The first volume of the Opera Omnia, “Theology of the liturgy”, is the 11^th book of the 16 volume collectionof Joseph Ratzinger’s works. It was published by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana, in the new and exclusive Italian translation, on 29^th June 2010, the day of the celebration of the Saints Peter and Paul. It was welcomed by scholars but also by a wider audience; selling more than 3000 copies on its first release it sold out in just two months. In September the first reprint was released.

The 850 page book was sold by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana for 55 Euros at the beginning of July in Italy. Many editors and translators worked on the project.na, Pierluca Azzaro, Edmondo Coccia, Eulalia Biffi e al Card. Angelo Amato che, tutti, a diverso titolo e con le rispettive competenze e professionalità, hanno contribuito alla realizzazione dell'opera che diventa strumento base indispensabile per le successive traduzioni in lingua.

The 12^th volume of the Opera Omnia by Joseph Ratzinger appeared in May 2013, edited by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana and entitled “Annunciatori della Parola e Servitori della vostra gioia”. It is the second to be translated into Italian and it collects more than 80 texts about the ecclesial ministry (990 pages, 55 Euros). The work, whose subtitle is “Teologia e spiritualità del Sacramento dell’Ordine”, is about scientific studies, considerations and homilies on the Episcopal and sacerdotal and diaconal missions. It is the result of the work of the theologian, bishop and prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Joseph Ratzinger, held over a half century, from 1954 to 2002.

The 12^th volume presents a new translation of all the texts: “The Libreria Editrice Vaticana publishing company –as is written in the editorial notes – had the aim of guaranteeing its fundamental character of unity which makes it today the ultimate expression of the thoughts of the Author on the Sacrament of the Order in the Italian language”.

The book is divided into three parts. Part A, with four sections, collects all of the theological and scientific contributions about the Sacrament of the Order. In Part B we find a collection of reflections about the spirituality of the priests. In Part C there are the homilies of the ordinations, of the first Masses and of the anniversary of priesthood and episcopacy.

In November 2013 the first of the two books that are part of the sixth volume of the Opera Omnia (the third in the Italian translation) was released. Entitled “Jesus of Nazareth – the figure and the Message”, it presents the three volumes about Jesus by Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, which appeared in 2007, 2011 and 2012 in the “last revised edition”.

“The three volumes about Jesus of Nazareth, published during the papacy of Benedict XIV, are put together in the Opera Omnia – wrote the archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and editor of the Opera Omnia, in the Preface – with the aim of paying tribute to the constant research work that guided Joseph Ratzinger in writing his book. Christology themes are at the core of his activities and of his teachings as university professor, bishop and then Pope”.

The chronological order chosen to collect and present the three books – as is explained in the editorial notes - does not correspond to the real order in which they were published; but it follows the chronology of the Gospels. In fact, the most recent book “The Infancy Narratives” is the first of the collection. It is followed by “From the Baptism in Jordan to the Transfiguration” and then “From the arrival in Jerusalem to the Resurrection”. The trilogy about Jesus of Nazareth was integrated into the Opera Omnia of Joseph Ratzinger although the individual books were published during his pontificate. It is the author himself that explains the main purpose of the three volumes in their introduction. “By no means do they serve as a masterful act; they are simply an expression of my personal way of looking for the ‘face of God’”. Moreover “with respect to the previous editions of the books of the trilogy, all quotes from the Bible in Italian have been updated to the official translation of the Bible of the Italian Episcopal Conference, held in 2008”, as is explained in the editorial notes.

“With his three books on the main figure of our faith – as is written in the introduction – Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI has stimulated a long-lasting debate on Jesus of Nazareth”. In another part of the book Msgr. Müller wrote: “If we look at the six decades of deep spiritual and scientific research on the thematic fields of Christology, we can follow Ratzinger’s thoughts in his theological work. His books show the comparison with the figure of Jesus, to whom he makes reference in the first volume of his trilogy on Jesus of Nazareth published in 2007. (...) He was against scepticism and all people that do not believe that God appeared through his Son.” With the openness that comes from the Church he developed a complete view on the figure of Jesus of Nazareth, a view that invites and stimulates further reflection.

The sixth volume of the Opera Omnia of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, introduces Joseph Ratzinger’s analysis on Jesus Christ in two different tomes. The 6/1 tome collects the trilogy – published between 2007 and 2012 – that Joseph Ratzinger dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth. The subtitle of the book is: the figure and the message. The 6/2 tome (now available in bookshops) collects the works that Joseph Ratzinger dedicated to the main topics of Christology and to the great mystery of Jesus Christ in almost fifty years. These texts refer to several literary genres, from the entries corresponding to different language registers, to the texts published by the mass media. The noble theologian gives simple but very deep answers to the questions his believers ask every day and his time, with which he has a constant relationship: what about the risen Christ? How can we explain the presence of Christ in the Holy Communion? What about the sorrow? What does the Holy Year mean? And how do people in the earth hold out their arms to the beloved ones in the afterlife? What does ‘conscientious objection’ mean? Could politics follow the truth or is it only fundamentalism?

The Opera Omnia in general and this volume have got a distinguishing quality. Notwithstanding the title of the book, it is not planned and written for an inner circle of readers, but it is aimed at all readers, because the main aspects of Ratzinger’s theology are oriented to the faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, the opening text of the book is “The Holy Friday in history”.

The volumes 6/1 and 6/2 of the Opera omnia of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI are part of one of the most touching works of Christianity in the twentieth century.