Habemvs Papam: Benedictvm XVI
By Kyle Shinseki @ 4:49 PM :: 482 Views
0 Comments ::

While at first glance His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI may appear to have little in common with a Christian Life Community with its roots in Havana, Cuba, a closer look at the German Pontiff's life reflects a depth of understanding of the struggles and triumphs of the ACU. His personal trials living under a totalitarian government, his long-standing ties to Latin America, and his call to action for the laity are but a few connections that our new Pope shares with agrupados.

Not unlike many agrupados, our Holy Father was confronted early in his life with the realities of an anti-Catholic totalitarian government. At the tender age of 5, the then Joseph Ratzinger was forced to resettle with his family in a new town because of his father's open criticism of nationalist socialism. Later in life, following the example of his father, he left his position as professor at Tübingen University, in response to a violent explosion of Marxist theology at the school. Pope Benedict XVI has made clear how he intends to work to reverse the decades of impact such secular movements have had in Europe and beyond.

For more than a quarter of a century, His Holiness has been a link between the Vatican and Latin America, where the ACU has its beginnings. In September 1978, he attended the Congreso Mariológico Internacional in Guayaquil, Ecuador in representation of Pope John Paul I. He later went on to fight against the growth of Liberation Theology in Latin America. Ironically, one of the greatest proponents of this Marxist-inspired movement was Leonardo Boff, a former student of the Holy Father from Brazil. The ACU's Spiritual Director, Father Llorente, undoubtedly can relate to the pain of betrayal of a former pupil.

Finally, as former Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Holy Father has an intimate understanding of the challenges we face as lay Catholics, particularly in light of moral and religious relativism. Yet he places his faith in the laity's critical role in the Church. As such, he addressed the laity at his Inauguration Mass by saying, "I greet you, members of the lay faithful, immersed in the great task of building up the Kingdom of God which spreads throughout the world, in every area of life." Particularly poignant for us as agrupados are the words, "in every area of life," as we are challenged to respond to the phrase "en cada primer puesto, un agrupado (in each top position, an agrupado)."