Out of all of the responses I’ve heard since Pope Benedict passed away, I have never heard anyone explain it so succinctly as you have! You hit every nail on the head perfectly! Thank you for that and may God bless you and the work that you do.

I just saw an interview with his personal assistant Archbishop Georg Gänswein where he stated that Pope Benedict honestly thought he only had about one year to live when he abdicated his chair. It’s a fascinating interview and it’s on KZfaq. Only two days old. He is also having a book published next month that will be a rigorous defense of Pope Benedict. I look forward to reading it. Brian,I also looked to Pope Benedict as one would a good friend. He spoke to me as I entered the Church in his writings and in his speeches and in how he lived as a Catholic. I read his three books on the life of Jesus over and over. They are simply transcendent.

A gentle, kind and thorough comment, dear Brian. Thank you! I'd like to add that our late Pope was not only a brilliant theologian, but also an outstanding master of the German language. He coined many words and expressions, was enormously elegant in his style, but could also be easily understood. A real classic. I loved and adored him, but, of course, I would have preferred to be spared the current Pontiff, although God works also through him. Brian, may God bless you, your great work and your family and supporters.

He was like an angel on earth in my view

Dear Brian, here in Germany the journalistic appreciations in the big newspapers were all very mixed, better said cold-hearted and unfair. Neither one understood him, nor was there a will to understand him and to describe him fairly. You have captured him very sensitively in the facets of his personality, his brilliance, depth, humility, peacefulness and piety. Thanks a lot...

Thank you Brian for this appreciation of Benedict. I started my journey back to the Church after reading his “The Spirit of the Liturgy”. So happy thinking of him in heaven. Myles Maloney, Edmonton, Canada

The death of Benedict XVI (I also like to call him Benedict the preserver) hits me surprisingly hard. I just recently reverted/converted to the catholic faith. There are videos here on KZfaq with pope Benedict praying the rosary in German and in Latin. I downloaded these videos and I pray with them and listen to them often. In some way Benedict played a major role in my conversion, for which I am very grateful. Since his passing I pray each day the rosary and the chaplet of divine mercy for his soul. Der Herr segne und behüte Benedict XVI. Der Herr lasse sein Angesicht leuchten über ihm und sei ihm gnädig. Der Herr erhebe sein Angesicht auf ihm und gebe ihm Frieden.

You're right his brilliance, humility and and holiness were not on display. He never sought attention for himself. I'll always admire this incredible man but not because of the high office he held but for his simplicity!

I always loved him as a defender of the Faith.

Thank you! Pope Benedict XVI’s writings were very helpful to me at a time I was struggling. I love and appreciate him.

Thank you, Brian… I feel very much the same as you. May our dear Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI rest in the Peace of Christ and may we all remember him in our daily prayers.

I have been lamenting so many sorrows in the state of the church and our country.

A lovely and thoughtful reflection. May his memory be eternal.

I got choked up listening to your words. As a father I know how vulnerable my children are to my own sin, and I can't imagine what pope Benedict had to deal with with such a large family. Thank you for making this video. I wasn't invested enough in our faith at the time and I just felt confused about the whole situation.

Agree with so much you shared, Brian!

Rest in Peace Pope Benedict.

Very well said Brian!! I always thought of him as a very gentle, holy and hugely intelligent man. Hoping now that he has gone to God he will be a greater advocate for the Church and we will see great miracles happen.

I always thought that Pope Benedict XVI retired because he saw what the wolves did to Pope John Paul II in his last part of his pontificate, and tried to avoid it with himself. I know it's not easy to be a Pope, and Benedict XVI was being attacked constantly, and his mello personality just couldn't do it. Just maybe he thought that he was hurting the Church. May he rest in peace! Pope Benedict XVI, pray for us! ⚘️

God Bless Pope XVI and thanks to him for bringing back Latin Mass for all to enjoy. CHRIST IS KING

This was an extraordinarily insightful video. I’m pretty new to your channel but I’ll be returning. Beautifully said. Thank you for sharing it.

An old priest told me that god built into creation the fact that sooner or later we would become disappointed in everyone and everything except Him.

