Benedict XVI’s theological legacy

January 10, 2023 in Featured Podcasts, News

The late Pope Benedict XVI was first and foremost a theologian who wrote many volumes of note over his long lifetime. Dr Jim Corkery SJ wrote his doctoral thesis on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger, and in this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications he says that the late pontiff’s work will be studied for many years to come.

The interview covers Joseph Ratzinger’s theological legacy, his papal legacy, his sometimes controversial role as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine and Faith (responsible for defending Catholic doctrine) and his handling of the clerical sexual abuse scandals.

In this post, Part I of the interview, Professor Corkery speaks about his own work on Ratzinger’s theology in terms of the latter’s criticism of liberation theology, and the writings of Leonardo Boff, and Gustavo Gutierrez in particular.

Jim Corkery, who lectures at the Jesuit Gregorian University in Rome, also speaks about what are perhaps neglected but significant aspects of Benedict’s legacy (including what he persuaded Pope John Paul II not to do in relation to the ordination of women priests). He also assesses the significance of Benedict’s overall theological corpus. Lastly he assesses what many see as the unjust treatment meted out to theologians like Boff and other religious, including some from Ireland, by Cardinal Ratzinger and the CDF.