Introduction: A Quiet Call in the Halls of the Vatican
In the crisp December air of 2025, as the Catholic world prepares for the joys of Advent and the solemnity of Christmas, a gentle yet profound stir has rippled through the Church. On December 7, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the longtime personal secretary to the late Pope Benedict XVI, sat down for an interview with the German Catholic television network K-TV. In that conversation, he did not merely reminisce about the man he served for nearly two decades. Instead, he issued a heartfelt plea: that the cause for the beatification of Joseph Ratzinger—better known to the world as Pope Benedict XVI—be opened without delay. It was a moment that evoked the quiet humility of Benedict himself, a pontiff who once described faith as a source of unshakeable joy, even amid the tempests of modern life.
For those unfamiliar with the intricacies of Catholic canon law, beatification is the Church's solemn declaration that a deceased servant of God has lived a life of heroic virtue and now enjoys the bliss of heaven, interceding for the faithful on earth. It is the penultimate step before canonization, the full recognition of sainthood. Normally, five years must elapse after a person's death before such a process can begin—a rule designed to allow passions to cool and evidence to emerge organically. Benedict died on December 31, 2022, in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery within Vatican City, at the venerable age of 95. By the strict calendar, his cause could not formally launch until late 2027. Yet Gänswein's words, echoing across Catholic media outlets from the National Catholic Register to ZENIT, suggest that extraordinary circumstances might warrant an exception, much as Benedict himself granted one for his predecessor, St. John Paul II.
This news arrives not as a thunderclap but as a whisper of hope, reminding us that sainthood is not conferred by acclaim but discerned through prayer, investigation, and the quiet testimony of lives touched by grace. In the pages that follow, we will explore the recent developments surrounding Benedict's cause, the figure spearheading this effort, and the extraordinary life of a man whose intellectual rigor and pastoral tenderness continue to shape the Church. Through it all, we will see why Gänswein calls Benedict a "theologian of joy"—a descriptor that captures the essence of a pontificate often misunderstood but profoundly transformative.
As we delve into this story, let us remember Benedict's own words from his final Christmas message in 2022: "God became man to light the way for us." In considering his path to the altars, we too are invited to walk that illuminated road.
The News: A Timely Hope Amid Church Renewal
The interview aired just days before the third anniversary of Benedict's passing, a poignant timing that underscores the ongoing reverence for the emeritus pope. Gänswein, now the apostolic nuncio to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, spoke with the candor of a confidant who knew Benedict not as a distant icon but as a daily companion. "Personally, I have great hopes that this process will be opened," he said, his voice carrying the weight of shared meals, late-night theological debates, and the tender care during Benedict's final illness. He went further, expressing conviction that Benedict's contributions to theology merited his proclamation as a Doctor of the Church—one of only 37 figures in history, including giants like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, whose writings are deemed essential for illuminating the faith.
This is not mere sentimentality. Gänswein's appeal aligns with whispers from Vatican circles that Pope Leo XIV, Benedict's successor, has shown subtle openness to revisiting the emeritus pope's legacy. Recent reports note Leo XIV's participation in a Tridentine Mass at St. Peter's Basilica—an event that, while not explicitly linked, echoes Benedict's own 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, which liberalized access to the Traditional Latin Mass and became a flashpoint in liturgical debates. Such gestures suggest a pontificate attuned to continuity, potentially paving the way for waiving the five-year wait, just as Benedict did for John Paul II in 2005, citing "exceptional circumstances."
The procedural path is clear yet arduous. Under Canon 1403 of the Code of Canon Law, the Diocese of Rome—where Benedict resided and died—would petition the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. If approved (the so-called nihil obstat), a postulator would compile a positio, a voluminous dossier of testimonies, writings, and evidence of heroic virtues. Miracles, typically two for canonization, would follow: inexplicable healings attributed to Benedict's intercession. Already, anecdotal reports circulate of graces received— from a teenager's remission of cancer after Benedict's unknowing blessing in 2013, to quieter stories of spiritual renewal among those who read his works. (Though unverified, such accounts fuel grassroots devotion.)
Catholic media has amplified Gänswein's call. The Catholic News Agency highlighted how Benedict's "joyful witness and fidelity to the Church" make a compelling case for swift action. ZENIT framed it as an invitation to grapple with Benedict's "still-unfolding" influence, from his critiques of secularism to his vision of a "hermeneutic of continuity" for Vatican II. Even secular outlets, like The Conversation, note the political undercurrents: canonizing popes post-Vatican II has become almost routine (John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II), yet Benedict's cause risks reigniting debates over liturgy, abuse scandals, and Church reform.
In a Church navigating post-pandemic recovery and synodal discernment, this news feels providential. It invites reflection: What does it mean to honor a pope who resigned in humility, admitting his waning strength? As Gänswein put it, if faith does not lead to joy, "something is not right." Benedict embodied that joy—not boisterous, but serene, like the Bavarian landscapes of his youth. His beatification cause, if opened, would affirm that even in frailty, fidelity shines.