Rest In Peace our dear, humble Holy Father Benedict. 🕯 His theology and teaching was very dear to me. I also appriciate how he led the Church for those years, he was the pope of my childhood (I was 6 when he became the pope and 14 when he resigned) and the more we go into the leadership of pope Francis the more I missed him. He emphesized Truth and the symbolism of the Liturgy, and how he stressed many important problems of the modern word. ♗🇩🇪🤍🇻🇦🍇

Thanks for your calm commentary

Definitely humble. He wore his brilliance lightly

I will always hold a special place for Pope Benedict in my heart. I followed him since the 1970s and 1980s.

Very touching, very true. For the dear saint I'm happy that he is now with his beloved Lord. For myself, sad to see and hear the expressions of hatred that appeared before he was actually dead. Outside the Church, not unexpected; inside the Church, deeply saddening. Not because the ship will sink. It never will. Sad to see souls in thrall to the Devil ... Be blessed, you and your family. I always pray for you because you have accepted the far from easy task the Holy Spirit has given you. And give your best to it.

I appreciate you sharing your views and affection for him . Thank you for enlightening those of us who are coming in to the church .

Thank you for your thoughtful response to the sad news of his passing. One commentator recently ventured that Pope Benedict XVI's legacy may be an awareness that there are two facets to the role of pope: as a spiritual leader, and as a skilled administrator. To have supreme skill in both may be impossible. When Benedict XVI was elected, the choice was for a spiritual leader, as befits the head of a church. By all accounts, that was his gift, his contribution. The media were rabid, there is no other way to put it. Thank you for giving us a good view of the personal and spiritual aspects, which rather got lost in all the criticism.

Thank you for your thoughts and insight. I will continue to pray for the church in these dark times.

"Without truth, charity degenerates into sentimentality." - Pope Benedict XVl

I'm not a Catholic but I am a Christian and have great respect for the Papacy and the Catholic Church. God rest Joseph Ratzinger, God's faithful servant. Grant unto him eternal rest.

He LOVED St. Joseph (and was his baptismal name!). Please do a video on St. Joseph! It will make our late great Benedict XVI very happy! Thank you! #Josephology

Thanks for sharing this, from an Anglican perspective I was doubtful that Pope Benedict XVI was the way that he was portrayed, thanks for a more holistic picture. May God Bless his Soul.

I love Benedict 16. I wish he had not resigned as well.

This is your best work. God bless.

This was both accurate and heartfelt. Excellent commentary. He was a far better leader than he was given credit for. I just wish he hadn't allowed the church to fall into Pope Francis' hands. Rest in peace, Pope Benedict.

I’m always deathly afraid of ascribing malice to actions, especially since I know rash judgement is a mortal sin, and I never know if I have “adequate” evidence to prove malicious intent.

I had a very different experience of the Pope Benedict, maybe because I follow a different kind of media. I was raised in Poland where the cult of JP2 was so strong that it nearly felt he was a God-like figure there. But he never felt to me as a close figure - in Poland he represented the heroic fight against communism and was a national pride and probably the most important human being for those who were young adults in the 70 and the 80. However, as he was such an innovative and contemporary pope, his ways just did not connect with myself, born a bit later on. When BXVI became pope I was still a kid, but there I thought - oh, here is a pope that truly represents me. An throughout his pontificate and while I was growing older I understood how much that was true. First of all, his profound appreciation to beauty, especially of the music and liturgy was very close to my upbringing, as at that time I was being trained to become a classical musician. With the school choir we would learn Gregorian chant and more often than not perform religious traditional music. But most importantly, he absolutely changed my life by Summorum Pontificum. Without him allowing all faithful catholics access to the traditional mass, I would most probably not go to the mass anymore, as I was not able any longer to find any spirituality, transcendence or even presence of God at the modernist protestant-like mass. The fruits of this document are so rich and inspiring that it really warms my heart. Whole parishes full of young people and families being able to feel the sacred presence of God in a dignified and solemn way. That's something that should be at the top of his achievements as the Pope. No one else has done as much as him for the unity of the Catholic church, the proof of which are the lifting of excommunication of the bishops from the Society of Saint Pius X, numerous conversions of whole parishes of anglicans into catholicism and an unprecedented signs of unity with the Orthodox Church. As for his abdication, it was indeed extremely upsetting however I consider we might never learn the reasons behind it, so I prefer to restrain from judging a man who appeared to be so saint in his ways, that it is difficult to believe he would abandon his flock if it was not for some grave reasons unknown to us at this stage. The way I have always seen him was as a saint, loving and humble father - maybe that's the benefit of avoiding listening to the mainstream media for so many years now.

