Jan 25, 2008 / 16:41 pm
The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Cristoph Schönborn, gave a DVD to Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday containing a summary by Austrian National Radio of his visit to Austria last September and recalling the years the cardinal spent as a student of then Professor Ratzinger.
“Listening to Benedict XVI is always a great opportunity, because he always gives us hope,” the cardinal said. “Everybody in Austria was amazed at how the Pope faced any issue, how he teaches with his testimony, with clarity and humility, arguing for the beauty of the faith,” the cardinal added.
“I was a student of the university professor Joseph Ratzinger, and I remember that he was not afraid to address any question, any issue, not even during the difficult years,” Cardinal Schönborn recalled. “When I think of my professor, who is now Pope, I wonder what was so fascinating about him to us students. Why did people come from all over the world to study with him? Joseph Ratzinger always had this unique way of diving deep into things without leaving out the existential aspect,” he said.
“The students were fascinated with this calm and rigorous man, always capable of indicating the path from doctrine to experience,” the cardinal said in conclusion.