Duch Święty a Kościół w ujęciu Benedykta XVI

Abstract

The author of the article presents the role and place of the Holy Spirit in the Church on the basis of Pope Benedict XVI’s homilies, speeches, the Wednesday catecheses and fragments of the adhortation Sacramentum caritatis. The Pope – Joseph Ratzinger – presents the Christ-centred image of the Church with its rich pneumatological dimension . The role of the Holy Spirit in the Church is the consequence of His nature, who is He within the Holy Trinity and of the fact that He is sent by Christ, is called the Spirit of Christ, is the Spirit of the Truth that leads to the whole Truth, which is Christ. This aspect does not overshadow the Christ-oriented vision, what is more, makes it lively and present. Christ’s Church is enlivened by the Holy Spirit and should always be directed towards Christ, united to Him and God the Father through the Spirit. Benedict XVI’s teaching, based on the Revelation and Tradition, shows the following dimensions of the Church: apostolic, one but different, holy and common, the Church of prayer, united by the love of the Holy Spirit, missionary, lively, fulfilling man’s desire to live in unity, goodness, respect and co-operation . Hence, the Church of the Spirit cannot be separated from the Church of Christ or stand in its opposition. An important feature of Benedict XVI’s teaching on the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Church is showing Him as acting in concrete people seen as the members of the Church, always in the perspective of the whole Church.