Yet challenges loom. Critics, recalling Benedict's role in handling abuse cases as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), question whether his legacy is unblemished. Defenders counter that he was a pioneer in confronting the crisis, defrocking hundreds of priests. The process itself will sift these truths, as the Church has done for figures like Pius XII, whose wartime silence Benedict defended in a 2009 address.
As of December 11, 2025, no formal petition has been filed, but Gänswein's words have ignited petitions and prayers worldwide. In Rome, pilgrims light candles at Benedict's tomb in St. Peter's Basilica, whispering invocations for healing and wisdom. The cause is embryonic, but its spirit is alive— a testament to a man whose life bridged the 20th and 21st centuries, theology and tenderness.
Who Is Starting the Cause? Archbishop Georg Gänswein and the Inner Circle
At the heart of this movement stands Archbishop Georg Gänswein, a figure as enigmatic as he is devoted. Born in 1956 in a small Black Forest village in Germany, Gänswein entered the seminary young, drawn to the priesthood's call for service and silence. Ordained in 1984, he climbed the Vatican's ranks with a blend of administrative acumen and unyielding loyalty. By 1996, he joined the CDF, where he first crossed paths with then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. In 2003, Ratzinger tapped him as personal secretary—a role that would define Gänswein's life.
For the next two decades, Gänswein was Benedict's shadow: arranging audiences, managing correspondence, and shielding the pope from the world's clamor. He was there during the 2005 conclave, whispering counsel as white smoke curled from the Sistine Chapel. He stood by during the Regensburg Lecture of 2006, when Benedict's quote from a Byzantine emperor sparked Muslim outrage, and helped navigate the apologies that followed. Most poignantly, Gänswein was at Benedict's side in 2013, reading the resignation announcement aloud in Latin, his voice steady amid global shock. Post-resignation, he orchestrated the emeritus pope's quiet life in the Vatican gardens, even wheeling him to concerts of Mozart—Benedict's favorite composer.
Gänswein's loyalty has not been without controversy. In 2020, he published Nothing but the Truth: My Life Beside Benedict XVI, a memoir that revealed tensions with Pope Francis, including his demotion from prefect of the Papal Household in 2019. Critics accused him of disloyalty to the reigning pontiff; supporters saw a defense of Benedict's dignity. Yet through it all, Gänswein's devotion to Ratzinger remained unshaken. "He was like a father to me," Gänswein has said, crediting Benedict with teaching him that true authority flows from love, not power.
Now 69, serving in the Baltic states, Gänswein emerges as the de facto champion of Benedict's cause. His K-TV interview was no offhand remark; it was a calculated appeal, drawing on his intimate knowledge. He highlighted Benedict's "essential quality" of joy: "Ratzinger, Benedict XVI, is a theologian of joy." This counters caricatures of Benedict as dour or rigid, emphasizing instead his writings on the Deus caritas est—God who is love. Gänswein also invoked the Doctor of the Church prospect, citing Benedict's 16-volume Jesus of Nazareth trilogy and his CDF tenure, which clarified doctrines on everything from liberation theology to euthanasia.
But Gänswein is not alone. Whispers suggest a broader coalition: Benedict's doctoral students, like those who gathered annually in Castel Gandolfo; the Ratzinger Foundation in Regensburg, which promotes his works; and even cardinals like Gerhard Müller, former CDF prefect under Benedict. The Diocese of Rome, under Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis, holds procedural authority, and informal soundings there indicate sympathy. Pope Leo XIV, elected in 2024 amid hopes for doctrinal clarity, has reportedly praised Benedict privately, calling him "the great clarifier."
This group operates subtly, aware that rushing could backfire. Historical precedents abound: John Paul II's cause advanced swiftly under Benedict, beatified in 2011 after just six years. Conversely, Pius XII's stalled for decades due to Holocaust debates. Gänswein's role is catalytic—gathering testimonies, perhaps even miracle reports. In his interview, he urged the Church to recognize Benedict's fidelity amid scandals, portraying him as a bridge-builder who confronted evil without compromise.
Critics might dismiss this as clerical nostalgia, but Gänswein's credibility stems from proximity. He witnessed Benedict's final hours, praying the Rosary as the pope slipped away. "His last words were about gratitude," Gänswein recalled. In championing the cause, he honors that legacy: a call not for hagiography, but honest veneration.
The Life of Benedict XVI: From Bavarian Boy to Pontifical Sage
To understand the beatification buzz, one must trace the arc of Joseph Ratzinger's 95 years—a tapestry woven with war's shadows, theological fire, and papal grace. Born on April 16, 1927—Holy Saturday—in Marktl am Inn, a quaint Bavarian village, Ratzinger entered a world on the brink. His father, Joseph Sr., a police officer from a farming lineage, instilled anti-Nazi convictions; his mother, Maria, a cook, nurtured piety. The youngest of three—sister Maria and brother Georg (a priest who predeceased him)—young Joseph absorbed the "Mozartian" beauty of Bavaria's hills and churches, fostering a lifelong love of music and liturgy.
