The passing of Pope Benedict XVI on December 31, 2022 came as a great surprise to the world. The former Pope had largely stayed out of the public eye in the years following his unexpected resignation in 2013, which meant that billions of people around the globe had no idea that his health had rapidly declined over the last several months.
Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927, was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Popes in the history of the Catholic Church, largely because of his work in academia before becoming the leader of the Catholic Church. Additionally, those who knew him best have come forward with countless stories of his caring, kind, and gentle nature.
The funeral of Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled for Thursday, January 5, 2023 and will be led by Pope Francis. This marks a rare occurrence in which the current Pope will be officiating the funeral of the one that he replaced. Additionally, Pope Benedict XVI’s body will be on display beginning on Monday, January 2 at Saint Peter’s Basilica so mourners can come and pay their respects.
Unfortunately, many of us will not be able to make travel arrangements to go to St. Peter’s Basilica. However, that doesn’t mean that we cannot take a few moments to look back at the life and legacy of Pope Benedict XVI.
The Bible says that the death of one of God’s children is precious in His sight (Psalm 116:15). Pope Benedict XVI was a man who was committed to the Lord’s service and the service of the Church. Today, as the world prepares to say goodbye to this great man for the last time on this side of eternity, spend some time reflecting on his life and his legacy.
He Felt Called to Church Leadership Early in Life
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Pope Benedict XVI’s desire to serve as a leader within the Catholic Church can be traced back to his early childhood. When he was five years old, a Cardinal of the Catholic Church was coming through his hometown. Pope Benedict XVI, whose birthname was Joseph Ratzinger went with several of the children from his community to greet the Cardinal with flowers. Immediately, young Joseph was awestruck by the occasion. Years later, he would admit that he was actually impressed by the clothes that the Cardinal was wearing. However, from that moment on, Joseph Ratzinger knew that he wanted to serve as a leader within the Church.
If we’re being honest, many of us had dreams when we were children that we moved on from as we grew older. Some of us may have dreamt of becoming professional athletes, musicians, astronauts, doctors, and any number of other careers. As we grow up, our interests often change, and we rarely find ourselves doing what we said we wanted to do when we grow up. Joseph Ratzinger stuck to the plan. This was largely because God’s calling on his life was evident from the time that he was only five years old.
He Opposed the Nazi Party
Matthew 10:32-33 (MSG)
“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?”
Joseph Ratzinger was born in Germany in 1927. You don’t have to be a history buff to recognize that the years that followed were some of the darkest in the history of Germany and the world as a whole. As Adolph Hitler rose to power, the Nazi party became the governing force in Germany and would go on to commit some of the gravest atrocities the world would ever see.
What you may not realize is that the Nazi party put rules in place that also dictated the lives of German citizens. One of those rules included the requirement that all male German children who were at least 14 years old were required to join a group called Hitler Youth.
Joseph Ratzinger’s father was an outspoken opponent of the Nazi party. As a police officer in Germany, this led to a long list of issues for him. He was demoted several times based on his open defiance of Germany’s tyrannical leader. Joseph followed in his father’s footsteps. While he was forced to be a member of the Hitler Youth organization, he often spoke against it and refused to attend the required meetings.
At a time in his life where many children try their best to fit in, Joseph Ratzinger chose to stand out. He knew that the Nazi party was a cruel, ungodly party, and he refused to align himself with it.
He Chose the Name Pope Benedict for a Reason
Romans 13:7 (NIV)
Give to everyone what you owe them If you owe taxes, pay taxes if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Popes are allowed to choose the name that they will carry during their tenure. In most cases, they choose the name of a former Pope who carried out acts that they find especially moving or important as a way to honor those that have come before them.
After his initial address to the Church after his election, Pope Benedict XVI explained the reasoning behind his chosen name. The primary reasoning was to honor Pope Benedict XV who worked hard to lead the Church through the tumultuous times of World War 1. While he initially tried to avoid the drama of the war, he eventually accepted that he was called to help broker peace between nations who had gone to war with one another.
Additionally, the name Benedict was a tribute Saint Benedict of Norcia. Saint Benedict was credited with helping the spread of Christianity in Europe in the years following the fall of the Roman Empire.
Pope Benedict XVI’s commitment to honoring those who had come before him is a powerful lesson on how we should view the heroes of our faith.
His Resignation Was Unexpected
1 Corinthians 10:24 (NIV)
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
It had been more than 600 years since a Pope had resigned his office. In 1415, Pope Gregory XII resigned after he felt responsible for a great divide in the Church that would become known as the Great Western Schism. Pope Benedict’s resignation wasn’t based on any divide within the Church. Instead, he simply believed that he was too old and too frail to effectively lead the Church any longer.
Since it had been more than 600 years since a Pope had resigned his office, the world was stunned by the unexpected announcement. Typically, Popes hold their office until their death, but Pope Benedict opted for a more selfless route. He recognized his own physical and mental limitations at that point in his life and believed that the Church needed a younger, healthier voice to serve as its leader.
This final act of selflessness was the embodiment of Pope Benedict XVI’s commitment to the Church. From the time he was a child, he knew he was called to serve the Church. His willingness to give up his title further cemented that commitment to others.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the life of Pope Benedict XVI. Thank You for calling him at such a young age, keeping him, and blessing him throughout his ministry. Comfort those who were closest to him during their time of mourning and welcome him into Your Kingdom. In Christ’s name I ask these things, Amen.