Around the turn of the century, then Cardinal Ratzinger spent three days with German journalist Peter Seewald in the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino. This was Seewald’s second interview with Ratzinger; the first became the book Salt of the Earth, which I might review at a later date. That interview had primarily concerned the challenges facing the Catholic Church at the end of the 20th century; this one is a broad overview of Church practice and doctrine.

For three days the two had a wide-ranging conversation, with Seewald asking questions both planned and spontaneous, and Cardinal Ratzinger answering them off-the-cuff, and therein lies the book’s charm. During his days as head of the Confraternity for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), Ratzinger was viewed by the media as Pope John Paul II’s enforcer, as “God’s Rottweiler”. He was viewed as tough, stern, and intolerant. That isn’t at all the impression I’ve gotten from this book. Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, though very definite about the content of the Faith (as he should be), comes across as mild, generous, gentle, and loving—and very, very smart.

Many of the folks in the Catholic blogosphere have a serious devotion to Pope John Paul II. It’s not uncommon to hear him called John Paul the Great, and I recall one blogger (alas, I don’t remember which) speaking of John Paul as “his” (or it might have been “her”) pope. My experience was different. When John Paul was elected pope I was in high school, and not very serious about my faith; he was just one more pope. For the next nine years I more or less ignored him, except insofar as he was mentioned on the front page of the daily paper or in the homily on Sunday; and then, of course, I joined the Episcopal church. Nowadays, with internet access, it’s much easier to follow the Pope’s doings; back then, it was much harder. So although I was aware of John Paul II and his role in the world, I was both ignorant and indifferent.

By 2005 I was already beginning to have a renewed interest in Roman Catholicism (though not, at that point, any real notion of reverting). Then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI—the man responsible for preventing in Catholicism the sort of zeitgeist-driven doctrinal creep that has gutted the Episcopal Church was now the Pope. Catholicism was safe, for awhile at least. (Now that strikes me as a silly statement: of course the Church is safe. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, and preserves the Bride of Christ from error.) So I approved of Pope Benedict on general principle.

And then I started learning more about him, from blogs mostly at first, and then from some of his books. I tried his Introduction to Christianity, which I found nearly incomprehensible, alas; it isn’t particularly introductory. But through his books Jesus of Nazareth, Salt of the Earth, and God and the World, I came to know him, and found him to be a good teacher, as well as wise and gentle, with a deep and abiding and intellectual and not at all mystical faith. (I’ve nothing against Christian mysticism; but my own approach to the faith is much more intellectual, which should surprise no one.) I read the first two while still an Anglican; my reading of the third began several months before my reversion and ended a few days ago.

In short, Benedict’s witness played a significant role in my return to the Catholic Church. I’m glad to call him “my” pope; and reading this present book, all 460 pages of it, is an outstanding way to become acquainted with him and learn from him. Moreover, because of its question and answer format it’s a great book for devotional reading, as it’s easy to read a little bit every day without losing the thread.

If you’re Catholic, go and get a copy. If you’re not, but you’d like to know what Pope Benedict thinks is important, go and get a copy.