Conversions and a profound teaching magisterium: the lasting gifts of the Pope Emeritus’ pontificate.

Two Years into Retirement, Pope Benedict’s Legacy Continues to Grow
BY ANN SCHNEIBLE
Conversions and a profound teaching magisterium are among the lasting gifts of the Pope Emeritus’ pontificate.
Two years to the day since Pope Benedict XVI told the world of his historic decision to step down from the papal office, those impacted by his pontificate say that his legacy is still burning bright.

“Pope Benedict’s legacy is really very massive,” said Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary for the congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

“His teaching, his balance, his ability to get to the bottom of so many things with such clarity” are among the marks that remain from Benedict’s pontificate, the archbishop told CNA.

While Feb. 11 is normally set aside as a holiday in the Vatican for the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the day took on huge added significance in 2013, when Benedict used the opportunity to announce his retirement at a relatively routine consistory — most of the cardinals in the room had expected to hear little more than the dates for some upcoming canonizations.

Three weeks later, on Feb. 28, Benedict XVI would greet the crowds from the balcony of the papal palace at Castel Gandolfo for the last time as the reigning pope. Shortly thereafter, the resignation took effect, and the See of Peter was vacant until the election of Pope Francis on March 13, 2013.

Since his retirement, Benedict’s days have been filled with prayer and study, largely out of the public view. And he now goes by the simple title, “Father Benedict.” However, some see the legacy of the Pope Emeritus as continuing to resonate in complementarity to that of his successor, Pope Francis.

Archbishop Roche reflected on what he sees as the lasting impact of the former Pope.

He criticized negative portrayals of Benedict XVI as “somebody who was very severe,” saying that this media-fueled reputation was unfair and inaccurate.

Speaking from his personal experience, the archbishop said that in reality, Benedict “was the most easy person to speak to in the whole of the curia, because he was very interested in what you had to say. And, he was very interested about the problems which bishops were encountering.”

“I think that his magisterium is something that will remain and will be known as very great in years to come.”


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