The Humility of Benedict

The imposition of the Pallium on Pope Benedict XVI. In his homily, he says, "...This ancient sign, which the Bishops of Rome have worn since the fourth century, may be considered an image of the yoke of Christ, which the Bishop of this City, the Servant of the Servants of God, takes upon his shoulders. God’s yoke is God’s will, which we accept."

Pope Benedict's humility comes from an intimate relationship with the Lord in which he subjects himself to God and to others. This relationship calls for a life-long struggle toward self-knowledge and ultimately the abandonment of one's will to be in union with the will of God.

In a self reflection on his appointment as Archbishop of Munich and Freising, he says "So many people were welcoming my unknown person with a heartfelt warmth and joy that could not possibly have to do with me personally, but that once again showed me what a sacrament is: I was being greeted as bishop, as bearer of the Mystery of Christ. . . . The joy of the day was something very different from the acceptance of a particular person, whose capacities had still to be demonstrated. It was joy over the fact that this office, this service, was again present in a person who does not act and live for himself but for Him and therefore for all."

In one of his articles, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus emphasizes Joseph Ratzinger's choice in forfeiting the recognition he deserves, saying "As everybody knows, he is a master theologian and, I think, might have been recognized as one of the theological giants of the last 100 years if he had not offered the prime of his life to serving John Paul the Great as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith”.

In his memoirs Milestones, the Pope calls himself Christ's donkey and concludes with a prayer, "I have carried my load to Rome and have now been wandering the streets of the Eternal City for a long time. I do not know when I will be released, but one thing I do know: ‘I have become your donkey, and in just this way am I with you.’"