The 1930s brought darkness. At six, Joseph watched Nazis seize power; his family, staunch Catholics, faced harassment. His parish priest was beaten for resisting. In 1939, at 12, Ratzinger entered seminary, but 1941 compelled his Hitler Youth membership—a nominal affiliation he later called "a poisoned atmosphere." Drafted in 1943 at 16, he served in anti-aircraft units, then labor camps, deserting in 1945 as Allies advanced. Captured and held briefly, he returned home emaciated but unbroken. "The war taught me the fragility of human existence," he reflected in Milestones (1997). This crucible forged his theology: a God who enters suffering, not escapes it.
Postwar, Ratzinger and Georg entered seminary in Freising. Ordained June 29, 1951—the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul—he celebrated his first Mass in Traunstein's Baroque splendor. Doctorate at Munich followed in 1953 on St. Augustine's ecclesiology; habilitation in 1957 on Bonaventure's revelation concept. Teaching beckoned: Bonn (1959), Münster (1963), Tübingen (1966)—where student radicals in 1968 challenged his optimism about modernity. "I was shaken," he admitted, shifting from reformist to guardian of tradition.
Vatican II (1962–65) marked his zenith as a peritus (expert) for Cardinal Josef Frings. Ratzinger co-authored schemas on liturgy and ecumenism, advocating ressourcement—returning to sources. Yet he decried post-conciliar excesses, co-founding Communio journal in 1972 with von Balthasar and de Lubac to counter progressive drift. In 1977, Paul VI named him Archbishop of Munich-Freising; John Paul II elevated him to cardinal days later.
1981 brought Rome: prefect of the CDF, John Paul II's doctrinal enforcer. Dubbed "God's Rottweiler," Ratzinger clarified faith amid relativism—condemning apartheid theology, affirming women's dignity, and battling dissent. He oversaw 1,800 abuse cases, though critics fault delays. Personally, he authored prolifically: Introduction to Christianity (1968) sold millions; The Spirit of the Liturgy (2000) reshaped worship.
John Paul II's 2005 death thrust Ratzinger, 78, into the conclave. Elected April 19, he chose "Benedict" for the peace-pursuing WWI pope and Nursia's founder. Inaugurated April 24, his homily warned: "We are moving toward what is false and evil."
His papacy (2005–13) was concise yet seismic. Doctrinally, Deus Caritas Est (2006) unpacked divine love; Spe Salvi (2007) hope amid despair; Caritas in Veritate (2009) economics with ethics. Regensburg's 2006 speech—"violence is incompatible with the nature of God"—sparked riots but advanced dialogue. He lifted Williamson's excommunication (2009), stumbling on Holocaust denial, but apologized swiftly. Summorum Pontificum (2007) freed the Latin Mass, healing divides. World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne drew millions, revealing his pastoral warmth.
Scandals shadowed: VatiLeaks (2012) exposed corruption; abuse revelations intensified. Benedict apologized in 2010, meeting victims. His 2013 resignation—"I lack strength"—stunned: first since 1415. Retiring to prayer, he advised Francis privately, attending Paul VI's 2018 beatification.
Benedict's emeritus years (2013–22) were contemplative. He penned Last Testament (2016), defending his legacy. Health waned—pacemaker in 2021, falls in 2017—but joy persisted. He died peacefully, last words: "Lord, I love you." Buried under St. Peter's, his epitaph reads: "Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict XVI."
Benedict's life was no straight path but a pilgrimage: from Nazi survivor to council father, enforcer to emeritus. Heroic virtues? Humility in resignation; fidelity in trials; intellect serving faith. As Gänswein notes, his joy testified: Faith, rightly lived, delights.
Legacy: Why Benedict Matters Today—and Why Sainthood Fits
Benedict's influence endures. His "dictatorship of relativism" critique (2005) anticipates culture wars. Jesus of Nazareth demythologizes Christ without diluting divinity. Liturgically, he championed beauty against utilitarianism. Ecumenically, he reached out—to Anglicans via ordinariates, Orthodox in Cuba (2012).
Challenges persist: abuse handling draws scrutiny, as in Boston Globe exposés. Yet Boston's Cardinal O'Malley praised Benedict's 2011 reforms. Politically, his cause tests synodality—can a resigned pope be sainted amid living successors?
Sainthood would universalize his witness: a Church of reason and rapture, truth and tenderness. As Doctor, his writings could guide AI ethics, climate care—timely for 2025.
In sum, Benedict teaches: Holiness is not perfection but perseverance. His cause invites us to that pursuit.
Conclusion: Toward the Altar of Joy
As 2025 wanes, Benedict's cause gleams on the horizon. Gänswein's hope, rooted in love, bids us pray: May Pope Leo waive the wait; may miracles confirm. In venerating Benedict, we honor the God of surprises—who chooses frail vessels for glory.
Let us end with Benedict's words from Spe Salvi: "The one who has hope lives differently." May his life inspire ours.
References
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