Diary of a Dissenter: A Week From My Window

‘The Ratzinger I knew . . . was arguably the most learned man in the world, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Christian theology, philosophy, biblical studies, and political theory.' — George Weigel

The Lord has called him to Himself

SUNDAY

I remember the first day of January, 1973 as though it were last Monday. I was 17, studying (or, mostly, not) for my Leaving Cert, which I was to sit the following June. Over the Christmas holidays, as was my practice, I travelled with my father on his ‘stagecoach’ runs,  helping with the mailbags and newspapers, …