Pope to work on new document during vacation in Bressanone

Rome, Italy, Jul 29, 2008 / 10:32 am

Pope Benedict XVI may be working on the conclusion of the expected social encyclical or on a new document during his vacation in Bressanone, according to Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, who spoke to reporters on the first day of the Pope’s vacation in German-speaking northern Italy.

“It’s possible he will spend some time on the second part of his book about Jesus or on the conclusion of his long-awaited social encyclical. Or perhaps he is thinking of something different, like last year, when we were all expecting the social encyclical after his vacation in Cadore and instead he wrote Spe salvi,” Father Lombardi said.

This is the eleventh time Pope Benedict XVI has visited the seminary at Bressanone.  “The Pope comes specifically to the seminary, which he is very familiar with, especially the library, which he has had a key to since the time he was a cardinal,” said the seminary’s rector Father Ivo Muser.

Recalling the motto “Pietas et Scientia” (Piety and Knowledge) that is displayed over the entrance of the 400 year-old seminary, Father Muser noted that the seminary possesses “a great heritage of culture and art that is very stimulating for the Holy Father.”

It was at this seminary where then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote the first chapters of his book, “Jesus of Nazareth,” and where in 1984, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he was interviewed by Vittorio Messori for his book, “The Ratzinger Report.”

During his first full day of vacation, the Pope spent all of his time inside the seminary.