The Originality of the Name
Jul 15, 2005
If the name Benedict XVI came as a surprise to many, the brevity of the Conclave and the election of Cardinal Ratzinger cannot be spoken of as a real surprise because of the personality of the new Pope. By Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for the Bishops
(30Days, May 2005) He was in fact, already many years ago, among the more prominent theologians (called to a university chair at thirty-one, an expert at Vatican Council II, etc.); in addition, from 1977, when he was nominated archbishop of Munich by Paul VI and, some months afterwards, cardinal, he was among the personalities known throughout the world for his intellectual depth, his vision of the problems of our time and his commitment to the defense of the Christian identity.
The originality of the name should not be seen as a break with his immediate predecessors:
Benedict XVI will certainly continue on the line of John Paul II, in the wake of the bi-millennial tradition of the Church. He said so himself, the day after his election, affirming that he seemed «to feel the strong hand» of Pope John Paul II squeezing his, and him saying: «Don’t be afraid!» (L’Osservatore Romano, 21 April).
Pope Ratzinger unites intellectual vigor and rigorousness with human finesse and simplicity of manners. The words with which he presented himself, just after his election as Pope, defining himself as «a simple and humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord», are also indications of his humanity.
The greatness of a Pope lies in the fact of being the successor of Saint Peter and, in consequence, the Vicar of Christ on earth with the task of confirming the brothers in the faith and being the foundation of the unity of the Church. The person changes, but the mission itself continues. Nevertheless, every Pope has his own personality, his own origins, the imprint that comes from the ambience in which he had his human and Christian training. So the style of Benedict XVI will be different from that of his predecessor, but the love of Christ and the desire to serve humanity will not be different, helping it to grow in brotherhood, in solidarity, in the respect for others, in love, in justice and peaceful coexistence.
In the twenty-three years in which he was head of the department of the Roman Curia concerned with the defense and promotion of the Catholic faith, Cardinal Ratzinger showed himself to be a great witness to the truth about God and about man, without any yielding to fashions and without ever falling into looking for success in this world.
In the homily on the day the Conclave opened, commenting on Saint Paul who exhorted «not to let yourselves be carried here and there by every wind of doctrine», Cardinal Ratzinger used strong words against the «dictatorship of relativism», so widespread today, «that leaves as the final yardstick only the self and its desires». And he concluded that an adult faith is not that which «follows the waves of fashion and of the latest novelty», but is «the faith profoundly rooted in the friendship of Christ» (L’Osservatore Romano, 19 April).
These are words that make the range of his thought and mentality understandable and that manifest a courageous spirit. A man of deep faith, he is disposed to meet and dialogue with anyone, as long as he is a sincere seeker of truth.Whereas John Paul II was a mystic and a philosopher by nature, a spirituality rooted in the tradition of the Fathers of the Church and a strong theological dimension prevails in Benedict XVI.
The choice of name is connected with the commitment to peace that characterized Benedict XV (1914-1922), who spoke of the war as a «futile slaughter» and was an indefatigable seeker of peaceful solutions. But more than anything the name takes up the legacy of Saint Benedict, the founder of monasticism, which spread throughout Europe from Montecassino and greatly influenced the formation of European civilization, founded on the recognition of the primacy of God over history and of spirit over matter. The name Benedict has besides a deep root in faith, culture and civilization.
Of the sixteen Popes who chose this name, a good ten were Romans: in the name therefore there is also a root of ‘Roman-ness’.Experience has taught us that every age has the Pope it needs, because the Holy Spirit acts in the Church and in hearts.The extraordinary interest that the Papacy has stirred in the world in these weeks and the mark he has made in people’s hearts shows not only how alive the Catholic Church is, but is also a sign of hope that the action of the new Pope, even among the storms and tribulations that will not be lacking, will bring abundant fruits of goodness and of well-being to humanity today, marked by a desire for the infinite that no one can ever cancel from human hearts.
Benedict XVI will now take his own road that will be both new and ancient at the same time. In the homily for the mass of inauguration of the pastoral ministry as the successor of Peter, Benedict XVI wished to recall and make his own the words of John Paul II that resonded on 22 October 1978: «Open the doors to Christ!». He underlined with force that the «Christian is never alone » and that whoever allows Christ to enter his life «loses nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great» (L’Osservatore Romano, 25 April).
From now on Pope Ratzinger will not have time to play Mozart on the piano. He will be a Pope who will reinforce faith in the world; he will be a great pastor, demanding in the sphere of faith and of principles, but with a heart full of goodness towards those near and far, in a world thirsting for love and reasons for hope and life.
The Originality of the Name