Primate of Spain: Criticism of new Pontiff stems from dictatorship of relativism

Toledo, Spain, Apr 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Archbishop Antonio Cañizares Llovera of Toledo, Spain, said the criticism leveled against Pope Benedict XVI in Spain stem from ignorance and from the dictatorship of relativism, alluded to by Cardinal Ratzinger in his last homily as Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Benedict XVI is “a man who is not authoritarian, but he has great moral authority,” Archbishop Cañizares said, adding that “he is as man of faithfulness to the spirit and letter of the Second Vatican Council.”

Commenting on some of the Pontiff’s characteristics, the archbishop noted that he is “among the best theologians of the last century” and that he is “a man of clear-sightedness and is capable of penetrating to the heart of issues.”

Regarding the criticism that has been leveled against the Pope, Archbishop Cañizares recalled that “similar comments were made about Paul VI and John Paul II.”

These attacks “often are made out of ignorance and motivated by interests that have nothing to do with the faith,” the archbishop continued.  “They are criticisms which he himself warned about Monday in his homily, when he mentioned the unbridled pluralism and relativism so out of control that it becomes a true dictatorship over the thought and culture of our times.”

Lastly, Archbishop Cañizares underscored that the direction set out by Pope Benedict XVI “will not be distinct from that which was followed by John Paul II, who himself did not depart from the path laid out by his predecessors.”