I appreciate your content. What’s the name of the hymn you play in your intro?

6:08 In 2013, he resigned. In 2014 his successor held the "magic wand" speech - do you feel Ratzinger could have felt betrayed but avoided conflict, or that he was on board with that adress?

SO TRUE!!!BRILLIANT,THANK YOU BRIAN .I MAKE MINE,,,,EVERY WORD

Everyone rolls their eyes when “media bias” is brought up…….UNTIL you see headlines and news written about a subject that YOU are an expert in. Then the facade crumbles and it’s hard to blindly trust any news after that

God bless you Brian for another insightful podcast!! ❤🙏

3:40 If you are a kind of Ratzinger geek, can you answer this: did he definitely consider Young Earth Creationism and Geocentrism as faith going beyond its "specificity" (citing a word in his testament)?

Thank you for this.

While I listened to this, in the 13th and 14th minute, it came to me the words of the Lord to Peter, when you are old another takes your hand and leads you where you don't want to go.

Benedict was before my conversion but your response hints at some of the expressions I heard in more reserved ways from my parish members. Thankyou. Pope Francis is all I knew, I wonder how I’ll feel when he inevitably dies

Thank you @Brian! I pray Pope Benedict XVI Rest In Peace

Thank you 💕

Thank you for this, he is my favorite pope, even though he may not be made a saint because of biases. I cannot read Deus Caritas Est without understanding immediately his personal love of Jesus.

Thank you, Brian.

Hi Brian! A very good video, as usual. What I would like to add, though, is that most of the fights you say he was so reluctant to pick up as Pope were fights he had picked up much earlier in his career - and never tried to avoid! And man, was he bashed and vilified for trying to uphold the perennial teaching of the Church! I guess you are too young to have any personal memories from that time, but ever since he entered the scene as a theologian and priest (then bishop, archbishop and cardinal and head of the CDF), and especially after the "spirit of Vatican 2" had started to obscure and destroy the truth(s) of Catholicism, he regularly made critical, politically "incorrect" remarks, took "unpopular" decisions and publicly reprimanded "colleagues" who were leading their flocks astray with heretical messages, most famously in the cases of Hans Küng, the entire controversy surrounding "liberation theology" and, later, relativism. I think that, as Pope, he wanted to be a real "pontifex", a bridge-builder, and a caring pastor above all things. But even then, he openly and strongly criticized Islam for condoning or even promoting violence, for instance, and went to the German Bundestag (i.e. parliament) to tell them that their power was limited by natural law and that there were things they just didn't have a right to decide on. In my opinion, these things were very courageous, seeing the reactions he had to face.

In pace requiescat. 🙏

The news of Pope Benedict XVI passing carried many of the same emotions for me as when Queen Elizabeth II also passed earlier this year. They were both staunch figures of stability that were living links to the early 20th century, the struggles there and the struggles we've had since then. I wasn't a Catholic until 2020, but I grew up during the years of Benedict's pontificate and as an Australian Catholic both figures carry a bittersweet nostalgic feeling in me and I feel a bit more unease towards the future of the Church, and of the English speaking world in their absence.

Merry Christmas! And thanks for your comments. As a Catholic with a lot of time as a public radio host in multiple countries, I'd humbly suggest we disentangle "media" and "journalism." Media encompasses every communication type, be it journalism, propaganda, activism, entertainment, etc. One of the pernicious facts of our times is the journalism cosplay which has confused, dulled, and lulled us into lumping all media products ("content") into one gross bucket, which is not always justified. I would agree that I witnessed a certain ignorance if not negligence in newsrooms about Catholicism broadly (as in society?), but I would classify it differently than a performance artist or provocateur intentionally casting shadows instead of shining lights. There are faithful Catholics in secular journalism outlets fighting the good fight. God bless.

