Abstract

The book of nature is among the most enduring theological metaphors. It has also been used extensively by recent Popes, from John Paul II to Francis. However, it has not been widely recognized that Pope Benedict XVI developed a wide-ranging and harmonious theology of the book of nature in series of documents and discourses. In this article, I provide an analysis of the various ways in which Pope Benedict spoke about the book of nature, highlighting the various themes covered, including science and religion, the natural law, the liturgy, and the theology of religions. I also discuss the theological underpinnings of Pope Benedict's employment of the metaphor. I argue that, instead of seeing creation merely as the first stage of revelation, he thinks of the books of nature and Scripture developing in dialogue and finding their fullness in Christ.