German-born cleric, theologian, academic, and author (born 1927), né Joseph Alois Ratzinger, who was elected 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005. Rare, early, and extraordinary manuscript poem in German, signed “Joseph Ratzinger” and dated [Munich] July 4, 1952, on a cream 5.25 x 6 page contained in its original autograph album. The translated text reads as follows: God alone is enough: What else the heart does love, What it will long to grasp, What it seeks to obtain Is only a shimmer of Him, He who shows us His path, It is Him, who gives us all of this: God alone is enough. In memory of your religious education teacher....” The future pope evidently took inspiration for the poem from the famous motto by St. Teresa of Avila, “God Alone Is Enough.” Benedict wrote poetry as a POW during World War II and composed the present verse expressly for his young students in Munich when he taught there following his ordination in 1951. The text of the poem is discussed and published in full in the papal biography Grundkurs Benedetto by Stefan von Kempis (Leipzig: St. Benno Verlag, 2006). The album also contains several other inscriptions, most of which are accompanied by charming original drawings or pictorial tokens. A few very faint smudges to signed page, otherwise fine, clean condition. Without doubt one of the finest manuscript items by any modern pope in private hands! Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
