The unprecedented retirement of
Pope Benedict XVI has led to innumerable articles on the man and his
pontificate. I think it’s too soon to discuss the achievements of his
pontificate but I would like to say a few words about the man or about my own
impression of the man.
I can’t say that I have any
personal knowledge of the late Pope but unlike most commentators and pundits, I
have at least read a couple of his books. A few years ago I read his “Jesus of
Nazareth” an obvious attempt by the Pope to bring the results of a lifetime of
work and study to a non-scholarly audience. I can’t say that I can remember
much of the book or the Pope’s arguments. I do remember thinking that the
Pope’s great intellect and learning were obvious on every page.
When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was
elected seven years ago at the age of 78, I was contemplating my own retirement
after 36 years as a financial advisor. I had always advised my own clients that
they should regard retirement not as an end, but as a new beginning; that it
might finally give them an opportunity to do something that they had always
wanted to do.
In my own case I had been a
scholar and teacher before circumstances forced me to change career and enter
the world of financial service. It turned out to be the best thing that ever
happened to me, but after a successful 36 years, I looked forward to getting
back to my first interest, history. So it was easy for me to sympathize with
Cardinal Ratzinger on his election.
Cardinal Ratzinger |
Here was a great, great scholar
who had given up most of his last years in the service of the Vatican, an
often-thankless job. He was lampooned and derided even by Catholics. During the
pontificate of John Paul II, wasn’t Cardinal Ratzinger often referred to as the
Vatican’s Rottweiler? Just when he might have thought that at age 78, he could
enter into a peaceful retirement, return to his study, and complete his life’s
work, he gets elected to one of the most difficult jobs on earth.
Isn’t it incredible that even
those who dislike the Catholic Church and especially the Papacy seem to expect
so much from it? But what can a Pope actually do or accomplish? He cannot
resort to the usual weapons at the disposal of governments today whether they are
despotic or democratic. He has no taxing power. He cannot put you in jail or
confiscate your property if you fail to put money in the collection basket.
Despite what many non-Catholics
might think he cannot order Catholics around or tell them what to do. He can
advise but they often refuse to consent with no apparent loss or penalty. Some
are shocked that the Catholic Church believes that the Pope is infallible. But
this famous doctrine has only been used on one occasion since it was
promulgated in 1870 by the first Vatican Council. Big deal.
Upon his election Cardinal
Ratzinger chose the name Benedict and he became the sixteenth Pope of
that name which literally means “say good.” He said that he was thinking of the
famous saint who founded western Monasticism back in the last days of the Roman
Empire. But he was also thinking of Pope Benedict XV, a little remembered Pope
who early in the twentieth century strove unsuccessfully to keep the great
powers of Europe from plunging into the First World War.
It was obvious that the new Pope
saw himself as a peacemaker both within his own troubled Church and in the
World. He did his best in the past seven years but finally old age caught up to
him and he wisely decided to step down. His story reminds me of a wonderful short
story by J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the “Lord of the Rings” and the
“Hobbit”. This little known story, “Leaf by Niggle” is about a man who is
attempting a painting of a leaf. He regards it as his life’s work but
throughout he is constantly interrupted by the needs and demands of family,
friends, and even strangers. He dies with the painting of the leaf unfinished
but that’s not the end of the story.
In the end we see Niggle in Heaven
working on a painting of a huge tree containing thousands of beautifully
painted leaves. Let’s hope that Pope Benedict will one day come to a similar reward. Well-done, good and faithful servant. Rest in peace. ###
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