Friday, April 22 2005 14:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kochi: A brief handwritten letter and a book, 'Salt of the Earth', both written by Joseph Ratzinger, the newly elected Pontiff, are two treasures, which a priest from Kerala holds close to his heart.

A copy of the book was gifted to Father Antony Thampy Thaikootathil, presently vice-chancellor of the Cochin Diocese and director of the diocese-run Human Resource Development centre in Kochi by Ratzinger in 1998, when Father Antony took the 'Dicaconate', a ceremony to become a priest at the Collegium of Carnisianum at Austria.

The book was accompanied by a hand-written letter in German, saying "All the best. Be a good Catholic".

"The book and the letter are my treasures", Father Antony said.

Father Antony had studied Philosophy and Theology in Austria and used to visit Germany and Rome during vacation. It was during one such visit in 1995 that he met Cardinal Ratzinger at a dinner.

They met several times after that, during which the Cardinal would speak at length about the Catholic dogmas and enquire about church activities in Kerala, he said.

When Father Thomas mustered the courage to ask him about his conservative views, he had replied 'I am conservative for our church'. They had met in November last year (2004) at Rome.

Describing the new Pope as a 'simple, dignified and royal' person, he said that the new Pontiff 'lives for his ideals and faith'. "Even if people around him are not satisfied with his ideals and faith, he goes on, and will not sacrifice his ideals and faith".