It looks like Benedict XVI - the theologian turned Pope at the age of 78, is similar to that of his predecessor Paul VI who appointed his Archbishop of Munich, creating him cardinal in 1977 – is destined to always be criticised by progressivists and conservatives alike and misunderstood more often that he might expect, even by those who profess themselves to be “Ratzingerians” and should therefore help him spread his message.
When he was elected Pope seven years ago, the media cliché of Joseph Ratzinger - who had been Prefect of the former Holy Office for over twenty years - as a conservative “panzerkardinal”, a rigid custodian of Orthodoxy who allegedly hindered John Paul II’s push for innovation, hung over the German Pope.
Ratzinger in fact remained and extremely loyal and compliant collaborator.
Paul VI’s was also considered to be a “closed” papacy, despite the hopes raised by his predecessor, John XXIII.
The imminent reconciliation with Lefebvrian traditionalists, preceded by the decision to liberalise the Old Mass, cost Benedict XVI widespread dissent, even among bishops: the Pope had intended to enrich both the old pre-conciliar rite and the new post-conciliar rite, by helping recuperate the sense of sacredness and the encounter with divine mystery in the Old Mass and the wealth of the Holy Scriptures introduced into the New Mass, into the post-conciliar mass.
The attempt was only partially successful because of certain reactions that did not follow or show an understanding of the Pope’s will and also because of the development of certain forms of aestheticism that bore no relevance to the essential elements of the liturgy.
But Benedict XVI was also criticised by those who expected him to be tough and implement “doctrinal rectifications”.
He was also expected to reaffirm Europe’s Christian identity against Islam.
While the progressivists believe him to be stuck in the past and unable to read the signs of the times, conservatives see him as too weak.
In their disappointment, both progressivists and “Ratzingerians” end up forgetting the core point of Benedict XVI’s message.
A Pope who in Fatima, in 2010, had said: “When many feel that the Catholic faith is no longer a common legacy of society and is often seen as a seed that is clouded by “divinities” and worldly rulers, it is very difficult for it to touch people’s hearts through simple speeches or moral references; much less so through generic references to Christian values. The courageous and integral reference to principles is crucial; however, a simple enunciation of the message will not touch people’s hearts, it will not touch their freedom or change their life. What is most fascinating is meeting with believers who draw others towards the grace of God through their faith, bearing witness to Him.”
These words came from a Pope who once said: “the new Pope knows that his task will be to make Christ’s light shine bright before the men and women of today: not his own light, Christ’s light.”
In a Church where references to ethical principals are echoed on a daily basis and pressing appeals are made for the rediscovery of Christian values, in a Church marked by a deep crisis (Benedict XVI himself referred to the “dramatic” situation in his homily during the Chrism Mass), scarred by the paedophilia scandal; by the silent schism created by the appeals to disobedience signed by priests in various European Countries; by a careerism that has unfortunately spread among clerics; by leaked documents and by cracks in the Curia, the Pope continues his calls for conversion, penance and humility.
During his visit to Germany last September, the Pope invited the Church to be less worldly: “History shows us that the missionary testimony of an “unworldly” Church emerges less clearly. Once freed from its burdens and material and political privileges, the Church can dedicate itself more fully to the whole world, in a truly Christian way, it can really open up to the world…”
Two months later, when he flew to Benin, he said: “It is important that Christianity should not come across as a difficult European system that others cannot understand and put into practice, but as a universal message that there is a God, a God who matters [to us], a God who knows us and loves us, and that concrete religion stimulates cooperation and fraternity. So, a simple concrete message is very important.”
Far from triumphalism, last 19 February Benedict XVI reminded new cardinals about: “Service to God and to our brothers, the gift of oneself: this is the logic that real faith instils and develops in our everyday lives, leaving aside the worldliness of power and glory.”
The harshest, most dramatic and realistic words regarding the situation in the Church were pronounced by a meek Pope who manages to appear calm even in the midst of a storm. But in terms of the attacks on the Church, he said: “…attacks against the Pope or the Church do not only come from outside; rather the sufferings of the Church come from within, from the sins that exist in the Church. This too has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way: the greatest persecution of the Church does not come from enemies on the outside, but is born from the sin within the church, the Church therefore has a deep need to re-learn penance, to accept purification.”
As Joseph Ratzinger clearly said in his homily during the mass celebrated in Lisbon on 11 May 2010: “Often we are anxiously preoccupied with the social, cultural and political consequences of the faith, taking for granted that faith is present, which unfortunately is less and less realistic. Perhaps we have placed an excessive trust in ecclesial structures and programmes, in the distribution of powers and functions; but what will happen if salt loses its flavour?”
In the face of attacks, the burdens of the papacy, the scandals, the bad functioning of the Curia and the careerism of clerics, Benedict XVI renews his request for the Church to bathe in humility.
He stressed this to the newly appointed cardinals during the last Consistory.
His invitation extended to everyone without exception.
Only the humble know they need help, support and enlightenment from God.
Only the humble can make Christ’s light shine bright.