Colombo
(AsiaNews) - Benedict XVI "is a person of great spiritual humility,
theological depth and supernatural wisdom", a pope who "did not have
his own agenda, but served God and his Church without any personal
ambition." In
these terms, Catholic Professor, Anton Meemana, describes the pontificate in
the just concluded an interview with AsiaNews.
How
did you react to the Pope's sudden decision to step down from his ministry?
Decisions we make reveal
who we are. Deciding is self-making and self - revealing, that is, decisions
are a reflection of one's true character. God works in and through our authentic
decisions. God does not bypass or short-circuit human decisions. In this sense,
Pope Benedict XVI has glorified God by trusting and letting go. Every human decision has a theological
dimension. Every decision offers an evangelical opportunity. He has furthered
and broadened the scope of evangelization mission as a result of his historical
and history-making decision. He has also
shown his spiritual humility, theological depth and supernatural wisdom. The
capacity to let go is a sign of true faith in God.
How
would you judge Benedict XVI's service as Pope and spiritual leader of
Catholics worldwide?
As the saying GKChesterton, Catholicism is a carefully balanced. It 's the most sophisticated and As G.K.Chesterton would say Catholicism is a carefully- balanced system. It is the most sophisticated and complex religious tradition in the world and therefore the secularized world cannot really fathom its depth. Secularization is an either-or mentality. The contemporary world is spiritually malnourished. Pope Benedict XVI was not a pleaser or a charmer. He was a man of substance, depth and interior focus. He was a man with a very rich interiority which is a cosmos unto itself.
Humility is a very rare quality amongst leaders today. Ours is a very proud world today. People are proud of their looks, diplomas, cars, houses, connections, positions and so on. Humility has become the most - ridiculed virtue. He has been witnessing to it through and through. In today's world, humility is the counter-cultural value par excellence.
And what have
the Catholics of Sri Lanka learned from the Pope?
Fidelity
to tradition and to draw spiritual sustenance from it is a contemporary
catholic challenge. Not only here in Sri Lanka, but also in the whole Asia,
there is a need to reintroduce Catholicism again. This can be done without
missionary triumphalism or ecclesiastical superiority.
The best in Catholicism is best for all peoples. To be human is to be Catholic. Not to draw sustenance from Catholicism is an injustice to oneself.
On numerous
occasions, then, Pope Benedict has shown solidarity and concern for the
situation in Sri Lanka, especially for reconstruction after the war. Has shown that nothing is
foreign to the papacy. He was also the Pope of the
Sri Lankans.
He seems to have
lived a faithful life. His
character is the ultimate credibility of his entire mission.
His
nature was greater than his office, which is why even if he is no longer pope, he
continues to inspire and enlighten.
His life
and his mission are a wonderful work of God