With the emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. Music by the Regensburger Domspatzen can be heard at Christmas. Pope brother Georg Ratzinge, priest and musician, directed the world-famous boys’ choir from 1964 to 1994.
“Without this CD there is no real Christmas for him,” revealed Archbishop Georg Gänswein of the “Mittelbayerische Zeitung” (Monday). Otherwise, the festival will be celebrated in a small group of six, according to the archbishop. In addition to him as his private secretary, there were also nuns who took care of the household at the papal retirement home in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery.
Sweets for the Pope Emeritus
Gänswein also revealed that there is a Christmas tree and that various nativity scenes are set up in the respective rooms. Among them are those whom the Regensburg Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer during his recent visit to Rome for Benedict XVI. have brought with me. “That was an announced surprise. But he was very happy because the crib is special, it has a snow roof.” And of course there are also delicacies with the meal that the emeritus head of the church would like to enjoy; this included desserts.
Deceased brother is missing
When Georg Ratzinger was still alive, after his brother became Pope, he regularly traveled to the Vatican after the Christmas holidays. “It’s clear that he’s missing, but we know: He’s still with us in faith!” Said Gänswein. Regarding the state of health of Benedict, who is now 94 years old, the archbishop said that he was “stable in weakness, but thank God his head is as bright as light – and that is the decisive factor”. Above all, Benedict has not lost his sense of humor.
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