Pope Benedict’s first encyclical is expected on December 8 and there is all kinds of speculation about what it is about. Suffice to say, all speculations are just that ... speculation. At the moment the strongest speculation is that it will be on the necessity of Jesus Christ for salvation, which would play off the CDF document Dominus Iesus. I’ve seen other speculation as well, some of which seemed ... odd, might be the least controversial way of putting it.
Anyway, the Holy Father says he doesn’t plan to write many documents so we can look to the few he does for special guidance.
I would certainly welcome an encyclical defining Jesus as the only road to salvation, in light of Benedict’s continued emphasis on ecumenism. I might even be able to find a way to become an ecumenist once again if I sense that a way is being found to do it without destroying our doctrine.
I was delighted with D.I. when it came out.
The encyclical is scheduled for release on a Marian feast day. Perhaps he will remind us once again that the Blessed Virgin always directs our attention to her Son instead of claiming our attention for herself.