The Roman Catholic Church is blessed with a bright and lucid theologian as pope in Benedict XVI. It is fascinating to see the various elements of catholic authority: dogmatic tradition, papal authority and the episcopal synod balance each other alternately. Whereas in Vatican II the synodical approach had granted lots of fresh air to this biggest of Christian Church bodies, the emphasis of dogmatic theology by Benedict XVI is reaffirming the true foundation and secure basis of the holy Christian Church stabilizing the ship on the stormy seas of relativism, democratic liberation and populism even after the personal charisma of John Paul II had managed to focus the RCC, which was drifting apart on all continents back  on its papal centre in Rome.

As a Lutheran outsider I pray that the Lord of the Church – Jesus Christ – may look with great favor, grace and mercy on the Roman Catholic Church and may he allow the light of his gospel to shine there with startling clarity  so that many will hear and come to saving faith in him as the savior and Lord of all. May he grant that in his mercy even in the Christmas time.

Read the insightful passage on the hermeneutical principals used in RCC theological practice via L\’Osservatore Romano, On adhesion to the Second Vatican Council.