Professor Ratzinger Criticizes the Council
The following text was published on July 4, 2020, on the German blog *Summorum Pontificum*; however, as the subject is once again timely, *Rorate Caeli* has recently republished it in translation. All quotations are drawn from a German-language work published at the time of Benedict XVI’s election—*Joseph Ratzinger: Theologische Prinzipienlehre* (Donauwörth, 2005)—and reflect thoughts expressed by Professor Ratzinger ten years after the Council, just prior to his appointment as Bishop of Munich. These same reflections were later expanded upon in the famous *Ratzinger Report* (*Entretien sur la Foi* / *The Ratzinger Report* [1985])—a book co-authored with Vittorio Messori based on lengthy interviews held with the Italian journalist in Bressanone during the summer of 1985. This book earned Cardinal Ratzinger the fierce enmity (to put it mildly!) of the progressives who have since seized control of the Church (numerous articles on this topic can be found on the "Benoît & Moi" website). Introduction and French translation provided by the "Benoît & Moi" website—a site we recommend, even though it still recognizes antipope Leo as Ratzinger’s legitimate successor, an error that is unfortunately all too common these days.