VATICAN CITY, NOV. 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will sign his second encyclical, dedicated to the theme of hope, this Nov. 30, confirmed his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
The cardinal confirmed the Pope's plan today during the 4th world congress of the organizations dedicated to justice and peace, under way in Rome and focusing on the 40th anniversary of Paul VI's "Populorum Progressio."
Nov. 30 is the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. Normally, encyclicals and other papal documents are not published on the same day they are signed; rather, the texts are released to the public some time after the official signing date.
The Holy Father's second encyclical is inspired by St. Paul's letter to the Romans. His first encyclical, about charity, titled "Deus Caritas Est," was released in 2006 .
Cardinal Bertone said over the summer that the Pope is also preparing an encyclical about social themes.
ZE07112209 - 2007-11-22