Pope Benedict’s Unexpected Legacy for Protestants

Sarah Stewart on January 12, 2023

All Christians should seek to faithfully persevere in the faith. That simple perseverance and commitment will certainly be part of the lasting legacy of Pope Benedict XVI, who passed away on New Year’s Eve. Much of the news coverage focused on his historic 2013 decision to step down from the papal office, but his legacy goes beyond that decision. While others will focus on aspects of his theology in their tributes, one of the most striking things about him was his deep love for Christ and the comfort that faith provided him in his final days.

Much of Benedict’s XVI time as pope occurred during my formative education in Catholic schools. I remember watching the coverage of John Paul II’s passing on our small classroom television. It was an extra treat to have the TV on during lunch and view coverage awaiting the next pope’s selection.

Pope Benedict made his shocking announcement that he would step down from his office during my senior year of high school. Once again, we awaited the next Pope and discussed in religion class the implications for the Church of this unique event in history. His time in the papacy was not always easy: Catholic clergy scandals were unfolding, and my own diocese was not exempt. However, Pope Benedict modeled steadfastness in the faith amidst difficult times.

Benedict was noted for writing in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est that, “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but an encounter with an event, a person.” For him that event was clearly transformative and one that stayed with him. Many commentators noted his acclaim as a theologian, but for Pope Benedict, his faith was not a mere theological or philosophical exercise, which can become tempting when it becomes a source of praise and notoriety. Divinity School professors constantly warned against this temptation: it is all too real and the effects all too damaging.

Pope Benedict’s writings convey an abiding love for his Savior, whom he saw as a friend. In the wake of his death, Vatican News released his testimony in which he wrote, “When, at this late hour of my life, I look back on the decades I have wandered through, I see first of all how much reason I have to give thanks. Above all, I thank God Himself, the giver of all good gifts, who has given me life and guided me through all kinds of confusion, who has always picked me up when I began to slip, who has always given me anew the light of his countenance. In retrospect, I see and understand that even the dark and arduous stretches of this path were for my salvation and that He guided me well in those very stretches.”

Many enter ministry with the best of intentions, slowly over time losing sight of the truth that Christ is the chief end of their work. The feeling that one needs to keep up with the world’s demands puts a strain on their faith, as they feel pressure to build their ministry. To not give in to these temptations requires constant leaning upon God. Pope Benedict XVI remained steadfast in his commitment of the necessity of the church to faithfully proclaim the message of the gospel to a world that continues to become increasingly secularized. He was confident that its message would prevail.

“For 60 years now, I have accompanied the path of theology, especially biblical studies, and have seen seemingly unshakeable theses collapse with the changing generations, which turned out to be mere hypotheses: I have seen, and see, how, out of the tangle of hypotheses, the reasonableness of faith has emerged and is emerging anew. Jesus Christ is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life – and the Church, in all her shortcomings, is truly His Body,” He wrote.

The New Year is a time when many commentators look back on celebrities that have passed away. Their temporal achievements are celebrated with little thought given to their eternal state. Their accomplishments, like all our temporal successes, will one day pass away. But to end one’s life with the desire to receive forgiveness from any whom one has wronged and to enter into the next with the assurance of Christ’s friendship is far greater than any earthly accomplishment.

Months before his death, Pope Benedict wrote, “In light of the hour of judgment, the grace of being a Christian becomes all the clearer to me. It grants me knowledge, and indeed friendship, with the judge of my life, and thus allows me to pass confidently through the dark door of death.”

Sarah Diane Stewart is a Methodist laywoman from Parkersburg, WV who now resides in the Washington, D.C. region.

  1. Comment by Tom on January 12, 2023 at 5:30 pm

    So did Pope Benedict renounce the Catholic doctrine that we are saved by “faith and works”? Did he renounce the Catholic doctrine that assurance of salvation (except by special revelation) is anathema?

    Did he renounce the Catholic doctrine that there are other sources of revelation (“divine tradition” or “oral tradition”) than the Bible that are equally valid with the Bible?

    Until you can produce evidence of either of these, please spare me the encomiums to a man who, like countless Popes before him, did not–I repeat, not–proclaim the true gospel.

  2. Comment by Theodore Miner on January 16, 2023 at 8:52 am

    Did the Pope renounce the priestly title of “Alter Christus” (another Christ)? Did the pope renounce his title of the “Vicar of Christ” which proclaims his supremacy and jurisdiction over the church? No, he did not. Therefore he put himself in place of Christ and is therefore an AntiChrist.

    “There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ; nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.” (from the 1647 WCF 25.6)

  3. Comment by Thomas on January 16, 2023 at 9:13 pm

    Pope Benedict XVI was a man of true and deep faith and is a source of influence and inspiration for countless Christians across denominationsl lines. If some fundamentalists stick to their guns and fail to see the common faith that unites all true Christians, beyond theological differences, they are in trouble before Jesus.

  4. Comment by David Gingrich on January 17, 2023 at 7:40 am

    The two most Christ-like people I believe I have seen in my life were Mother Teresa and Dallas Willard. Interestingly, they disagreed on some theology (and I disagree with both of them on some theology). But our understanding of theology is not what is important.

  5. Comment by George on January 17, 2023 at 6:38 pm

    John Paul II and Benedict have refreshed the Body of Christ with their love and faith in the Savior. From my upbringing in traditional “baptist” evangelical ethos and worldview, i understand the many criticisms of Roman Catholic theology and practice. Like all other denominational exclusivities they teach and embrace much that is simply “not Christ.” I like what the apostle Paul wrote about his doctrinal focus preaching “Christ crucified.” We tend to mount up on the judge’s bench where only He has authhority to criticize those different than ourselves and our group. I understand this and know it can be very sincere, but all our judging is ‘sincerely” wrong. In 60+ years seeking to follow Christ and studying his word I’ve seen that sincerely believing I am “right” and being able to prove others “wrong” does not make me “right.” Only Jesus Himself is right and only He can make any of US right. I think Paul had this in mind when he wrote “let God be true and every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4). Jesus did not promote “correct doctrine” but love of God and others. John 13:35 records what He said would characterize His enuine followers and it isn’t correct doctrine.

  6. Comment by Paul Zesewitz on January 19, 2023 at 8:10 am

    As a Baptist, my final authority on matters of faith and doctrine/ theology is the Bible and not church ‘teaching’. And the leader of the Church is Jesus Christ, the “Author and Finisher of our faith,” and not some human leader who would put himself in Christ’s position of authority. That said, it pains me to admit that Catholics are more faithful to Christian theology than many of my fellow Baptists!

  7. Comment by Search4Truth on January 22, 2023 at 1:33 pm

    Some of the above observations I find arrogant and ignorant. How many of these very learned opinion expressers are fluent in the languages of the first century and understand the nuances of their expressions? Saint John’s ends with the thought that there are so many other things that could be written that all the books of the world could not contain them. And yet there are many holes in the story when we try to fit together the pieces we do have. To the mind that realizes that the mysteries of God are something beyond human comprehension, this is where tradition helps to fill in our understanding.
    If you want to tell you flock that you know everything the is to know about God, go ahead. I assure you I will NOT be listening to you.,

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