Rest In Peace Pope Benedict XVI. Go with God. 🙏🏻 10:15 Cincinnatus during the Roman Republic gave up power. Take care. ✌🏻

Pope Benedict seemed to be a profound academic and administrator who was sheltered by and rested under the Pope JPII who bore the political pressures such as the sex and homosexual and financial scandals. When Pope Benedict took over, he was an old man who was not accustomed to the hostility and pressures. He was done as nearly as when he started, good as he was whereas Pope JPII was accustomed to Communist pressures and decades as the Pope, having taken the reigns at age 58 compared to Pope Benedict's 78 years of age when some men are already dead or in a retirement home. Pope Benedict may have had the physical health but not the mental endurance and tolerance to discipline ecclesiastical enemies as well as the media.

may you rest in peace our holy father

Francis will never resign.

9:05 If you think: a) that Ratzinger was OK with billions of years and Adam having non-human ancestry b) faithful to the Church Fathers in his theology what about you going to precisely the sources. Did St. Augustine of Hippo have sth to say on how to read Genesis 5 and 11? Check specifically books 13 to 16 of City of God, and they are available online on Newadvent ...

That's what the media always do especially to the good men and women of God and even politicians of a good heart,creating a caricature of their own interest..very sad,but luckily most of us know the games the media plays,as catholics we know own better and that's why we stand by our Faith and our Shepherds.

6:26 What German temperament brought the world to wars? The Prussian or the Austrian or the Saxon or the Bavarian? A little reminder, he was a Bavarian. I shed if not a tear at least a pint of dry stout on New years eve, if only for the Bavarian. As a Christian I think he was a failure. Doctrinally and in the application of discipline.

I miss Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and I thank Pope Benedict for the love he had for the good Archbishop, and how much he wanted to bring the traditions of the Church back to the people and the priests

His retirement probably lasted a long time because he no longer carried the burden of being pope. There's really no way to know how much longer he could have continued had he never resigned.

I will definitely miss Pope Benedict. I have a question for the comment section. Why should I stay alive after I have been refused absolution? If I’m too weak to stop sinning why even live?

I have three criticisms of your video: 1) Pope Benedict XVI did not shy away from all controversy. Especially as head of the CDF, but also in his papacy, censorship of theologians reached a high point since Pius XII. Many people working in ecumenism and interreligious dialogue at the time lamented that Benedict’s pronouncements frequently undermined their capacity to dialogue. 2) You did not discuss his compliance with the sex abuse scandal. There is concrete evidence that he covered up priests when he was the Archbishop of Munich. That should be recognized as a part of his legacy. 3) I disagree with your statement that we must agree that “things have not gone well in the Church since [his resignation], regardless of where you sit in the spectrum of ideologies…” What you are effectively saying is, ‘the election of Pope Francis, a pope more progressive than traditionalist, has been bad for the Church. If Benedict did not abdicate, we wouldn’t have Francis.’ In saying so, you betray your own ideology. Whenever somebody says, ‘this is an ideology-free zone,’ that merely indicates that they identify with the dominant ideology. There has never been an ideology-free Church, for better or for worse. You are essentially saying, ‘it was better when the ecclesial hierarchy was homogenous in its ideological construction. It was better when pesky progressive theologians were relegated to the halls of academia and not taken seriously.’ Your statement that the Church is “suffering from less vitality” says just as much about your own ideology, the limits of your experiences, and the echo chamber in which you reside than about the Church at large.

Brian, beautiful talk. Please consider reading and critiquing “Windswept House” by Malachi Martin. Even back in 1995 when this book is written, he purportedly pulled back the curtain and shows us the plots against the Slavic Pope, including a no-confidence vote by the bishops and a resignation protocol, among many other incredible ideas. I would love your sensible take on this Vatican “faction,” and the implications if true, even in part. Blessings that you from our Lord in 2024 ✝️

I suggest you check out the Documentary on Vaticn II on KZfaq….about 50 minutes of balanced and accurate reporting, with many of the priests and bishops involved in it from varied backgrounds.

