Benedict XVI writes his third and last volume on Jesus of Nazareth

Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Press Office of the Holy See, noted that it would deal with the “childhood Gospels”. The publication of the second volume, dedicated to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, is due next spring; the original German version is currently being translated into other languages. The first volume, concerning the life of Christ “from the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration,” was published in April 2007.

Father Lombardi emphasized how “reinvigorated and smiling” Benedict XVI appeared at the Angelus on July 18, although observers had interpreted his unusual decision not to travel to the mountains for the summer holidays as a sign of fatigue and weakness.

In addition, the Vatican Television Center posted on the Internet brief footage taken at Castel Gandolfo of Benedict XVI at his desk, working on his third volume. The pope is then shown taking a walk in the gardens accompanied by his personal secretary, reciting the Rosary in German.  Finally the viewer sees the pope throwing bread to the goldfish in a pond in the gardens of his summer residence.