Cardinal Walter Kasper

Overview

“May Cardinal Kasper's insights and ideas, as expressed in this volume, continue to enrich today's renewal of the church's identity and mission in the world.” -- Dr. George Augustin, S.A.C., Director, Cardinal Walter Kasper Institute, Vallendar, Germany

“Mercy is the new Christian awareness. Mercy gives a foretaste and an anticipation of what we hope for, the coming of the heavenly Jerusalem. . . . One beam of mercy makes the world warmer and brighter for all people.” —Cardinal Walter Kasper

Walter Kasper, a German bishop and theologian, has long been regarded as a vital expositor of the gospel and one of the leading voices of church renewal and reform. Named a cardinal in 2001, Kasper served as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and represented the Church in advancing Jewish-Christian relations. He assumed an especially important role under Pope Francis, who publicly endorsed Kasper’s book on Mercy, thus signaling a principle theme of his papacy.

This volume reflects the major themes of Kasper’s long career. Given the breadth of his work, the selections here on God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Ecumenism, and Christian Hope, represent a veritable introduction to the Christian faith.

Patricia C. Bellm is co-director of the Science and Religion Initiative with Notre Dame's Institute for Church Life.

Robert A. Krieg, a professor of theology at Notre Dame, is co-editor of Cardinal Walter Kasper: Speaking Truth in Love (Liturgical), and editor of Romano Guardini: Spiritual Writings (Orbis).