When I first read Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict… I was blown away. It was so profound. I cannot read it continuously because there’s just too much to think about in every sentence. All the popular protestant books by “prominent” authors pale by comparison. It was obvious none of them knew the Lord the way Pope Benedict does. My faith had been made richer and fuller because of Pope Benedict. I pray I’ll meet him in heaven

My condolences to your Church

Hi Brian. I get your point about the direction things have taken since beloved Benedict retired. I was heartbroken when my beloved John Paul 2 died. It can all seem very confusing can't it. Have no fear that the world spirals out of control. Nothing is happening that is not being allowed by the Father. We are coming to the end of an age. Things are being prepared.... I heard it explained like this.... We live in a time when most people entertain a spirit of disobedience to God's will. We are moving towards a time when most people will in fact be living in a spirit of obedience to God's will. The period of time we are in right now is a time of transition. When a structure is being rebuilt or a building is being remodeled it can look terribly messy when you are standing in the centre of things. A great renewal is taking place. Nothing will stop it. The very landscape of civilization is shifting and transitioning. What will emerge will be holy. Joyful and Godly.

Sometimes it a good idea to gather your thoughts before you post a video Brian.

Faith and Reason. The late Pope was the embodiment of the concept. He was neither rottweiler nor dove, liberal or conservative... He was, if anything, a moderate who valued and understood the traditions of the Church and Faith. I ve suspected for sometime that the corruption and scandal was so entrenched, so cancerous, that it could not be cut out by merely one man, Pope or not, and could only be left to metastisize so, once undeniable to any objective onlooker, might be met head on by the remnant and it's fellow travelers in the world and, with God's help, destroyed. Optimistic, perhaps, but as plausible as anything I've heard.

They have refused to use the Roman Canon at Pope Benedict's funeral--So, so wrong!!

Apologists failed in this era to recognise the wave internet atheism and young Christians exposure to this content

All of those negative attributes can be attributed towards Francis.

I too was also saddened by Pope Benedicts resignation and gor a long time as Pope Frances pontificate progressed I found myself. .....internally....still regarding Pope Benedict as our Holy Father....it seemed that imagining this gave me peace...hope and the strength to continue with my faith....Now he is no longer with us I feel afraid and anxious ....If I had to explain my devotion to Pope Benedict it would be for three reasons.....His humility....His wisdom....but more Importantly his profound love for Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.... Stay close to the New Born King and both his and our dear Mother...... The way ahead for us is indeed uncertain and we must remain in the Peace and Love of Christ in order to sustain ourselves through these troubling times.

Succinctly profound. Great point about the farcical depiction of Benedict in "The Two Popes", as a two-dimensional, hidebound man. The film's popularity was indeed an illustration of the moral myopia of our media-led post-Christendom.

Hi Brian, optimism suggests that BXVI resignation was a loving act to protect the church. In face of the attack his office was under he must have understood he was not suited to carry on, not enough at least to save us from harm. Let’s bear in mind that even his butler slipped sensitive information out. Alas, This also might help to understand the current pontificate, one that confuses even the enemy. If that is the case, Francis is the best thing that has happened , and that’s why he was elected in a heartbeat.

10:06 Closest one that comes to mind is Francisco Franco. In 1973, he yielded his powers as Prime Minister, and his will stated that after his death, he wanted his regime dismantled and the Spanish monarchy restored to power.

I am not a Catholic..but if he was the man who gave the spiritual thoughts in the garden with the kitty..I Loved him!

Benedict is my pope

Pope Benedict the Great

“Malicious intent” on the part of those reporting on him. Agreed. Could it be the same extends to the treatment of Archbishop Lefebvre with regard to the supposed “schism”?

Romans 1:12((N.L.T.))🇩🇪

I hope he knew the Lord Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

He was the real pope in my opinion. Not been a fan of Francis

IMHO, Benedict was a product of the ruthless social engineering that took place in Germany after WWII. He could of done a whole lot for the morale of the German people, but he didn't as opposed to what John Paul ll did for Poland. Sad to say, but I think that his Papacy was a failure. His resignation said it all. Having said that, RIP Pope Benedict we love you.🙏

antipope Benedict xvi