I will be the first to admit that I didn’t know a lot about Pope Benedict XVI.
The news about his recent passing saddened me, but honestly I didn’t quite understand the significance and legacy of his papacy until I attended the memorial Mass for him at Holy Rosary Cathedral last week.
Growing up I had heard about the influence of his predecessor Pope John Paul II. I was familiar with current news around Pope Francis. The only thing I could vividly recall about the late Pope Emeritus was his resignation in 2013. I was 16 at the time, too young and too absorbed in my own teenage world to understand how it impacted the Catholic Church.
I say this because I realize I may not be alone in feeling a sense of loss at his passing and yet not knowing why.
I attended the memorial Mass along with colleagues from work, not anticipating or expecting anything. To my pleasant surprise, Holy Rosary Cathedral was almost full. I was shocked that so many people were in attendance. Who was this man who made such an impact in all these people’s lives? As I sat in the front pew, ready to take notes for social media, I couldn’t help but notice the people around me, many in solemn and deep prayer. I could hear it in the silence. It was clear that Pope Benedict XVI was dearly loved, and I wanted to know why.
My answer was found in Archbishop Miller’s homily.
He spoke of the late Pope as if they were life-long friends. He talked about the different aspects of Pope Benedict’s life and papacy: his resignation, his emphasis on the harmonious relationship between truth and reason, and his love for the beauty of the liturgy. However, what stood out to me the most was when he talked about the late Pope’s conviction on encountering Jesus as a friend.
The Archbishop said, “For Benedict, at the heart of the Church’s mission is the need to learn afresh the vital importance of abiding in personal friendship with Jesus Christ. To achieve this intimate relationship, it’s not enough just to listen to him. It is also necessary to live with him and like him … For Benedict, friendship with Jesus Christ was the sine qua non of the Christian life, and fostering that friendship was the whole purpose of the Church.”
I was stunned. I believe that this is the reason why Pope Benedict XVI was so dearly loved. In his quiet humility and dedicated ministry, he embodied what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He lived this entire conviction until his final breath. His last words, in Italian, were “Lord, I love you.”
I came into the cathedral that day with little knowledge of who Pope Benedict XVI was, and I left wanting to learn everything I can about him and his ministry. It’s crazy to think how much impact you can have on others when you’re gone, and I pray that many more may be inspired by Pope Benedict XVI and learn more about this beautiful, humble servant of God.
Emi Namoro is Digital Community Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Communications Office.
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