Thanks to Benedict XVI for his gift of humility, obedience and renunciation for the Church
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - It was a poignant morning. Over 150, 000 people had gathered in St. Peter's square for a historic moment. A Pope, first in 600 years, was knowingly addressing his last public audience. Many had tears in their eyes and many could not still believe it. A colleague of mine standing besides me as we witnessed this great moment in History expressed perfectly well what I was thinking and many like me must have been contemplating: "with adulation from this and suchlike adoring crowds, who would willingly abdicate the throne? Only a saint would do it!!!!"
This humble intellectual Pope whose election itself came as a huge surprise considering the fact that he was 78 and by canonical norms way past his retirement age as Bishop closed his Papacy with a sudden and revolutionary announcement of voluntary resignation. I was there in St. Peter's square eight years ago as the 119 cardinals elected the frail Old man to fill in the shoes of the fisherman. He had greeted us then with these words: "After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers."
He showed the same humility some 8 years later when he announced to a consistory of cardinals and to a shocked world: "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."
And the Pope continued to surprise us with every appearance after the announcement of his Resignation and impress us with his humility that could only come from a deeply spiritual man. Bringing back the memories of St. Peter in the boat with Jesus asleep, he told the large crowd of people who came to bid him farewell in his final audience: "there were moments when the waters were agitated and the winds contrary and the Lord seemed to be sleeping. But I always knew that in that boat the Lord is there and I have always known that the boat is not mine, not ours, but is His." Words of faith, words of humility, words of surrender that so much personified the character and personality of Joseph Ratzinger called to the See of Peter. Words that left many battle scarred Cardinals present at the Audience in tears.
On the day Pope Benedict was elected, I was asked by Britain's Channel four what I though of the new Papacy. I had replied quite spontaneously without much time to think: It will be a great Papacy. He will be a great Pope. Nothing could have been greater than the way the Papacy ended: in a gesture of Renunciation, Surrender and Humility. It can be surmised in the words of Pope Benedict Himself to the Cardinals in the last speech on the last day of his Papacy:" Before greeting you personally I would like to tell you all that I will continue to be near to you in prayer, especially in the coming days, so that you may be fully docile to the Holy Spirit's action in electing the new Pope. May the Lord show you what He wills. Among you, among the College of Cardinals, is also the future Pope, to whom I already today promise my unconditioned reverence and obedience."
So what does the Resignation of Benedict XVI mean? It means that the Holy Father before his departure has placed once again the model of humility and renunciation before the world as a symbol of sanctity and holiness. In a world craving for power and feeding on ambition here is a man who can give it all up and say " I am just a pilgrim". It was beautiful, touching and inspiring to hear Benedict telling the faithful receiving him at Albano, "I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, or I will be until 8:00 this evening and then no longer. I am simply a pilgrim beginning the last leg of his pilgrimage on this earth. But I would still... I would still-with my heart, with my love, with my prayers, with my reflection, and with all my inner strength-like to work for the common good and the Good of the Church and of humanity. I feel very supported by your kindness. Let us go forward with the Lord for the good of the Church and the world".
The helicopter flew over our offices and took away our Pope into a wilderness he has chosen for himself where he will spend his time praying for the Church and for all of us. But he has left the shoes of the Fisherman much bigger for his successor to fill in. Whoever the Holy spirit anoints as the next Pope will be guided by the humility and the spirit of Benedict XVI. As an Official of the Pontifical Council for culture, I can candidly say, Benedict XVI has reinforced the Gospel culture of humility, obedience and renunciation. Thank you Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for this wonderful gift to the Church.
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19/04/2010
