For many years Cardinal Martini of was spoken of as a papabile. His elevation was not to be, but he remained one of the most influential and admired of senior clergy with a ready ability to communicate what he believed to the widest kind of audience.
Though he passed away after some years of illness in 2012, his thoughts continued to appear. An Italian paper published his final interview in which he remarked: ìOur culture has aged, our churches are big and empty and the church bureaucracy rises up. The Church must admit its mistakes and begin a radical change, starting from the Pope and the bishops. The paedophilia scandals oblige us to take a journey of transformation.î
It might seem that under another Jesuit who was elevated to the papacy that difficult journey has begun. But in some ways these reflections, inspired by the last article in the Apostles Creed, are his true final testament, a crowning publication to his lifeís work.
They are a reminder that at the heart of his faith lay an absolute belief, one which he wished others to share in. Through this book they can. He speaks of the fear of death, but says that we should trust ourselves totally to Jesus as he did.