Pope Benedict XVI · "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the con..."

Encyclical *Fides et Ratio* (as Cardinal Ratzinger, 1998) · Checked on 7 August 2026

Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.

Analysis

The exact phrase appears in the introduction of *Fides et Ratio*, authored by Pope John Paul II but heavily influenced by Cardinal Ratzinger (later Benedict XVI), who was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the time. The encyclical explicitly uses this metaphor to describe the relationship between faith and reason.

Background

*Fides et Ratio* (Faith and Reason) is a 1998 encyclical by Pope John Paul II addressing the harmony between faith and human reason. Cardinal Ratzinger played a key role in its drafting, and the quote reflects his theological perspective. The document emphasizes that both faith and reason are essential for attaining truth.

Verdict summary

The statement accurately quotes Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger) from the 1998 encyclical *Fides et Ratio*.

Sources consulted

— Vatican.va, *Fides et Ratio* (1998), Introduction, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html

— Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), *The Nature and Mission of Theology* (1995), Ignatius Press

— Avery Dulles, *The Assurance of Things Hoped For: A Theology of Christian Faith* (1994), Oxford University Press