 (On February 28, 2013, the Faculty of Christian Studies of the University of Saint Joseph organized a simple Round Table on Benedict XVI. The professors that intervened are the following: Fr. Peter Stilwell, USJ Rector, and professor of dogmatic theology; Professor Anna Chan USJ Vice-Rector and professor of Liturgy, Fr. Joao Eleuterio, Dean of the Faculty of Christian Studies and professor of dogmatic and patristic theology, Professor Arnold Monera, Professor of sacred Scriptures, Fr. Franz Gassner, SVD, professor of philosophy an ethics, and Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP, professor of theology and social ethics. Each participant spoke of the influence of Benedict XVI particularly regarding his field of teaching. We present here the intervention of our own Fr. Gomez)
We were going to take supper when we heard the incredible news: Pope Benedict XVI is resigning as Pope! It was the evening (Macau time) of February 11, 2013, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the International Day of the Sick when the Pope announced his resignation as Supreme Pontiff of the Church to take effect on February 28 at eight in the evening (8:00 PM). After supper we all rushed to watch CNN for more specifics on the history-making news. Why is Benedict XVI resigning? The words of Benedict XVI: “After having examined repeatedly my conscience before God, I have come to realize with certitude that my strength, due to advanced age, is not enough to carry out appropriately the Petrine ministry†(Address to Consistory, February 11, 2013). At first, the unexpected news of the papal resignation seemed incredible, shocking, saddening! Then, most of us thought that the resignation was an extraordinary act of humility and service to the Church, and a singular act of courage.
A few days later, on February 14, I had to go to Rome for the Annual Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV), which usually celebrates its yearly meeting at the end of February. This year the encounter of about one hundred and twenty PAV members from all over the world took place on February 21-23, and focused on the theme “Faith and Life.†The 2013 meeting with international congress (February 22) had an added interest: the PAV sessions take place at the New Synod Hall inside the Vatican, where the Cardinals, including those over eighty, will meet before the coming Conclave. Moreover, the lunch of the three-day assembly is prepared at Sancta Martha, also inside the Vatican, which will be the residence of the Cardinals during the Conclave. I asked some PAV members how they felt after hearing the news of the Pope’s resignation. Let me quote two representative answers. One bishop from Australia told me: “I felt sadness, I was so surprised!†A well-known German philosopher said to me: “I could not believe it; I felt disappointed. Why did he resign? It is a mystery.†He added: “We are grateful to Benedict XVI, now we pray for the Cardinals.â€Â I said: “I believe in the Holy Spirit.†He said: “Yes, I do too, but we have had a few bad popes, so we pray that the cardinals will understand the language of the Holy Spirit and follow his inspiration.† Personally, after hearing the news of the papal resignation I felt sad, then grateful, and then hopeful!
After poorly digesting the news of the papal resignation, the next question many asked was on the heritage or legacy of the papacy of PopeBenedict XVI. For many people, his main message is his life: a coherent, lucid, humble and prayerful life (through the last days of his Pontificate he looks so serene, so at peace with himself, so grateful and compassionate, and so joyful. The Pope’s last twit of February 28: “I wish that each one of you experiences the joy of being a Christianâ€). Most people concerned agreed that his legacy is his magisterium, his clear and profound teaching on faith and morals. For me personally I treasure his three encyclicals focused on the close relationships of the virtues, in particular of faith, hope and charity, and truth and justice: Deus Caritas Est (On Christian Love, 2005), Spe Salvi (On Christian Hope, 2007) and Caritas in Veritate (On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth, 2009). Pope Benedict XVI also left us two important Apostolic Exhortations: Sacramentum Caritatis (on the Holy Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church’s Life and Mission, 2007), and Verbum Domini (On the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church, 2010). Among other significant messages speeches, homilies, Angelus, etc.,I point out his Message for the World Day of Peace, January first of every year. These yearly messages complement his rich social teachings on justice, love and social ethics. Moreover, we cannot but underline the three books on Christ that he wrote during his papacy, books not of Benedict XVI but of Joseph Ratzinger the theologian, who is classified as a neo-Augustinian, ardent follower of St. Augustine, St. Bonaventure and Hans Urs von Balthasar. All the writings and messages of the Pope, including his acclaimed Light of the World (A Conversation with Peter Seewald, 2010)  are centered on Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life of every believer and of every person, and also on the human person, the center of morality. It is interesting to note that Benedict XVI likes to speak of a morality or ethics only, not of two as many like to do: life ethics and social ethics. He says that there is only one morality, one ethics because the human person, an individual and a social being is the subject and the center of all ethics.
