Now your brother has become Pope. How do you remember your last visit with him, at Christmastime?
Usually we celebrate Mass together in the morning. My brother is the main celebrant: The secretaries and I concelebrate. After the Mass there is silent thanksgiving. And then he reads the breviary to me; because of my eye problems, I cannot read the breviary anymore.
We also pray the lauds [morning prayer] and mid-morning prayer together. I have to be content with the Rosary. He reads the whole breviary in Latin.
Then we have breakfast, together with a few others. I go to my room. Often, Sister Christina reads something for me aloud. I listen to a lot of CDs.
A short time before lunch he comes to get me, and we go down together to eat. There we are together, also the secretaries. He pays attention to walks, to movement, because that is important for his physical condition.
I remember that once we were driven by car to the Lourdes grotto in the Vatican Gardens. My condition is too poor to walk there. And there we prayed the Rosary together. And then we talk a little bit and meet again for dinner.
After dinner we watch the news on RAI [Italian TV], then another little walk, compline [evening prayer] and the day ends.
Do you have a lot of time to talk together?
A little, but we spend the meal times together, the Celebration of the Eucharist, the afternoon Rosary and most of Sunday afternoon, after the siesta, especially in Castel Gandolfo.
For example, we sat close to the swimming pool there, [Which JPII had built.] where we read together and talked to each other. ... At the end of the day there is usually little time. But the minutes spent together suffice.
Do you plan another visit?
I will be going down April 22 because on April 24 there is a concert organized by Italian President [Giorgio] Napolitano, and I will attend that. So I will stay a few more days.
Has something changed on a personal level after the election of your brother as Pope?
No. My brother was already 78 years old when he was elected Pope. Our personal relationship had already lasted 78 years by then.
So, fundamentally, nothing changes with regard to that.
But is it possible for you to distinguish your “little brother” from your Holy Father?
Certainly I have respect for him and one has to distinguish between the general human aspect, him being my brother, and the ecclesial one, that he is my superior in that regard. And there he also enjoys my particular admiration.
But in our personal conversation we are just the same as ever.
Do you talk about theology and ecclesial politics?
Hardly. Our conversation is everyday talk, but also remembrances. On ecclesial politics very little, because I generally do not want to interfere in his job and I do not want to influence him in any way.
Issues that are known generally are sometimes taken into the discussion, but generally little.
And theology?
I like reading his works, but talking about it is something different. Sometimes when I have read something, I will ask him about it so that he can explain it to me. But we … are together in a human way and talk about everyday human life.
He asks about people he knows from Regensburg and other places. He wants to know how they’re doing and what they’re up to.
Do you regularly talk on the phone?
It varies; there is no rule — generally, at least once a week.
First he wants to know what has been going on, and I tell him. And then vice versa. We do not talk very long.
What practical benefit is there for you when your brother is the Pope?
Obviously, I see its practical benefit when I visit my brother in Rome: I get very quickly from the airport to the Vatican — and if you know the traffic jams around Rome then you know that this is not easy.
There is also an important dimension in the Eucharist: Here is the Vicar of Christ celebrating Mass. There is a special atmosphere around that. But apart from that everything is similar.
The image you get here is of a caring man who seeks to maintain a serious relationship with his brother despite the many worldwide demands. After the Holy Father's trip to the United States, doesn't this just up his human factor even more? So much for God's Rottweiler!
