VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI tells participants in the Congress on the magisterium of Pius XII: “His magisterium was characterized by its vast and widespread beneficence, as well as for its exceptional quality, and thus it could be described as a valuable heritage to which the Church has always given, and continues to give, great importance.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “In recent years, when Pius XII has been spoken of, much of the attention on his person has focused on one particular issue, too often treated in a rather unilateral manner. This has impeded an adequate examination of the figure of this great historian-theologian who was Pope Pius XII.” These were the Holy Father Benedict XVI's words in addressing the participants in a Congress entitled “The Heritage of Pius XII's Magisterium and Vatican Council II,” which was organized by Pontifical Gregorian and Lateran Universities, on the 50th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Pope Pius XII, received in audience on November 8. “His magisterium,” the Pope said, “was characterized by its vast and widespread beneficence, as well as for its exceptional quality, and thus it could be described as a valuable heritage to which the Church has always given, and continues to give, great importance.”
Recalling the over 40 encyclicals written by Pius XII, the Pope named “Mystici Corporis,” “in which he examined the question of the true and intimate nature of the Church,” and “'Divino afflante Spiritu' on Sacred Scripture, and 'Mediator Dei' on sacred liturgy, “in which he presents the two fonts from which those who belong to Christ, the Head of this Body which is the Church, must drink from.” “In this wide context, Pius XII addressed the various categories of people that, by the Lord's will, form a part of the Church, with varied vocations and tasks: the priests, religious, and laity,” the Holy Father himself pointed out, recalling the encyclical “Miranda prorsus,” in which the Pope focused on “the great importance of the modern communications media, which is increasingly more influential in guiding public opinion.”
Pope Pius XII also focused his attention on scientific progress, and did not fail to “caution against the risks that research could bring if inattentive to moral values,” warning of the need for order in civil, national, and international life, based on justice. “Equally worthy of mention is Pius XII's Mariological teaching,” the Pope continued, “which reached its culmination in the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.”
Later mentioning the quality of the Pius XII's teachings, the Pope recalled that “He was against improvisations: he wrote each of his addresses with great care, carefully choosing his every word before pronouncing it in public. He attentively studied the various issues with had the custom of asking for advice from renowned specialists when they were matters that required a particular competence. Pius XII was by nature a man of precision and a realist, who did not settle for easy optimism but at the same time immune to the risk of that pessimism which is inappropriate to believers. He abhorred sterile polemics and was profoundly diffident towards fanaticism and sentimentalism.”
Seeing the vast spectrum and high caliber of his magisterium, “one asks himself, how he was able to do so much, having to carry out so many tasks linked to his responsibility as Pontiff...All recognize in Pius XII an extraordinary intelligence, a photographic memory, a singular familiarity with foreign languages, and a noteworthy sensibility. It has been said that he was a complete diplomat, an eminent jurist, an excellent theologian. All this is true, however it does not explain everything...everything in him arose from love for his Lord Jesus Christ, and love for the Church and humanity. He was, in fact, a priest in constant and intimate union with God, a priest who found strength for carrying out his impressive work in his long hours spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, in silent dialogue with his Creator and Redeemer.”
In concluding his address, the Holy Father Benedict XVI highlighted that 50 years after his death, “His fruitful Magisterium remains priceless for Christians today. The Church, Mystical Body of Christ, is certainly a living and live organism, not left immobile in what she was fifty years ago. Progress comes through coherence. Thus, the heritage of Pius XII's Magisterium was taken up by Vatican Council II and has been re-presented to succeeding Christian generations...Thus, we could rightly say that in the person of the Supreme Pontiff Pius XII, the Lord gave His Church an exceptional gift for which we must all be grateful.” The Pope expressed his hope that his audience would “continue reflecting on this valuable heritage left to the Church by the immortal Pontiff, in order to find fitting applications to the issues that emerge today.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 10/11/2008)