Pope Benedict XVI 5 Ways He Changed the World of Roman Catholics By Peggy Bowes

5 Ways the Pope Changed the World of Roman Catholics

Pope Benedict’s recent resignation came as quite a shock to the nearly two billion Roman Catholics worldwide. A living pope has not stepped down from office since 1415, when Pope Gregory XII resigned during the Great Western Schism.

Joseph Ratzinger was 78 years old when he was elected pope in 2005, suffering from health problems such as arthritis, a stroke and other effects of old age. Eight years as the Bishop of Rome have taken their toll, yet he has accomplished much in that brief span of time. The pope certainly has his admirers and critics, and it is perhaps a bit early to examine his legacy; but he has certainly made an impact on the Roman Catholic community.

Peggy Bowes is a former Air Force pilot and the author of The Rosary Workout and Tending the Temple. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.

Words to Guide the Faithful

One cannot speak of Joseph Ratzinger without giving credit to his prolific writings. He has written hundreds of titles, including books, articles and essays. As pope, he authored three encyclicals (letters addressed to the bishops to aid them in relations with their flocks). Pope Benedict writes from the heart, from a deep and meaningful relationship with all three Persons of the Holy Trinity. His prose is clear, concise and easy to understand. Catholics who desire to deepen their faith can choose from a vast variety of topics covered in depth by the Holy Father. The Jesus of Nazareth series is especially poignant, revealing a rich portrayal of Jesus through Scripture.

Defender of Church Doctrine

In 1981, Cardinal Ratzinger was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which oversees Catholic doctrine, and retained this position until he was elected pope. As Benedict XVI, he brought this experience into the papacy, steadfastly holding to and teaching the truths of the Catholic faith. As secular influences continue to invade the Church worldwide, Pope Benedict emphasized the dangers of moral relativism and the importance of basic Christian values that have stood the test of time:

“We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as definitive and has as its highest value one's own ego and one's own desires... The church needs to withstand the tides of trends and the latest novelties.” - Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, April 18, 2005

The pontiff spoke of the great joys of the Catholic faith and stressed the many ways the Church says “Yes!” to combat the secular view that Catholicism is the “Religion of ‘No’”.

Vatican II Reforms

Many Catholics agree that the reforms of the Vatican II Council were often misinterpreted and implemented in haste. Fr. Joseph Ratzinger was present during all four hearings of Vatican II as a theological advisor and contributed to the Council’s writings. He has tapped into this experience as pope to correct some of the confusion and doubt that has arisen in the last 50 years from ambiguous or erroneous Vatican II interpretations.

In a recent address to the priests of the diocese of Rome, the pontiff challenged the Church leaders to continue to seek the true spirit of Vatican II. “It is our task to work so that the true Council, with the power of the Holy Spirit, is realized and the Church is really renewed.”