Benedict XVI has been “able to have a major impact on Christianity”. Minister Giulio Terzi commented on the Pope’s decision to resign, effective 28 February next. Recalling the Holy Father’s words at their latest meeting on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the Papal Bull to the Order of Malta, Terzi explained that Ratzinger had eloquently underscored “the value of a return by all Christians to the original meaning of faith”, maintaining that the “guiding thread” of his Papal mission had been the need for a new evangelism”.
The foreign minister reported that during that audience with the Knights of Malta the Holy Father had “appeared tired”, while nevertheless being “absolutely incisive”. Terzi undercored the “excellent rapport” there had always been between the Italian government and the Holy See “on themes fundamental to the protection of human rights and religious freedoms”.
