Letters

Fatima and Benedict XVI

Paul MacLeod

Contents - Sep 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Support the 2005 Fighting Fund! - Peter Westmore Events: Sydney to host World Youth Day 2008 - AD2000 REPORT News: The Chuch Around the World Canadian Bishops' cave-in to 'renegade Catholicism' under fire Priesthood: America's 'vocation rich' dioceses: latest success stories analysed - AD2000 Report Can reverence at Mass make a comeback? - Michael Ryan Interview: Benedict XVI and the power of the Eucharist - Fr John Corapi Education: Catholic schools of the future - Br John Moylan CFC Cinema: The Church under Nazism: a sensitive film portrayal in 'The Ninth Day' - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) BOOKS: The Myth of Hitler's Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued Jews from the Nazis - Thomas E. Woods Jr (reviewer) A religious response to evil ideologies - John Rego Letters: Liturgy - John Daly Letters: Liberal manifesto - Dr Peter Gilet Letters: Fatima and Benedict XVI - Paul MacLeod Letters: Society of St Pius X - Fr Kevin Robinson Events: C.S. Lewis Seminar - Sat 17 Sept 2005 2pm-9pm Letters: Ethical medicine? - Dr A.W. Hartwig Letters: Latin Mass - Richard Congram Letters: Simple Catechisms - Rosanna Sherman Letters: Gnosticism Letters: Good reading - E. Pickering Books: GOING AGAINST THE STREAM: Ethical Aspects of Ageing and Care, by Peter Jeffery - Kerrie Allen (reviewer) Books: THE ART OF GIVING by Francine Black - Kerrie Allen (reviewer) Books: THE PATH OF LIFE: Benedictine Spirituality for Monks and Lay People - Gabrielle Walsh (reviewer) Books: STAIRWAY TO THE UPPER ROOM: Daily Meditations on the Gospel Readings - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: The Holy Shroud, by Antonio Cassanelli - Gabrielle Walsh (reviewer) Books: More good reading from AD Books Reflection: Benedict XVI: how to make the new evangelisation more effective - Fr Dennis Byrnes PP

The editor of Britain's Catholic Herald (August AD2000) suggests that it would be surprising if we hear any more about Fatima during Benedict XVI's pontificate.

Well, just for the record, his pontificate was consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima by Cardinal Policarpo, Patriarch of Lisbon, at a ceremony at Fatima on 13 May. The cardinal said he was doing this to fulfil a promise he made to the Pope on the day of his election. When it came to his turn to pledge obedience to the new Holy Father, Benedict XVI grasped the cardinal's hands and spoke to him about Fatima, so Cardinal Policarpo promised the Pope he would consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady, and the Pope thanked him.

And the chances are that Benedict XVI will be the Pope to canonise Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto before too long.

PAUL MacLEOD
Geelong, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 8 (September 2005), p. 15