Certainly, Vatican II continues to be the most significant event of the Church since last century. We owe to Pope Benedict XVI the calling of the Year of Faith (2012-2013) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). For him – for us – Vatican II is, as Blessed John XXIII said, “A great grace and a sure compass.†Benedict XVI urges us to renew our faith and help renew our Church: “If we interpret and implement it (Vatican II) guided by a right hermeneutics, it can be and can become increasingly powerful for the ever necessary renewal of the Church†(Address to the Roman Curia: December 22, 2005).
While in Rome and the Vatican, another question propped up: What will Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI do? The Pope himself answered when he announced his abdication: “I wish to serve with my whole heart with a life dedicated to prayer.†He made it clearer in subsequent messages. I heard him say it again from the balcony of his apartment on his last Angelus on February 24. Before a crowd of two hundred thousand people, mostly young (and some oldies, like me) filling St. Peter’s Basilica Plaza Pope Benedict XVI said: “The Lord is calling me to dedicate myself still more to prayer and to meditation.†And he added: “But this does not mean abandoning the Church; on the contrary God asks this of me, to serve the Church with the same dedication and love…, but in a way that is more adapted to my age and my strength.†On the last audience of February 27 the Pope said: “I am not abandoning the cross, but remain in a new way with the crucified Lord. I no longer carry the power of the office for the government of the Church, but in service of prayer I remain, so to speak, within St. Peter’s bounds.â€
Usually, the members of the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV) have a papal audience. The members were always eager to hear the words of the Holy Father on the defense and promotion of human life. This time, the audience was cancelled a few weeks earlier. After knowing the news on the resignation, it was understood why this year there would be no papal audience. Instead the members were offered a guided visit to the Vatican Museum. It was truly worthwhile! Worthwhile in itself: there is so much to see, to admire, to enjoy, in particular the paintings of Raphael and, above all, Michael Angelo. Worthwhile also at this interesting time: The election of a new Pope! This election, as we all know, takes place at the Sistine Chapel, which was the last part of our visit to the Vatican Museum. In this chapel the election of the new Pope will take place soon. We admired Michel Angelo Last Judgment, and relished walking on the floor of the Chapel and learning where the place for the chimney would be – the chimney that will be fed with synthetic material and tell the world of the result of the votation every morning and evening: black smoke, no pope; white smoke, Habemus Papam!
I remember a few of the many quotable texts of Pope Benedict XVI, texts that keep enlightening and encouraging my life. As a tribute to our dear Holy Father, I print them hereafter:
As Augustine said, a State which is not governed according to justice would be just a bunch of thieves (DCE, 28). In addition to justice man needs, and will always need, love (DCE, 29). The presence of suffering, of loneliness, of material need calls for love (DCE 28)
A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone speak (DCE, 31). It is not science that redeems man: man is redeemed by love (SS, 25);
If there is lack of respect for the right to life and to a natural death…, the conscience of society ends up losing the concept of human ecology and, along with it, that of environmental ecology (CV, 51);
Indeed, many Christians dedicate their lives with love to those who are lonely, marginalized or excluded, as to those who are the first with a claim on our attention and the most important for us to support, because it is in them that the reflection of Christ’s own face is seen. Through faith, we can recognize the face of the risen Lord in those who ask for our love. ‘As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to meâ€- Mt 25:40 (Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei for the Indiction of the Year of faith, 14).
To pray is not to isolate oneself from the world and its contradictions… Prayer, rather, leads us back to the journey, to action. The Christian life consists in continuously scaling the mountain to meet God and then coming back down, bearing the love and strength drawn from him, so as to serve our brothers and sisters with God’s own love (Last Angelus, February 24, 2013)
At the last Angelus of Pope Benedict XVI (February 24, 2013), there were many streamers and posters among the huge crowd of people filling St. Peter’s Basilica Plaza. The most repeated motto was: “Grazie Padre,†“Grazie Santitá,†“Grazie Benedetto,†“Many, Many Thanks for Being the Sweet Christ on Earth.†Today February 28, the last day of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI is time, to say, above all, grazie, thanks, gracias!
Thank you, Lord, for giving us Pope Benedict XVI. And bless him on the last stage of his journey to You
                                                                                                                      FAUSTO GOMEZ, OP
USJ, February 28, 2013