Poconos Catholic community reflects on life of Pope Benedict XVI

As the world mourned the loss of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died Dec. 31, 2022 at 95, the Catholic community in the Poconos reflected on his life.

A meaningful Mass

Last week, parishioners filled the packed pews inside St. Peter's Cathedral in Scranton to remember the pope during a memorial Mass led by Bishop Joseph Bambera.

Bambera, who was appointed by Pope Benedict in 2010, said Benedict left behind a legacy of love and compassion.

Reading from the pope's first encyclical ― a papal letter sent to all bishops ― he shared thoughts on Benedict's papacy from 2005 to 2013.

"Many have attempted to assess Pope Benedict’s pontificate both during the course of the eight years in which he served as successor of Saint Peter and in light of his historic resignation from office. What one often hears is that he was a gifted theologian and defender of Catholic doctrine, qualities firmly established through his long-time service as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith," Bambera said.

Pope Benedict XVI resigned from his post as pope on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced that he no longer had the strength to run the Catholic Church. Pope Francis was appointed as his successor and the two lived adjacent in the Vatican gardens.

"Yet, it is quite fair to say that the essence of Pope Benedict is discovered elsewhere in the simple words shared a moment ago from his first encyclical, words rooted in the love and compassion of the God to whom he entrusted his entire being. A love that was first embraced through his relationship with the person of Jesus. A love that enabled this shy man who never aspired to lead the Church to accept the responsibility of doing so simply and solely because of his encounter with Christ."

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'God is Love'

Zuly Kennedy, a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Brodheadsville, attended the Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter.

"We wanted to bring the kids and have them go through the experience," Kennedy told the Diocese.

Elsewhere in the Poconos, Catholic churches such as Saint Luke Parish in Stroudsburg and Saint Matthew's Parish in East Stroudsburg, organized memorial Masses for the pope, which included celebrations of the Eucharist.

During his homily, Rev. Don Williams, of Saint Matthew's, described Pope Benedict (who followed Pope Saint John Paul II, who died in 2005) as a gentle man and a dedicated scholar ― an individual who had immense love for Jesus Christ and the church.

"The key to Benedict’s pontificate is this: God is Love. Not that we would be punished or perished but that we would know life and love eternally. Pope Benedict XVI experienced that in his home, in the life of the church, and his service as a priest and a pope," he said. "As he says about himself, did he do it perfectly, no. He was a shy man. He was stretched beyond his limits as a on many occasions. He really wanted to quietly do research. And yet he was asked to do many things."

As Williams noted, Benedict's time as a leader of the Roman Catholic Church was met with challenges. But Benedict's reign should be remembered for the positive things he contributed to the world.

"He wrote a beautiful book about Jesus of Nazareth and he came to understand Jesus, not from the neck up, but also from the heart. That encounter with Jesus was transformative for him. He experienced many hardships during his pontificate — scandals, the need for reform, financial challenges," Simmons said.

"And yet, what was it that he called for from the church. conversion, penance, humility. Called for today as it was in early. He also challenged to the church to be freed from material and political privileges so that we might truly be open to the world."

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Diocese of Scranton Catholics recall life of Pope Benedict XVI