A Different Perspective on Benedict

Rocco Palmo in his blog Whispers in the Loggia has done what he saw a Newpaper reporter in his hometown do for politicians, tell the complex human story behind political figures, in his case bishops.

I regard bishops as basically church politicians who make all the political decisions that civic politicians make. I don't know any bishops personally just as I don't know any politicians personally.  I have read Rocco's blog to keep in my mind the human beings that are behind church politics. 

When Benedict resigned, Rocco reprinted a talk that B16 had given to a group of elderly people a few months before his resignation. The talk is remarkable in that Benedict was actually talking about the kind of life that he had already decided he would begin to live in a few months. 

The talk is even more remarkable now that he has completed a decade of such a life. Even though he had many visitors, for the very active life he had led as a Cardinal and Pope it much have been much like the life that we have experienced during the pandemic (not being able to do or go to the places that you once were able to do). The life of prayer that he was recommending to the elderly was the life that he would live for more years that he was pope.

So, as we ponder the meaning of his life, it is well to remember that for the last decade he has shared the life of the elderly that most of us sooner or later will experience.

Quote of the Day

“I come to you as Bishop of Rome, but also as an old man visiting his peers.”

This morning, addressing all the elderly in spirit, although I am aware of the difficulties that our age entails I would like to tell you with deep conviction: it is beautiful to be old!

We have received the gift of longevity. Living is beautiful even at our age, despite some “aches and pains” and a few limitations

In the Bible longevity is considered a blessing of God; today this blessing is widespread and must be seen as a gift to appreciate and to make the most of.

All too often we hear about the suffering of those who are marginalized, who live far from home or in loneliness. I think there should be greater commitment, starting with families and public institutions, to ensure that the elderly be able to stay in their own homes. 

The wisdom of life, of which we are bearers, is a great wealth. The quality of a society, I mean of a civilization, is also judged by how it treats elderly people and by the place it gives them in community life. Those who make room for the elderly make room for life! Those who welcome the elderly welcome life! ... 

When life becomes frail, in the years of old age, it never loses its value and its dignity: each one of us, at any stage of life, is wanted and loved by God, each one is important and necessary.

Dear friends, at our age we often experience the need of the help of others; and this also happens to the Pope.

Dear elderly brothers and sisters, the days sometimes seem long and empty, with difficulties, few engagements and few meetings; never feel down at heart: you are a wealth for society, even in suffering and sickness. 

And this phase of life is also a gift for deepening the relationship with God.... Do not forget that one of the valuable resources you possess is the essential one of prayer: become interceders with God, praying with faith and with constancy. Pray for the Church, and pray for me, for the needs of the world, for the poor, so that there may be no more violence in the world.