BXVI, One Year Ago: The Church is Christ's Church

Benedict XVI made his first public appearance after saying he'd leave the papacy and celebrated his last public Mass one year ago. That day, in 2013, was Ash Wednesday. I took the picture above during that special moment. Two days had gone by since the announcement of the resignation. By the day of this Eucharist, most of the faithful in Rome were no longer shocked with Benedict's decision. I know I wasn't. Precisely during this last public Mass, just two days after the shocking announcement, I realized that most of the Catholics gathered in St. Peter's Basilica were mainly feeling as grateful to Benedict XVI as we feel today for his faithfulness to God's will. We were grateful then as we are grateful today for his example of humility and his love for the Church. For all of us who were gathered with Benedict that day in order to start Lent, prayer and the Eucharist were the true sources of peace and hope in a moment of apparent confusion. The Holy Spirit reassured us all, as we rejoiced during the celebration for the gift we had received in Benedict's pontificate, what we know with certainty today. That is, the Spirit showed us then that God is in control of everything and so there is nothing to fear. The Spirit spoke through Benedict when in those days he said that the Church is not his, the Church is not ours, but Church is Christ's Church. Christ is in control of the Church. We knew then, as we know today, that everything that happens is thus for the best of all. God loves us that much and infinitely more.

One Year Since Benedict XVI's Resignation

Today I am immensely grateful to the Lord our God once more for having given me the opportunity to be in Rome one year ago, when Benedict XVI announced his resignation from the pontificate. Hard to believe a year has gone by. This historical moment remains as an authentic highlight in my spiritual life as a Catholic and in my consecrated life as a Somascan religious. I can honestly share, on this unique anniversary, that I have grown so much in my own vocation thanks to what Benedict XVI did on the feast of our Lady of Lourdes last year.

A year ago I used to live in a Roman Basilica two miles away from the Vatican. I was having an early lunch with one of our elder priests when two persons brought the incredible news. Being two people who said this, I believed, and I ran to the nearest computer to see what was going on. From the moment I read the breaking news I knew that the Church would have a change from that day on. Like all people in Rome, I was totally shocked. The city slowed down significantly as most Roman residents would often stop their duties to make sure that the resignation was real and to discuss the matter. I remember that that was the topic of every taxi driver. Like most people who were close to Benedict, I was sad to realize that such a great man was leaving St. Peter's seat for an unknown reason. After I decided to be alone in prayer, that day, I felt scared for the future of our Church. Around that time a storm came over Rome, the day became darker and it began to rain. A lighting even hit the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Prayer was just perfect in that moment, as it always is, because through it the Lord gave me his unexplainable and overwhelming peace. I went back to join my religious community with hope in my heart that the Lord was allowing this for the best of his faithful. My community and I began began to watch the video showing the actual announcement of resignation. We heard his actual words in Latin and read the official translation. That was the moment when I truly saw what Benedict XVI had done and immediately I was inspired and filled with admiration. That was the moment when I realized that Benedict XVI was giving to the Church and to the world a real example of trust in God and of humility.

Today the fruits of Benedict XVI's choice to leave are clearer. Benedict XVI's was doing God's will and that is why he said in the announcement that he had peace in his conscience for what he was doing. Thanks to the courage of this man to follow the divine will of God our Church has received grace upon grace. The world would have never met Pope Francis if Pope Benedict had not followed his heart. The faithful would not have a living example of humility and abandonment to divine providence if Josef Ratzinger, as pope then, had not followed the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. I believe Benedict XVI did God's will one year ago even though he did something no pope had done in centuries. The blessings that our Roman Catholic Church has received since pope Benedict XVI's announcement are countless. The pontificate of Benedict XVI is one blessing all Catholics and all people of good will can always thank God for.