By Lavoisier Fernandes
For a millennial like me, the papacy of Pope Saint John Paul II was ever present in my childhood, youth, and early adulthood, especially his Apostolic pilgrimage to Goa with his solemn papal mass in my mother tongue, Konkani (as he was gifted with a tremendous affinity for languages in an engaging manner) on the grounds of Campal which also happened to be on my birthday in 1986. Although I had not met him personally, I felt a void after his demise, with scepticism as to what the next Pope would be like and what would that mean for the Catholic Church. I vividly remember the April of 2005, on the feast of Divine Mercy, with all the Western secular news channels speculating that “God’s Rottweiler” Cardinal Ratzinger would be the next Pope, a nickname earned by Pope Benedict whilst serving as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith between 1981–2005. So, when Pope Benedict XVI appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’ as the next pope after what was a short conclave I was not surprised, although I did not know much other than what appeared to be a shy and gentle intellectual. Till then, I was still accustomed to the charismatic, polyglot, and humble “The Great Pope Saint John Paul II.”
Then came August 2005, Pope Benedict XVI’s first official engagement outside Rome and my first World Youth Day experience in Cologne, the biggest Catholic international youth event. Listening to Pope Benedict in the Marianfield arena at the Vigil and Papal mass along with more than one million youth from two hundred odd countries chanting “Papa Benedetto, we love you” is when I began to be drawn by the simplicity of this shy, gentle, and intellectual spiritual father. This affection for the late Holy Father only increased on his visit to the United Kingdom in 2010 and his eight years of generous service to the Church through his catechesis, homilies, writings, and encyclicals.
This 31st of December 2023 marks the first death anniversary of the late Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. I thought I would share a few reflections, quotes, and insights of this intellectually humble theologian, who produced sixty books between 1963 and 2013 and was indeed a blessing for the Church.
- Father of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Today, if we have the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we owe it to Pope Benedict XVI. Unlike the Council of Trent, Vatican Council II did not decide to publish its own catechism of the Council. After the Second Extraordinary General Assembly Synod in 1985, Pope John Paul II set up a commission composed of twelve cardinals and bishops chaired by cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to prepare the first draft of a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding both faith and morals. Reminiscing those days, he said in 2011: “I must confess that even today it seems a miracle to me that this project [the Catechism of the Catholic Church] was ultimately successful.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church is undoubtedly among the great legacies of Pope Benedict XVI.
- Humble servant of the Lord:
Without any doubt, his resignation and being the first pope in six hundred years to resign was a surprise and a shocker. However, one needs to give it to him for his unfailing trust in the Lord, humility and accepting his frailty. His resignation to a considerable extent has eased this burdensome decision for future Pope’s should they decide to resign in office for health reasons. Excerpts from his address following his resignation: “Knowing full well the seriousness of this act, but also realizing that I am no longer able to carry out the Petrine ministry with the strength which it demands. I am strengthened and reassured by the certainty that the Church is Christ’s, who will never leave her without his guidance and care.”
- On being Christian:
From his first encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est, “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”
- Truth and relativism:
Excerpts from Benedict XVI homily, April 18,2005
“Truth draws strength from itself and not from the number of votes in its favour. Having a clear faith based on the Creed of the church is often labelled as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, that is, letting oneself be ‘tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine,’ seems the only attitude that can cope with modern times. We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one’s own ego and desires.”
- Obedience to his successor:
“Among you, in the College of Cardinals, there is also the future pope to whom today I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience.” Pope Benedict spoke these words at the conclusion of his final address to the College of Cardinals on February 28, 2013. Pope Benedict himself kept his word by retiring to a life of prayer and pledging Pope Francis his unconditional obedience.
Unity in the Church and obedience to his successor has us a lot to desire from Pope Benedict especially when we are quick to critique the current papacy and occasionally even doubting its validity. We are a missionary Church, made up of many people. We are all different – we look different, we have different experiences, we have diverse backgrounds and cultures, we have different proclivities and sins, likes and dislikes, talents, and weaknesses. Even if our approaches and styles and preferences differ, we, as Catholic Christians, are unified through an underlying continuity with the pope, whoever he is.
- Preparing for his death:
“Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life. Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer, for I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has already suffered for my shortcomings, and is thus also my advocate, my ‘Paraclete.’ In light of the hour of judgment, the grace of being a Christian becomes all the more clear to me. It grants me knowledge, and indeed friendship, with the judge of my life, and thus allows me to pass confidently through the dark door of death. In this regard, I am constantly reminded of what John tells us at the beginning of the Apocalypse: he sees the Son of Man in all his grandeur and falls at his feet as though dead. Yet He, placing his right hand on him, says to him: ‘Do not be afraid! It is I…’ (cf. Rev 1:12-17)”
- 7. Pope Benedict’ last words:
“Lord, I love you,”
Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress” — a lifelong journey. He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith, thanks to his Salesian schooling. His passions are podcasting, theology, the papacy, and volunteering. He has hosted the ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith and other faiths and examining issues affecting both the Church and society. He has also hosted the ‘Heart Talk’ series for Shalom World Catholic TV. He presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine Renovação and the Faith Companion Magazine in England.