Fr. Fessio: "Pope is being publicly scourged!"

“Being publicly scourged”

Jesuit Fr. Joseph Fessio, a former student of Cardinal Ratzinger, speaks out on ‘modern day passion narrative of the Vicar of Christ’

SAN FRANCISCO, March 30 /Christian Newswire -- As nearly one billion Catholics enter Holy Week, their chief shepherd faces attacks in newspapers, blogs, twitter posts, and television and radio news. Unfortunately, the primary news sources repeatedly fail to report accurate timelines and crucial details. The impression is left that Pope Benedict XVI is part of the problem, rather than leading the way to solving it. Consequently, concerned Catholics and others are agitated and confused.

Pope Benedict's former student speaks out in support of the Pope and responds to the lack of responsible journalism on this story. Benedict the XVI is only infallible as an authoritative teacher of the Faith, not as an administrator,” says Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio. “He certainly may have made some mistakes, even serious ones, in the 33 years since he was first made a bishop. But there is no evidence for the ones he's being blamed for in the media; for those who know the facts, the evidence leads to just the opposite conclusion. Like the Master he serves, he's also, after 33 years, being publicly scourged, this time with words."

Comments from Pope Benedict's media detractors have been severe. Fr. Fessio says he admires how, in the midst of this very public suffering, the Holy Father continues to underscore his firm commitment to address the issue of clergy sexual abuse and the underlying problems that gave rise to it. For example, last weekend, the Holy Father released a pastoral letter to Catholics in Ireland regarding the developments there and the Holy See press office has continued to update the media in this area.

Fr. Fessio is founder and editor of Ignatius Press, which is the primary English-language publisher of Pope Benedict XVI's writings. He is also publisher of Catholic World Report magazine, the leading Catholic news and commentary journal in the U.S. Father Fessio wrote his doctoral dissertation under Pope Benedict (then Professor Joseph Ratzinger).

During Ratzinger's time as Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican, Fr. Fessio maintained contact with his former teacher, collaborating with him on several important projects, and was a prominent defender of Ratzinger against his critics. Fr. Fessio is a member of the Joseph Ratzinger "student circle," which continues to meet annually with Pope Benedict.

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