By Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing OFM
When I think of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the first thing that comes to mind is his announcing his resignation from the papacy in 2013. No wonder. After all, he was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. People were disappointed that the pope abdicated the See not because he did badly, but because they appreciated his courage and humility without self-importance or attachment,.
Formerly known as Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for 23 years during the time of Pope John Paul II, and was regarded as the official spokesperson for the theological doctrines of the Holy See and the mediator of theological disputes within the Church. After the death of Pope John Paul, he was elected pope under and took the name, Benedict XVI.
The first time I heard him praised was by an Anglican priest. I was visiting an Anglican community near the parish I was serving and giving an ecumenical talk. During our conversation, the priest, an Anglican biblical scholar, enthusiastically shared with me his experience at an
academic conference in the Vatican and expressed his admiration for Cardinal Ratzinger as the most suitable person to become pope.
As members of the Catholic Church in China, we are inevitably reminded of the letter written by Benedict XVI in 2007. His message was a special expression of his concern for the Church in mainland China, encouraging the faithful to live their faith confidently, clearly and with clarity. He was aware that the complexities of the situation could not be resolved with a single letter. In the meantime therefore, he called on the universal Church to pray for the Church in China on May 24 each year, the Feast of Mary the Help of Christians. This showcased Benedict XVI’s pastoral care for the faithful and his trust in God.
After I was appointed to the Vatican Commission for the Church in China, I went to the Vatican twice, and Benedict XVI was present at both meetings. I remember his words as concise and eloquent, and I still keep the photo of the two times I shook hands with him.
Pope Francis once said of his predecessor: “Every time I read his work, it becomes clearer to me that he was always a man on his knees studying theology”. On the other hand, Pope Benedict always humbly described himself as a simple worker in the vineyard of God. Now he has returned to the Lord of the vineyard to receive the reward that has been prepared for him, to be with the one who loves him and the one he loves forever.
