A new collection of previously unpublished homilies by Pope Benedict XVI is now available in English. The Lord Holds Us by the Hand, released by the Vatican Publishing House, gathers homilies the late pope delivered during private Masses between 2005 and 2017. The book was originally published in Italian as Il Signore ci tiene per mano and covers the liturgical seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter.The volume was edited by Riccardo Bollati, Luca Caruso, and Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ. Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Benedict XVI’s former personal secretary, wrote the preface, while Fr. Lombardi, President of the Joseph Ratzinger–Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation, provided the introduction. The homilies were given during “private” Masses with the papal household and occasional guests, both during Benedict’s pontificate and after his resignation.
Some were preached in the chapel of the Apostolic Palace; others were delivered at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, where he lived as Pope Emeritus.Though spoken in private settings, the texts highlight Benedict XVI’s depth as a preacher, theologian, and pastor. They show his ability to draw fresh meaning from Scripture for faith, prayer, and daily Christian life. At the heart of each homily is not abstract theology, but a personal relationship with Christ.
Benedict returns repeatedly to the image of the Lord who walks with His people, sustains them, and holds them by the hand — a theme that gives the book its title. The collection underscores the continuity between Benedict’s theological work and his pastoral ministry, marked by clarity, spiritual depth, and a Christ-centered focus. The Lord Holds Us by the Hand is the first of two volumes. A second book, covering homilies from Ordinary Time, is expected to follow.The Italian edition was presented on May 17 at the Turin International Book Fair in a session called “Benedict XVI: ‘Christ is a future!’ The unpublished homilies.” Speakers included Fr. Lombardi and Italian singer-songwriter Giovanni Lindo Ferretti, with Vatican editorial director Andrea Tornielli moderating. With the English edition now published, a wider audience can encounter Benedict XVI’s preaching and his enduring call to place Christ at the center of faith and history.