected more
quietly than other worldly institutions. It should be the dream of a better world. Or at least they should feel the taste of freedom, being free:
that out of the cave I mentioned San Gregorio Magno, referring to Plato. However, from the time that the Church has specifically removed
such dreams, also assuming the aspect of an institution and of all that is human, to rise up against her in a bitter rage. And the anger will not
disappear, because you can not extinguish that dream is a desperate way to transform it according to our desires: a place where you can
express all liberties, an area in which fall our limits, where this experience utopia that must exist somewhere. Just as in the field of political
action would finally build a better world, so too should ediñcar finally a better Church, perhaps as the first stage of the road leading to it. A
church full of humanity, full of brotherly respect, creativity, generosity, a place of reconciliation for all and for all.
Being Christian in neo-pagan era, Ediciones Encuentro, Madrid, 1990
13.4.b
15.4 Challenge 9: Create the unity of all men
The Holy Spirit, with his breath, drives us to Christ. The Holy Spirit works bodily, not only act subjectively or "spiritually." The disciples who saw
it as just a "spirit," Risen Christ said: "Behold my hands and my feet myself. Touch me and see that a spirit, a ghost has not flesh and bones as
you see I have" (Lk 24, 39). This applies to the risen Christ in every period of history. Risen Christ is not a ghost is not only a spirit, not just a
thought, not just an idea. It remains the Incarnate. Resurrected taking our flesh, and always continues to build his body, making us his Body.
The Spirit blows where it wills, and his will is unity embodied, a unit that encounters the world and transforms it.
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6. Saturday June 3, 2006
15.4.a
In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells us that this Body of Christ, which is the Church, has joints (cf. Eph 4, 16) and even names: they are
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (cf. Eph 4, 12). The Spirit is multifaceted in their gifts, as we see here. If you look at
history, if you look at this assembly in the Plaza de San Pedro, we realize that he inspires ever new gifts. We see how different are the bodies
that he creates and how he works bodily ever again. But he multiplicity and unity go together. He blows where he wills. He does so unexpected
in unexpected places and in ways never before imagined. And with what diversity and embodiment do it! And it is precisely here that
diversity and unity are inseparable. He wants your diversity and he wants you for the one body, in union with the permanent orders "joints" of
the Church, with the successors of the Apostles and with the Successor of Peter. Does not lessen our effort to learn how to relate to one
another, but also shows us that he works with a view to the one body and the unity of one body. Only thus precisely the unity obtains its
strength and beauty.
Saturday 3 June 2006
15.4.b
His country is the earth, the whole world. Surpassing all boundaries, it creates unity in diversity of cultures. Passing through the clouds with his
eyes of history that separated the prophet Jesus, we see from afar emerge in this prophecy the network of Eucharistic communities embracing
the earth, worldwide, a network of communities that constitute the "kingdom of peace "of Jesus from sea to sea to the ends of the earth. He
comes to all cultures and all parts of the world, wherever, to the miserable huts and poor areas, and the splendor of the lecture
them. Everywhere it is the same, the only, and thus all praying together, in communion with him, are also linked together in a single
body. Christ himself to become dominant in our bread and giving himself to us. This builds his kingdom.
World Youth Day, Sunday April 9, 2006
15.4.c
The Holy Spirit gives the gift of understanding. Exceeds the breakdown started in Babel, the confusion of hearts, that we faced each other,
"and open borders. The people of God, he had found in its first configuration Sinai, now extended to the disappearance of all borders. The new
people of God, the Church is a people coming from all peoples. The Church from the beginning, is Catholic, this is your deepest essence. St.
Paul explains and highlights this in the second reading, when he says: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized form but one body, whether Jews
or Greeks, slaves or free. And we have all drunk of one Spirit "(1 Cor 12, 13). The Church always needs to become again what it is: you must
open borders between peoples and break down barriers between classes and races. It can not be neither forgotten nor neglected. In the
Church there are only brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. The wind and the fire of the Holy Spirit must open the borders constantly men are
still rising among us, we always go back to Babel, closed in on ourselves, to Pentecost. Por tanto, debemos orar siempre para que el Espíritu
Santo nos abra, nos otorgue la gracia de la comprensión, de modo que nos convirtamos en el pueblo de Dios procedente de todos los pueblos;
más aún, san Pablo nos dice: en Cristo, que como único pan nos alimenta a todos en la Eucaristía y nos atrae a sí en su cuerpo desgarrado en la
cruz, debemos llegar a ser un solo cuerpo y un solo espíritu.
Sunday, May 15, 2005.
15.4.d
Risen Christ is not a ghost is not only a spirit, not just a thought, not just an idea. Remained incarnate. Rose on taking our flesh, and is always
building his body, making us his Body. The wind blows where it wishes and his will is unity embodied, the unit that encounters the world and
transforms it.
Saturday, June 3, 2006
15.4.e
It is clear that this conception of God and man is at the base of a corresponding model of human community and therefore of society. It is a
model prior to any regulatory policy, legal, institutional, and even before cultural specifications. A model of humanity as a family, cutting
across all civilizations, we Christians mean by saying that all men are children of God and therefore all are brothers. It is true that from the
beginning is behind us and at the same time, is constantly before us, as a project that we should always aim at all social construction.
Genova. Sunday, May 18, 2008.
15.4.f
In a society that tends to globalization and individualism, the Church is called to give testimony of koinonia, communion. This reality does not
come "from below", but a mystery, so to speak, has its "roots in heaven," precisely in the Triune God. He, himself, is the eternal dialogue of
love that Jesus Christ has told us, has entered the fabric of humanity and history, to bring them to the fullest. This is precisely the great
synthesis of Vatican II: The Church as a mystery of communion, "is in Christ like a sacrament or sign and instrument of intimate union with God
and the unity of the whole human race" (Lumen Gentium, 1 .)
Genova. Sunday, May 18, 2008.
15.4.g
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