Brother Francis Intervened on New Pope

Forum Janitor Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:52 pm

A Catholic brother from an obscure religious order in Richmond met then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger 20 years ago and may have influenced one of the more controversial documents written by the man who is now Pope Benedict XVI, a member of the order said yesterday.

Brother Francis Maluf, who is now 91, heads the St. Benedict Center, which advocates a return to Catholic traditions such as Latin Mass and the doctrine that only Catholics can go to heaven.

"He (Ratzinger) was very personable, extremely intelligent," Maluf said in a telephone interview. "I think he is traditional. We have been praying for a Pope to restore the tradition of the Church. I hope he will be the one to do so."

Maluf said Ratzinger summoned him to the Vatican in 1985 to discuss conversations Maluf had with the Rev. Leonard Feeney, the late Jesuit priest who advocated the doctrine of Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus — Latin for "No Salvation Outside the Church." Maluf and Feeney were colleagues.

"He does believe that, definitely," Maluf said of Ratzinger. "As we were talking to him, he was very consenting." That Christmas, Ratzinger sent Maluf a card with a personal note, saying he appreciated the visit, Maluf said.

Fifteen years after the visit, Ratzinger's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a document that upheld the primacy of the Catholic faith, a move that angered leaders of other religions.

Maluf said the 2000 document represented a compromise and didn't go as far as he had hoped.

Still, Brother Andre Marie, the prior of the center, said Maluf's visit likely influenced Ratzinger. Although a small group numerically, the St. Benedict Center has done much to keep the doctrine alive, he said.

This was posted earlier today by Brother Andre:

http://networkedblogs.com/JnHZd