Farewell to Benedict XVI: the gentle pope with a towering intellect
By Catherine Sheehan
On 31 December 2022, many around the world were deeply saddened by the news that Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, had passed away at the Vatican, aged 95.
Just days earlier it had been reported that the retired pontiff was increasingly frail and close to death.
In a touching tribute to Australia, the former pope was buried in the chasuble he had worn when he celebrated the Final Mass for World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. He was known to have often spoken with fondness of his visit to Australia for the historic event which was attended by thousands of young pilgrims.
At his simple funeral Mass held in St Peter’s Square in Rome on 5 January, Pope Francis described Benedict as a “faithful friend of the Bridegroom”.
“May your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever,” Pope Francis added.
The funeral was attended by around fifty thousand people, Vatican News reported, including 125 cardinals, as well as royalty, heads of state and other dignitaries from around the world.
Some in the crowd shouted “Santo subito!” (“Sainthood now!”) at the end of the Mass, according to Vatican News, reminiscent of Pope St John Paul II’s funeral in 2005.
Pope Francis briefly touched the casket, bowing his head in silent prayer, before it was carried into St Peter’s Basilica where it was later interred in the crypt.
Prior to the funeral, as Benedict’s body lay in state inside the Basilica, thousands of people queued in St Peter’s Square, waiting to pay their final respects to the late pope.
The eminent German theologian, known for his towering intellect and gentle nature, served as pope for eight years from 2005 until his shock resignation in 2013. He was the first pope in over 600 years to resign from the office. Since then he had been living a monastic-style life within the walls of Vatican City, devoting himself to praying for the Church.
Prior to becoming pope, he served as head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for more than two decades, and had enjoyed a close friendship and collaboration with his predecessor, John Paul II.
Pope Benedict canonised Australia’s first saint, Mary of the Cross MacKillop, in 2010.
In an obituary published in The Australian (2 January, 2023), the late Cardinal George Pell described Pope Benedict as “a holy and prayerful priest” and as “a Christian gentleman of the old school, who always remained a learned and reserved German professor”.
“He preserved the apostolic faith, taught regularly and magnificently, so is universally regarded as one of the finest theologians and writers in the Papacy’s near 2000-year history,” Cardinal Pell wrote.
President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, said Pope Benedict would long be remembered for his significant contribution to the Church.
“From his time as an expert adviser – or peritus – at the Second Vatican Council onwards, there was no question that Joseph Ratzinger was a major figure within the Church around the world,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“His papacy will be remembered as one of rich teaching, including his encyclicals on love, hope and truth, as well as his book series Jesus of Nazareth, and for important reforms in areas like liturgy and in the handling of child sexual abuse.”
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP said that while Benedict’s death caused sadness, “We can all be grateful for the blessing of his long life and the lasting contribution he made to our faith”.
“He was surely one of the finest minds and most faithful souls to fill the chair of St Peter in the last two millennia,” Archbishop Fisher said.