Ratzinger did it with atheist philosopher Habermas in 2005: a book about two people with different positions and the ability to reach common ground.
More than two decades later, something similar has taken place, this time between the Theologian of the Pontifical Household and the Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski.
FR. WOJCIECH GIERTYCH O.P.
Theologian of the Pontifical Household
His sons had been baptized, so he has Catholic origins, but he is distant from the church, he's lapsed, but he's an intelligent man and courteous and willing to talk.
In the book, several topics are covered, most of them have Poland as a backdrop. Such as the situation of the Church. Fr. Wojciech has traveled a lot as a Dominican and has prayed for the coming crisis in the Church.
FR. WOJCIECH GIERTYCH O.P.
Theologian of the Pontifical Household
For a long time I've seen, certainly through the prism of Poland, the crisis coming. And I've traveled a lot around the world.
We have provinces where the Dominicans have been in a crisis and now they've come out and are flourishing, as in the United States. There are countries where the entire Church seems to be in crisis, but the Dominicans, in comparison, are doing quite well, as in Ireland. And, so, I think a crisis is a normal part of the life of the Church.
The question is: what is the origin of a crisis? Not only in the Church. Also in dioceses, for priests, religious sisters, or in marriages. The starting point is the same.
FR. WOJCIECH GIERTYCH O.P.
Theologian of the Pontifical Household
When there is a major crisis, this is a moment where, up till then, life was sort of functioning basically okay in the same way as we've always done. And somehow we've patched our little infidelities, thinking that it's okay, and then at some moment God says no, and He provokes a crisis.
And, to get out of a crisis, there are only two possibilities...
FR. WOJCIECH GIERTYCH O.P.
Theologian of the Pontifical Household
Either a deeper conversion of going closer to God and of recognizing the power of God's grace working in our lives, or crashing or, doing something stupid.I think these crises are a positive stage which is provoking a positive experience that is provoking a conversion, a change.
It has to be Catholics themselves who take a step forward...
FR. WOJCIECH GIERTYCH O.P.
Theologian of the Pontifical Household
It's not the job of the police or the judiciary or the politicians to ensure that people are authentic in their Catholicism. It's the task of authentic Catholics, both lay and religious and clergy and the priests and the bishops.
This is just a glimpse of what the book is about. It is called 'Roman Conversations: Questions for Times of Anxiety'. A dialogue on secularization, Catholicism in Poland and the limits of power, or the relationship between faith and reason.
