but is rather its best ally in the fight for reason to survive the postmodern belief that truths worthy of being transmitted down the generations don’t exist.

For him this is not a mere abstract, philosophical issue. He believes it is a tragedy when kids at school ask what car Napoleon was driving in Marengo, or if Salvador Dali is a relative of Muhammad Ali (by the way, I didn’t make up these two examples).

Benedict is convinced that if the new generations have nothing important to learn at a deeper, human level, both faith and reason lose. Even worse, humanity loses.

My humble suggestion: pay attention to what the pope says, but pay special attention to his less quotable words. Those will not be cotton candy.