In his column Bishop Checchio shares his memories of Pope Benedict

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Growing up, I recall my mother teaching us to give others the benefit of the doubt in regard to what others say about someone, “Believe none of what you read and half of what you see!” She wanted us to build our own impressions of people. Relatedly, she also taught us “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then say nothing!” l Humble and Kind. I had the honor of meeting Pope Benedict briefly in December 2011. I experienced that same humility and kindness mentioned by everyone who has commented on Pope Benedict the man. I was one of probably a hundred people the Pope had already met that morning, and he would probably meet another hundred, or more, by the end of that day. But he greeted me with a warm smile and some kind words as if I was the only person he was scheduled to meet that day. He certainly manifested his own definition of holiness: “Charity lived to the full.”

Entering the seminary at a young age,19, I did not really know much at all about the, then at times, controversial Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Even during college seminary, besides hearing people talk about him, we were studying philosophy so did not read much by him, although you could hear a lot of opinions about him! When I was sent to Rome for my theological studies, we began to read some of his works like “Introduction to Christianity and Church, Ecumenism and Politics” in our Ecclesiology classes. His writings were certainly influential on us seminarians and lay students in class. Occasionally, after going to St. Peter’s Basilica for Mass or to pray, we would pass the Cardinal in St. Peter’s Square as he was going to or from the Holy Office to his apartment, and he was always so gracious and kind. He always paused to say hello to us seminarians and encouraged us to study theology well in these years, inquiring what we were being asked to read by our professors! I was present in the square years later, when I was on the faculty at the North American College and he preached Pope John Paul II’s funeral homily in St. Peter’s Square with millions gathering to pray for the saintly pope during and after his death.

I was fortunate to be in Rome at the Pontifical North American College during the entirety of the Pope Emeritus Benedict’s pontificate, from his election to his resignation. When he left St. Peter’s for Castelgandolfo for his retirement, his helicopter paused over our college and he waved to us, as we gathered on the roof to wave goodbye and say thank you to him. His love of seminarians and priests was ever evident to us. Whether in a private meeting with him or in the square or Paul VI Audience Hall with so many others or taking our new seminarians to Castelgandolfo to see and hear him and receive his blessing as they began their years in Rome, his fatherly love and encouragement moved us priests and seminarians to give more fully of ourselves to the Lord and His people. We are indebted to him for his faithful life of service to the Church and for the beautiful teaching legacy he leaves behind.

Pope Emeritus Benedict from the very beginning of his pontificate urged us all, including himself, to listen always to the will of the Lord. In his prominent and silent ways, he encouraged us to have a deep relationship with the Lord. Through his gracefilled counsel and leadership, he defined the essence of Vatican II’s Universal Call to Holiness—becoming Christ-like—selflessly giving of one’s whole self.

As we pause to remember and pray for the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, we remember, too, the promise of the resurrection, eternal life. Giving thanks to God for the life of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, I ask all the faithful and people of good will in the Diocese of Metuchen to pause and to pray for his soul, that he may be welcomed by our Heavenly Father and reunited in paradise with his Savior whom he loved before all else.

May our Blessed Mother, who held her dying son in her arms, intercede for the Church so that we may continue to have faith in the victory and hope of the resurrection.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

As I think about my relationship with this holy man, I am so grateful that I was taught to be open to all people and hence was open to learning not just theological truths about our Lord and His Church from this prominent theologian but also learned a way of holiness and humility from him too! God be good to him, and all of you, too, here in our beautiful Church of Metuchen, who are also teaching me so many worthy lessons about our faith! Know of my love, prayers and gratitude for all of you as we begin this New Year!

— MSGR. WILLIAM BENWELL, PASTOR ST. MARY CHURCH – STONY HILL, WATCHUNG

l Inspirational. Deus Caritas Est, the first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, is still an inspiration to me. The concept of Christ’s love as light shining in our dark world still rings true to what I can observe.

I will remember Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as a scholar, an accomplished pianist, and most importantly as a man of prayer. May he enjoy his reward of eternal happiness.

— SISTER ANNA NGUYEN, SCC, DELEGATE FOR RELIGIOUS AND CONSECRATED LIFE

l Insightful One of the first things that comes to my mind whenever I think of Pope Benedict involved my youngest sister, Christine. She was injured on a family skiing trip. When I went to visit her while she was recovering at her family home, she was reading Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth. While she was always religious – having been a catechist and stills serving as an Extraordinary Minister in her own parish – it was the last thing I expected!

We spoke about the book for a while, and she told me it was good reading. I agreed, having read much of it myself. Indeed, it is through that book that Pope Benedict most influenced my priestly ministry, as I have turned to it on many occasions while preparing homilies. His ability to express deep theological and biblical insight in ways that I can use in a homily, and my sister could find spiritually enriching, allowed Pope Benedict XVI to touch many lives.

— FR. JOHN J. BARBELLA, ST. JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH, COLONIA, NJ

l Shining example I am very grateful to Pope Benedict XVI. I recall how he was inspired to call for the Year of the Priest from June 2009 to June 2010. I was blessed to be present in Rome along with an estimated 15,000 priests from all over the world to concelebrate the Mass presided by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican Square in June of 2010, which officially closed the Year of the Priest. As I reflect today upon the mystery of the priesthood, I believe Benedict’s life, before during and after his 8 years as pope, is a shining example for others of a deep participation in the priesthood of Jesus Christ, for his life was one of many difficult personal choices and sacrifices, that he was asked to make, for the good of the church and for others.

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FR. RONALD L. JANDERNOA PASTOR, ST. JUDE CHURCH, BLAIRSTOWN

l A mentor

It was September of 2011 when through the kindness of Bishop emeritus Paul Bukowski that myself and eight brother priests had papal honors conferred on us through the goodness of Pope Benedict. All of a sudden I was a newly minted monsignor, and I have forever felt a spiritual connection to this particular bishop of Rome. Although I never met him, he feels like a mentor to me. I will forever be grateful for this honor.

— MSGR. CHARLIE CICERALE