November 26, 2010. Father Joseph Fessio is the founder and editor of Ignatius Press which recently published the book “Light of the World,” based on interviews given by the Pope.  He worked with the German author Peter Seewald on the English version of this book.

Fr. Joseph Fessio
Founder and Editor of Ignatius Press
“He's a wonderful reporter and a wonderful researcher on this book.  But he loves the Holy Father so much and has such a good way of bringing out the Holy Father's thoughts on things.”

Father Fessio says the book is like sitting down with Benedict XVI for six or seven hours and asking any question you have and receiving a thoughtful response from the Pope.  

Fr. Joseph Fessio
Founder and Editor of Ignatius Press
So basically if you have questions of the Pope the answers are probably in this book.”

The American publisher has been busy defending the translation of the book after the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano broke an embargo on the text and released certain sections of the interview.  

Fr. Joseph Fessio
Founder and Editor of Ignatius Press
“I expected that the media was going to focus on the condom issue but had it been presented as it was intended to be presented it would have been buffered a bit by the total context, so that was unfortunate.”

He has attempted to clarify the issue by speaking with Vatican officials and writing an article for Reuters in defense of the translation of the text and what exactly the Pope said about condoms and prostitutes.  

Fr. Joseph Fessio
Founder and Editor of Ignatius Press
“The German text is 'ein Prostituierter' which is masculine, the Italian translate it as 'una prostituta' which is feminine. Now Father Lombardi asked the Pope today whether it made any difference and the Pope said 'well I said male prostitute but the principle would apply to females as well.'”

His hope is that the book will help people get a better understanding of the Pope and the Catholic faith.  

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