By Alora Peters, Editor-in-Chief
Across the world on Dec. 31, many people prepared to celebrate the birth of a new year. However, at the same time, many mourned the death of a beloved man whose life impacted countless others across the globe.
Joseph A. Ratzinger, or Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, passed away on the morning of Dec. 31, at the age of 95.
It is difficult to be brief in a biography of the former pope and in a list of his accomplishments during his life. Born in 1927, Benedict was elevated to the status of a cardinal in 1977, was a key figure during the Vatican II Council, and was the author of numerous influential theological texts. He was elected pope in 2005, and led the Catholic Church as the Bishop of Rome until he resigned in 2013, where he was succeeded by current Pope Francis. Following his resignation, Benedict lived a life dedicated to prayer, writing, and instruction at the Monastery of Mater Ecclesiae until his passing.
The legacy and impact of Benedict’s life is immense and far-reaching and had a profound effect on the lives of both Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Following the death of Benedict, members of the Saint Leo University community reflected on the significance of the former pope and the lessons that can be learned from his teachings and example.
“[Benedict] would…play a big role in my formation as a Catholic,” said Henry Lithgow, a freshman majoring in political science at Saint Leo. “He always served as a huge inspiration for me…[and]offered great meditations on the world and how we as Catholics must interact with it.”
For some, the works of Benedict had a deeply personal influence.
“A specific writing of Benedict…helped me in the deeper conversion of my faith life,” said Lucas Nocera, the interim director of University Ministry at Saint Leo. “He wrote a series of books called Jesus of Nazareth, spanning Jesus’ whole life, from His birth unto His crucifixion….While they are still books of theology, they are books of reflection on who our God is and His life.”
Benedict’s contributions to the literature of the church are a defining part of his legacy.
“In terms of theology, the man is just brilliant,” said Dr. Thomas Humphries, an associate professor of philosophy, theology, and religion at Saint Leo.
Humphries pointed towards Benedict’s first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est – which translates roughly into English as God is Love – as being one of his most profound writings.
“I think that’s one of the most marvelous, succinct, detailed, and pointed texts that has been produced,” he said. “You get the idea that…this was the culmination of dozens of years of ministry.”
Other defining moments of Benedict’s pontificate included his work towards unity within the universal church.
“There was a large picture for [Benedict] of the papacy as a vehicle for reconciliation and true ecumenism,” said Humphries, who stated that Benedict’s efforts to extend reconciliation to Anglicans and to members of the Society of St. Pius X were significant accomplishments during his papacy.
Benedict’s strides to heal the divisions over the celebration of the liturgy continue to be recognized and appreciated today.
“As someone who attends the traditional Latin Mass every Sunday, I’m eternally grateful for Pope Benedict’s support of tradition in the church,” said Lithgow.
Another notable part of Benedict’s life is the fact that he witnessed firsthand world-changing events such World War II, the Cold War, and the fall of communism.
“You have a man who is fundamentally imbedded in some of the worst crises of the twentieth century,” said Humphries. “[Pope St.] John Paul II suffered from Hitler as a receiver in Poland…as someone under persecution. Benedict is kind of on the other side – he’s kind of expected to play along with the Nazis. Both men resist in their own ways.”
Benedict’s resistance and experience during these difficult times continue to be an example of fortitude today.
“John Paul’s [resistance]is way more dramatic…whereas Benedict is not that way, but he needs to maintain his distance from all of these things,” said Humphries. “[It is] the same fear, I imagine, that he had to face, and, therefore, the same courage to speak against it.”
Similarly, Lithgow reflected on Benedict’s dedication to strive for a life of excellence and virtue, and, in particular, the quote, “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”
“One of the most important things that we can learn from the life of Benedict is that we must all aspire for greatness,” said Lithgow. “God is calling on all of us to serve Him and glorify Him.”
However, it is also important to learn from Benedict’s equally powerful example of humility.
“Sometimes, I think you think of him in terms of the prolific writing that he did, or the firm lines he draws sometimes, and that might make you forget, or not even realize, that he lived a very simple and holy life,” said Humphries.
Benedict’s love of the virtue of simplicity was, perhaps, most strikingly seen in his resignation from the papacy.
“He…lived a humble life for the last ten years of his life in hermitage,” said Nocera. “He simply prayed and wrote for those years, and gave himself to God as he prepared for his death.”
The funeral Mass was celebrated for the repose of Benedict’s soul on Jan. 5, and afterwards, his body was buried in the Vatican crypt.
