The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church (original 1985; edition 1985)

by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Author), Vittorio Messori (Author)

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inge87's review

The Ratzinger Report has taken on a semi-legendary status in some circles in defining a new approach to Vatican II. This is the first, to my knowledge, of the future Pope Benedict XVI's interview books, preceding those he did in German with Peter Seewald. If you're familiar with those, the format is similar, but less conversational. There is also an essay inserted towards the end, with the result that feels more that a guided reading than an actual interview.

Content-wise, this was one of the first books to really open up on new interpretations of Vatican II, and to say that there were things that had been lost in the process of its implementation that needed to be regained. Continuity vs. Rupture is the name of the game here. Much of this is rather old news and accepted fact now, but in the mid-80s it was rather shockingly controversial.

Recommended for those interested in modern Catholicism and especially the implementations of Vatican II. Others may find it all a bit dated and might want to seek out his more recent interviews like Salt of the Earth or Light of the World. (

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inge87 | Nov 18, 2013 |

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inge87 | Nov 18, 2013 |

1994. The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger with Vittorio Messori, translated by Salvator Attanasio and Graham Harrison (read 2 Apr 1986)
After I read this book on 2 April 1986 I commented as follows: There has been a lot of talk about The Ratzinger Report, an interview an Italian journalist had with Cardinal Ratzinger in 1984. I have now read it. It seems to me quite wide-ranging, and touches on much which one such as I--who has not kept up on the matters discussed--am not qualified to judge. (

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Schmerguls | Dec 7, 2011 |

An interesting, if sometimes drily-expressed, exposition of the thought of Benedict XVI on trends and tendencies in the Church whilst still Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Includes some interesting foreshadowings of the decisions of the Papacy, such as the dropping of Limbo. Well worth a read. (

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ManipledMutineer | May 16, 2007 |

Joseph Ratzinger (future Pope Benedict XVI), renowned theologian and Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, gives an exclusive in-depth interview to a famous Italian journalist, Vittorio Messori, on the state of the church near the end of the of twentieth century. Cardinal Ratzinger speaks candidly and forcefully about the challenges of the Church in the Post-Vatican II era.