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Pope Benedict
XVI- Speeches & Other Writings |
Introduction
to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone's Book
"The Last Fatima Visionary: My Meetings With Sister
Lucia"
H.H. Benedict XVI
To Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
Vatican Secretary of State
Venerable Brother, Sister Lucia entrusts so many memories to the
book "The Last Fatima Visionary" that treat of events that have
marked the history of the last part of the 20th century. She has
entrusted them to this book so that they do not remain merely
precious baggage of personal emotions, but be handed over to the
collective memory as they are not without significance for secular
history.
In reality, during that memorable time that was the Jubilee Year of
2000, we experienced together the chapter that treats of the
publication of the third Fatima secret: I, as the prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and you, as the
secretary of the same dicastery. The great Pontiff who preceded me,
John Paul II, fecund with prophetic inspirations and personally
convinced that the "maternal hand" of the Virgin had deflected the
bullet that could have been fatal for him, saw that the time had
come to remove the veil of mystery that covered the last part of the
secret that the Virgin had consigned to the three little shepherds
of Fatima. The congregation, which conserved the precious document
written by Sister Lucia, was put in charge.
It was a time of light, not only because the message could thus be
known by all, but also because the truth could be unveiled in the
midst of the confusion of apocalyptic interpretations and
speculations that circulated in the Church and created anxiety among
the faithful instead of inviting them to prayer and penance.
Nevertheless, on the other hand, one could see the comforting
development of Marian piety, authentic font of Christian life,
around the imposing shrine of Fatima and in every part of the world
where devotion to the Virgin, under the influence of the apparitions
of Fatima, took deep root in the faith of the people, inviting men
and women to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The conversations between the visionary, the last remaining of the
three shepherd children, and you, a bishop sent by the Pope, have
been important not only for the verification of the veridicality of
the facts, but also as an occasion to know the limpid freshness of
the soul of Sister Lucia, the intelligence of the heart typical of
her femininity, transferred into a robust Christian faith. Through
this humble nun, there shines the role of the Virgin Mary who with
her maternal hand accompanies the Christian through life's
bitterness.
I myself oversaw the drafting of the theological commentary on the
event, after having intensely prayed and deeply meditated on the
contents of the pages written by Sister Lucia. I was deeply affected
by the consoling promise of the Most Holy Virgin, which was like a
synthesis and precious seal: "My Immaculate Heart will triumph." As
it had been written, "Mary's 'fiat,' the word of her heart, changed
the history of the world, because it introduced the Savior into this
world -- because thanks to this 'yes' God could become man among us
and he will remain such forever."
And again, "From the time that God himself has a human heart and
directed human freedom toward the good, toward God, freedom for evil
does not have the last word." The message of Fatima is a further
confirmation of this.
I invoke the protection of the Most Holy Virgin for all those who
will read the testimony offered with this book and to you, dear
cardinal, and to Doctor Giuseppe De Carli, who shared the work of
producing this memoir, I impart the apostolic blessing.
From the Vatican, Feb. 22, 2007.
