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Asked about differences between Christmas in Rome and in the Baltic region, the archbishop answered with characteristic humor: \u201cI celebrated Christmas in Rome for 28 years, and in Vilnius for two. The first difference is the cold.\u201d He added that Lithuania\u2019s seasonal displays left a strong impression, drawing attention to \u201cvery beautiful Christmas decorations,\u201d and saying the Christmas trees \u201care very beautiful, maybe even more beautiful than in St. Peter\u2019s Square, in the Vatican.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G\u00e4nswein also expressed gratitude that the celebration of Christ\u2019s birth in Lithuania is not merely cultural or superficial. He said he has sensed a reverence in which \u201cits depth is felt here,\u201d pointing to a faith that remains attentive to the mystery at the heart of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Act of Divine Providence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The archbishop devoted much of his speech to recounting his decades-long collaboration with Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI. G\u00e4nswein described his years with Ratzinger not only as an academic or administrative cooperation, but as a formation of the whole person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll the years of cooperation together have left an indelible experience,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was not only intellectual and theological formation, but also the formation of the heart, soul, and everything that we can call life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G\u00e4nswein's first contact with Ratzinger was through the future pope's writings during his years as a seminarian in Germany. He said he studied Ratzinger's articles and books carefully, recognizing in them a blend of brilliant intellect and genuine, lived faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After his priestly ordination in 1984, G\u00e4nswein served as an assistant parish priest before pursuing doctoral studies. He eventually came to Rome, where he first met Cardinal Ratzinger during the latter\u2019s tenure as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. G\u00e4nswein said Ratzinger called him to collaborate, an invitation he regarded as a gift of divine Providence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did he call me for? I don\u2019t know,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut I see it as a great gift of Providence.\u201d In 2003, G\u00e4nswein became Ratzinger\u2019s personal secretary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prayer and canonization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reflecting on Benedict XVI's death in 2022, Archbishop G\u00e4nswein shared a deeply personal insight into his continuing spiritual relationship with the late pope. \u00abNow, when Pope Benedict XVI has gone to be with the Lord, I realize that I pray not so much for him, but to him, asking for his help,\u00bb he said. He acknowledged that this prayer experience occurred even during his mission in the Baltic countries, when he sought Benedict's intercession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, G\u00e4nswein stressed the Church\u2019s wisdom and prudence in advancing causes of canonization. \u201cThe Church is a very wise and very prudent mother,\u201d he said, explaining that time is required to discern authentic holiness apart from worldly fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, for Archbishop G\u00e4nswein, the evening ultimately returned to a theme that has marked his priestly life, which is fidelity shaped by faith and gratitude. A reminder that authentic Christian witness is not forged in prominence or recognition, but in quiet perseverance, prayer, and a life steadily formed by truth.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
El arzobispo Georg G\u00e4nswein, nuncio apost\u00f3lico en los pa\u00edses b\u00e1lticos y secretario personal durante muchos a\u00f1os del Papa Benedicto XVI, comparti\u00f3 sus sinceras reflexiones sobre su misi\u00f3n diplom\u00e1tica, su formaci\u00f3n espiritual bajo el mandato de Benedicto XVI y la celebraci\u00f3n de la Navidad en Lituania durante un acto p\u00fablico celebrado el 7 de enero. El […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2425,"featured_media":57146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[36,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualidad","category-mundo"],"yoast_head":"\n