Obviously I cannot keep up with the volume of reactions and commentary to our beloved Benedict's renunciation (let alone translating those that are not in English but in languages I can translate) and can only try to post those that I have found most striking and representative as I come across them. There will be time later on to do a proper retrospective as I tried belatedly to do for his election and the start of his Pontificate in the Papa Ratzinger Forum... Meanwhile, here is this beautiful tribute from the president of the Australian bishops' conference...
'We will always remember his warmth,
his holiness, his goodness - and
the new light he brought to papal teaching'
February 15, 2013
“He has encouraged us in faith. He has courageously apologised to victims of sexual abuse, and that will always be remembered and appreciated. But his warmth, his holiness, his goodness is something we will always remember”, says Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne, President of the Australian Bishops Conference, who spoke to Vatican Radio's Emeer McCarthy.
“Catholics and many others in wider Australian society were very surprised and shocked by Pope Benedict’s announcement of his resignation. However they do accept that a man of 85, nearly 86, whose health is failing, made a very courageous decision. I think they were very moved by his decisions and the reasons he gave for it”.
Pope Benedict XVI, he said, will always have a very special place in Australians hearts, particularly young Australians. The images of Pope Benedict crossing Sydney Harbour to launch World Youth Day Celebrations is perhaps one of the lasting memories of this pontificate, the Holy Father’s first and only voyage to Oceania.
“I was on that boat with Pope Benedict. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon and people were really excited that the Pope had actually come to Sydney. It was a wonderful moment when the young people of Australia engaged with the Pope and they suddenly realised that age didn’t matter. That there was this wonderful sensitive kind man who was their father in God. For all the events in that great week in Sydney, it will always remain a memorable moment for the history of Australia”.
Archbishop Hart says the Syndey celebrations left a lasting mark on Australian society: “I think the legacy of that moment really is the fact that the Pope seems much nearer to us and much more present. He has encouraged us in faith. He has courageously apologised to victims of sexual abuse, and that will always be remembered and appreciated. But his warmth, his holiness, his goodness is something we will always remember”.
But the President of the Australian Bishops Conference concludes that perhaps the greatest gift of this pontificate has been Pope Benedict’s widely felt support for the men and women on the frontlines of the Church, the priests and religious:
“I met him first when I was a young priest, walking across St. Peter’s Square. He would always greet you and have a word with you. When I met him as Pope he was always encouraging and sincere, a man of the Spirit and a man of God. I felt tremendously encouraged in my role as Archbishop and in my work with the people knowing that he was there with me, behind me, supporting and guiding me. He means a tremendous amount to all of us. I was made bishop and then archbishop by John Paul II, but
Pope Benedict has brought a new light and a new clarity to papal teaching”.
Cardinal Brady speaks
of Benedict's affection
and concern for Ireland
“We recall with immense gratitude his great affection towards Ireland”, noted Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, as he reflected with Emer McCarthy on how Benedict XVI’s pontificate impacted the Irish Church.
Pope Benedict may have never made it to Ireland, but there can be little doubt that Ireland, the faith of the nation and its people, intensely engaged this pontificate. There was his unprecedented convoking of the entire bishops conference in 2010, in the wake of the revelations of the depth of the abuse scandal within the Irish Church, and his Pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, Cardinal Brady points out.
“We met to discuss the abuse crisis in 2010,” says Cardinal Brady “and of course, there was the great honour he did Ireland in writing the Pastoral Letter. I think the Chinese people were the only other people to receive such an honour. He chartered the way forward for the Church in Ireland and advised us on what to do”.
Doubtless, he said, Pope Benedict’s choice of Dublin to host the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in June 2012, was part of the process of healing and renewal for the Irish Church and society.
Cardinal Brady notes: “My last meeting with the Holy Father was on the 15th of November at the end of the last plenary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity when we both rejoiced over the success of the International Eucharistic Congress [held in Dublin in June 2012]. Ihink it was a great act of trust to assign that Congress to Ireland, to Dublin”.
The cardinal said that Benedict XVI's concern for the future of the Church in Ireland was evident in his appointment of New York native Archbishop Charles Brown as Apostolic Nuncio to Dublin, rather than a career diplomat. The young theologian had formerly been an official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whohad worked under Cardinal Ratzinger when he was Prefect of the CDF.
But Pope Benedict XVI’s interest in Ireland went beyond current difficulties and future challenges, the cardinal notes. A a teacher and theologian at heart, he was fascinated by Ireland’s legacy of missionary saints: “One of his Wednesday audiences he devoted to Saint Columban. In fact, arrangements were being made to present to the Secretary of State a petition to have Saint Columban declared a co-patron saint of Europe, but that will have to be put on hold for the moment”.
The Primate of All Ireland concluded: “The biggest legacy of all is his teaching, the example of his life, his dedication to the end, and then this courageous decision to step aside. This is typical of the man, not thinking of himself but primarily of the Body of Christ”.
And then of course, there is the one great legacy that Ireland will always have from this pontificate, a prayer for the nation penned by the Pope:
Prayer for the Church in Ireland
God of our fathers,
renew us in the faith which is our life and salvation,
the hope which promises forgiveness and interior renewal,
the charity which purifies and opens our hearts
to love you, and in you, each of our brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus Christ,
may the Church in Ireland renew her age-old commitment
to the education of our young people in the way of truth and goodness,
holiness and generous service to society.
Holy Spirit, comforter, advocate and guide,
inspire a new springtime of holiness and apostolic zeal
for the Church in Ireland.
May our sorrow and our tears,
our sincere effort to redress past wrongs,
and our firm purpose of amendment
bear an abundant harvest of grace
for the deepening of the faith
in our families, parishes, schools and communities,
for the spiritual progress of Irish society,
and the growth of charity, justice, joy and peace
within the whole human family.
To you, Triune God,
confident in the loving protection of Mary,
Queen of Ireland, our Mother,
and of Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid and all the saints,
do we entrust ourselves, our children,
and the needs of the Church in Ireland.
Amen.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 17/02/2013 00:12]