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!”

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 grace-filled 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!

Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
Bishop of Metuchen