Courage – an important aspect of Pope Benedict’s Papacy: Abp Brislin

February 19, 2013: One of the most important aspects of Pope Benedict's papacy is courage, said Stephen Brislin, the Archbishop of Cape Town, and President of the Southern African Bishops' Conference. Speaking to Vatican Radio, Archbishop Brislin said the news of the Pope’s resignation was a complete surprise for him. However, he said, upon reflection he remembers that in the past the Holy Father had in fact hinted at this possibility.

Courage characterized Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy, said the Archbishop adding that it is shown in “his willingness to meet with the victims of clerical sexual abuse and to seek forgiveness; his reaching out to leaders of other faiths and other Christian religions and denominations" What comes across with most force, he said, is the humility of Pope Benedict. "
When he was Cardinal Ratzinger we saw him as this great intellectual figure, and of course that continued to be manifest in all his writings as Pope as well. "But what came across was how he was a simple and humble man. And this has touched the hearts of people".

Regarding Pope’s resignation, the African Archbishop said that "It speaks of his absolute honesty: his intellectual honesty, his honesy with himself, and his honesty in wanting to serve the good of the Church", said Archbishop Brislin. He said that he thinks that Pope Benedict feels that the Church needs a Pope with good physical health and much stamina. So he has had the courage to say: "this is the reality, it is better for me to make way for another person to take over for the good of the Church, for the good of the spread of the Gospel, and the spread of God's Kingdom at this time".

Regarding opinions that Pope Benedict's decision can be seen as modernizing the role of the Pope, Brislan said it may well create a precedent for future Popes. However he said he doesn't think it is modernizing the Papacy. "It is just a very pragmatic, intellectually honest decision that he has made. It is a noble and honourable decision".

Speaking about the Southern African area Archbishop Brislin speaks of the influence of Pope Benedict's Post-Synodal Apostilic Exhortation: "Africae Munus". He said the Church in Southern Africa is using that document as a guide as to how to serve the needs of the people in Southern Africa. In light of "Africae Munus" , he said "we have actually changed our theme - the previous pastoral plan theme was "community serving humanity". We have now changed that to "community in service to justice, reconciliation and peace".

"Just one request: please keep writing. We need your theology and we need your thought in the Church today" voiced the Archbishop.