Pope Benedict XVI, exceptionally saintly & scholarly – Bishop Francis Adesina
By Rachel Kogi, CSN
As Church and circular leaders all over the world continue to react to the passing of the immediate past Supreme Pontiff, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, the Bishop of Ijebu-Ode Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Adesina has added his voice to the litany of tributes, describing the late Pope as “an exception in our time.”
In a tribute made available to the National Directorate of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, Bishop Adesina opined that Pope Benedict XVI was exceptional because of the unique dates of significant events in his life, noting that he was born and baptised on the same day, 16th April, 1927, which was Holy Saturday.
The Chief Shepherd of Ijebu-Ode Diocese particularly noted that the 265th Pope’s “unique way of championing orthodoxy” led to his being regarded as a scholar Pope. “He wrote a total 66 books,” three Encyclicals and four Apostolic Exhortations. “Vatican II has the fulcrum of Joseph Ratzinger’s theological and pastoral reflections from his participation at the council as a young theologian through his almost eight years exercise of the papal ministry,” he stated.
The Prelate thus emphasised that “the biggest lesson we can continue to share with his demise is a reiteration of the fact that one can be saintly and scholarly at the same time.”
Among other things, Bishop Adesina highlighted what he themed Pope Benedict XVI’s greatest contribution to the Church, his magisterium; noting that “according to scholars, his catechesis, encyclicals in central aspects of the faith and biographies on Jesus of Nazareth could qualify him to one day be declared a Doctor of the Church.”
He commended Pope Benedict’s love for the Church in Africa, which aided him to make two Apostolic visitations to Africa including Benin Republic, Angola and Cameroon, where he famously said “All is lost with war; all can be reborn with peace.”
Leave feedback about this