Hope: Focus of Pope's Second Encyclical

Pope Benedict's first encyclical extolled love. He signed his second on hope and released it the same day, 30 November 2007. (Encyclicals have usually become available much later, so Benedict's second encyclical was also a "first.")

Mr. John L. Allen Jr. offered an overview in his weekly column. Mr. Allen noted that

one could argue that the text represents a sort of “Greatest Hits” collection of Ratzinger’s most important ideas, developed over a lifetime, and now presented in the form of an encyclical in his role as Pope Benedict XVI.

Enjoy Mr. Allen's entire essay.