Memphis Catholics remember 'heart' of Pope Benedict, and see an unusual parallel

The press has outlined Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s life from the “exterior,” the Most Rev. David Talley, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, said in a homily Thursday night.

But in preparing for his homily for the Mass for the Dead, Talley worried that he had not moved “from the externals to what and who lived within the heart of this man.”

“We know where his body lies. Some of us may go there one day to pay homage,” Talley said. “But what of his soul? Does he exist still? Now we enter to the heart, the heart of our interiority, the heart of Joseph Ratzinger. For he lived in the heart of mystery that we are invited to enter, the mystery of a divinity born for us in flesh and blood.”

The Mass in Memphis was celebrated on the same day as the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, although that Mass was celebrated by Pope Francis in Vatican City at what would have been 2:30 a.m. in Memphis. It was the first time in the modern age that a current pope eulogized one who had retired.

Benedict, the first pope to resign in 600 years, died Saturday at 95 years old.

“Only God knows the value and the strength of his intercession, of his sacrifices offered for the good of the Church,” Francis said in comments at St. Peter’s Basilica Saturday.

The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger led the church through the fallout of the clerical sexual abuse scandal. He was known for setting the Catholic Church on a traditional path and seeking to uphold church doctrine.

Early Thursday, the Vatican released the official history of Benedict’s life, a short document in Latin that was placed in a metal cylinder in his coffin before it was sealed, according to Associated Press.

The document, known as a “rogito” or deed, cited his theological and papal legacy, including his outreach to Anglicans and Jews and his efforts to combat clergy sexual abuse “continually calling the church to conversion, prayer, penance and purification.”

Perhaps most notable about Benedict’s papacy was his resignation, the first in six centuries. After his resignation, the two popes lived side-by-side, paving the way for future popes to retire.

But it was Benedict’s heart that Talley encouraged area Catholics to think of during his homily Thursday night. In doing so, he quoted the words of Pope Francis, written in the preface to one of Benedict’s last published books.

Francis wrote and Talley quoted: “Every time I read the works of Joseph Ratzinger, it becomes clear to me that he pursued theology 'on his knees' and still does: on his knees.”

“Hope does not disappoint," Talley said. "Why? Because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. It is through that spirit that you and I enter into the great mystery of Immanuel. God is still with us. The soul of Benedict knows this. May we know it too.”

The Mass in Memphis included an unusual parallel to Benedict and his successor, Francis.

While Talley gave the homily, also present at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was the Most Rev. J. Terry Steib, Memphis’ own bishop emeritus, after 23 years in the position.

After his retirement in 2016 as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, Steib continued to live in the city. Today, he works closely with Talley, who was installed in 2019.

“They are both loved by their people,” said Fr. Robert Szczechura, pastor of the cathedral, referring to Talley and Steib. “I think the Pope Emeritus Benedict and Pope Francis were loved by people around them as much as Bishop Steib and Bishop Talley are loved by people here in Memphis. It’s a very similar situation.”

Steib said he remembered Benedict as “a very down-to-earth person, and yet he was very theologically sound.”

The respect between Francis and Benedict was mutual, Steib said, with the two working well together after Benedict’s resignation.

Szczechura, who met Benedict twice, said the pope emeritus was “very close to (his) heart.”

“His teaching, his preaching formed my formation toward priesthood and shaped me,” Szczechura said. “For many of us (tonight) was an opportunity to thank God for his life but also say farewell to our shepherd. … A day like today reminds us that we believe in resurrection, that we believe in a church on the other side.”

On Wednesday, Memphis area Catholics also gathered at the Cathedral for a holy hour with vespers and prayers for the dead.

Then some, Talley said, woke up early Thursday morning to watch Benedict’s funeral Mass live from Vatican City.

Six days ago, the news of Benedict’s death did not surprise Catholics around the world, Talley said. Francis had recently asked for prayer for Benedict’s health.

“We knew that this would happen,” Talley said. “Still, when we woke up this past Saturday, our world and especially the living fellowship of Christ’s church had changed because he had died. We lost a voice, a heart, a mind, a person, a disciple who had enriched us all.”

Associated Press contributed to this article.

Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Catholics remember 'heart' of Pope Benedict, see a parallel