Ratzinger’s “Introduction to Christianity” published in Russian

Dec 11, 2006 / 22:00 pm

A translation of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s, “Introduction to Christianity,” has been made available in Russian for the first time.  

The book, written in 1968 by the man who is now Pope Benedict XVI, includes a foreword by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church’s foreign department.  The publication was co-financed by the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Peter Humeniuk, an expert in Catholic-Orthodox relations, who heads ACN’s section for relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, said this week that the translation’s publication will provide an excellent step forward in ecumenical relations.  “It is of utmost importance that this reference work by one of the world’s most important theologians is now accessible to Russian readers, especially in academies and seminaries,” he said.

“It is a step towards a better understanding for the common roots of our Churches,” Humeniuk added. “This is also clear from the letter the Pope has sent to Metropolitan Kirill in order to thank him for his foreword.”