This is a 'random' lookback, without chronological or thematic relevance to this day, or so I thought - but in Italy, is already April 16, so
A MOST BLESSED AND JOYOUS
88TH BIRTHDAY
TO OUR BELOVED POPE BENEDICT
Anyway, since it is a tribute to Joseph Ratzinger/B16, then it is most serendipitous and relevant that I came upon it at this time!.. I was looking for the post on B16's visit to St. Joseph's Seminary outside New York City when he visited the USA in 2008 and came upon this post-visit editorial from the Daily Star of Lebanon, of all places.
But whoever wrote it obviously appreciates Benedict as he is, not as the media have habitually portrayed him. What struck me this time, however, is what the writer notes about Benedict's emphases on 'acknowledging sin and seeking repentance and forgiveness', and that 'people can move on to build a better world if they acknowledge and accept responsibility for their misdeeds'. In short, those elements that I and others like me have always found lacking in Pope Francis's pontifications about mercy. Not even his 'Bull of Indiction of a Holy Year of Mercy includes those missing elements, without which preaching mercy seems nothing more than touting a welfare state of unending give-aways from God without man doing anything in return.
Pope Benedict offers an impressive
example of courage and humility
Editorial
The Daily Star, Lebanon
Monday, April 21, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States this week has been a timely and needed reminder to the whole world on the importance of morality and ethics as a foundation for human behavior, whether personal or political.
He touched so many bases - literally and figuratively, given his two masses at baseball stadia - that his words and symbolic actions are worth pondering for a long time ahead.
The powerful core theme of his visit was the need for human beings - popes or paupers, it does not matter - to summon the courage to confront evil face-to-face, but to also to acknowledge sin and seek repentance and forgiveness.
This man of faith gets our attention not only because he is the leader of over a billion Catholics in the world, but mainly because he provides a living symbol of the right way to do the hard thing.
Perhaps the most moving gesture he made during the visit was to meet with some of the victims of sexual abuse of children by church officials in years past, apologizing to them and all abused victims, and praying with them.
His forthright act of apology, combined with solidarity and the kind of gesture that can help relieve some of the victims' pain and trauma, stands as a powerful symbol of two facts that are universal and perhaps eternal, but repeatedly compelling to every generation of human beings anywhere in the world:
people will sin and commit crimes, resulting in pain, death and suffering; but people can also overcome their own mistakes and move on to build a better world, if they acknowledge and accept responsibility for their misdeeds.
The Pope's visit to Ground Zero in New York was also a reminder that prayer is meaningful and effective for many people, but that prayers for peace and tranquility that are universal have the most meaning.
He prayed at and blessed a place that he described as "the scene of incredible violence and pain." He requested "eternal light and peace" not only for all those who died on September 11, 2001, in the attacks against the United States, but for all those in the world, including those who do evil, foment terror, or make war.
"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world," he said. "Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred."
The faith and love of God that form the core operative values of the Abrahamic religions are matched by the important imperative of humility - not just before the Divine, but before our fellow men and women also, the Pope has reminded us all once again in his unique way.
Pope Benedict XVI does not do politics. He operates in a world of religion, doctrine and ethics. Where those two meet, we may aspire to work for light and peace.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 16/04/2015 16:40]