By Nchumbonga George Lekelefac
On December 1, 2022, barely two months, one week and four days after establishing the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa, A Constituent College of the Catholic University of Cameroon Bamenda (CATUC), Benedict died on 31 December 2022 at 9:34 am Central European Time at his residence, Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, in the Vatican. He was 95 years old. His long-time secretary, Georg Gänswein, reported his last words were ‘Signore ti amo’ (Italian for ‘Lord, I love you’). (Cf. D’emilio Frances).
Formal establishment of the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa, A Constituent College of the Catholic University of Cameroon Bamenda (CATUC)
How was the formal establishment of the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa, A Constituent College of the Catholic University of Cameroon Bamenda (CATUC) done? This is exactly what happened: On Thursday October 20, 2022, Rev. Fr. Dr. Prof. Maurice Ashley Agbaw-Ebai [Bachelor in Philosophy, Pontificia Universitas Urbaniana, Roma; Bachelor in Theology (S.T.B.), Hekima University College, Kenya; M.A., Boston College; Th.M., Boston College; S.T.L., Boston College; S.T.D., Boston College; Ph.D., Boston College], priest incardinated in the Diocese of Mamfe, Cameroon, who is based in Boston and who is the International Coordinator of the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa, A Constituent College of the Catholic University of Cameroon Bamenda (CATUC) had a private audience with Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI at his private residence in the Vatican.
It is worth noting that during the audience between Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI and Fr. Maurice, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI blessed a formal written document with the following words: “The Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) Bamenda. Pope Benedict XVI Institute for Africa. A Constituent College. On this day, with the Most Archbishop Andrew F. Nkea, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda and Chancellor of the Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessings on the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa dedicated to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the heart of the Church. Given at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican City, Thursday, October 20, in the year of the Lord, 2022. Benedict XVI Institute of Africa, co – Workers of the truth.”
It is this document that established the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa, A Constituent College of the Catholic University of Cameroon Bamenda (CATUC).
A month later, the Pope Benedict XVI Institute for Africa, A Constituent College of the Catholic University of Cameroon Bamenda (CATUC) organized an International Theological Colloquium from November 23 – 25, 2022. All roads and flights led to Bamenda Metropolis for the International Theological Colloquium that saw people come from within Cameroon and overseas. The theme of the International Theological Colloquium was titled: “Introduction to Christianity: Engagement of African Scholars” which elucidated Joseph Ratzinger’s Introduction to Christianity.” This exceedingly momentous event took place at the Paul VI Pastoral Centre, in Bamenda.
The opening ceremony was formulaically performed by Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea [B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), Dip. Eccle. Juris. (Rome), JCL. (Rome), JCD. (Rome), D.D.], Metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda Metropolis and Chancellor of CATUC in the presence of the international coordinator of the Benedict XVI institute, our own Cameroonian philosophy and theology scholar in the persona of Rev. Fr. Dr. Prof. Maurice Ashley Agbaw-Ebai who flew all the way from Boston, officially known as the City of Boston.
Internationally, Fr. Dr. Prof. Maurice Ashley Agbaw-Ebai is the Coordinator of the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa, which promotes research work on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI amongst African scholars.
Last Message from Pope Benedict XVI on the International Theological Colloquium
The International Theological Colloquium was of utmost capital importance to the extent that Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI sent a message through his personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Prefetto della Casa Pontificia, Palazzo Apostolico, Città del Vaticano, 00120 – Vaticano to the abled, erudite and highly distinguished professor and philosophy cum theology scholar in the persona of Rev. Fr. Dr. Prof. Maurice Ashley Agbaw-Ebai.
The original message in Italian that was received read: “Caro Professore, caro Fra Maurice, a nome del Papa emerito Benedetto XVI posso comunicarvi che Egli ha preso atto con grande soddisfazione della Conferenza, che avrà luogo all’Università Cattolica di Camerun a Bamenda, dal 23 al 25 novembre in onore del suo 95° compleanno festeggiato lo scorso 16 aprile. Egli augura di cuore a tutti i partecipanti un proficuo scambio di vedute e un approfondimento delle questioni teologiche. Spera che l’incontro di autorevoli persone ed esperti porti dei buoni frutti che nutrono la fede cattolica in Africa e fanno crescere l’amore verso il Salvatore Gesù Cristo e la sua Chiesa. Per una tale meta Egli prega per tutti. Con un caro saluto, +Georg Gänswein —S.E. Mons. Georg Gänswein, Prefetto della Casa Pontificia, Palazzo Apostolico, Città del Vaticano, 00120 – Vaticano,” translated in English as “Dear Professor, Dear Fr Maurice, on behalf of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, I can inform you that He has taken note with great satisfaction of the Conference, which will take place at the Catholic University of Cameroon in Bamenda, from 23 to 25 November in honor of his 95th birthday celebrated last 16 April. He sincerely wishes all the participants a fruitful exchange of views and an in-depth study of theological issues. He hopes that the meeting of such authoritative persons and true experts will bring forth good fruits that nourish the Catholic faith in Africa and grow love for the Savior Jesus Christ and his Church. For such a goal he prays for everyone. With a warm greeting, +Georg Gänswein.” This message corroborated the profoundest love and gratitude that Pope Benedict XVI has for this institute in Africa located in CATUC Bamenda.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: 2013–2022
On the morning of 28 February 2013, Benedict met with the full College of Cardinals and in the early afternoon flew by helicopter to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. He stayed there until refurbishment was completed on his retirement home, the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens near St Peter’s, former home of twelve nuns, where he moved on 2 May 2013. (Cf. Francesco Oggiano, 2013).
After his resignation, Benedict retained his papal name rather than reverting to his birth name. (Federico Lombardi, March 1, 2013). He continued to wear the white cassock but without the pellegrina or the fascia. He ceased wearing red papal shoes. (Ibid.)
Benedict returned his official Fisherman’s Ring, which was rendered unusable by making two large cuts across its face. (Ibid.).
According to a Vatican spokesman, Benedict spent his first day as Pope emeritus with Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the Prefect of the Papal Household (Cf. David Uebbing, 2013).
In the monastery, the pope emeritus did not live a cloistered life, but studied and wrote. (Cf. Francesco Oggiano, 2013.). He joined his successor several months after his election at the unveiling of a new statue of Saint Michael the Archangel. The inscription on the statue, according to Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, has the coat of arms of the two popes to symbolize the fact that the statue was commissioned by Benedict and consecrated by Francis. (Cf. Catholic Herald. 9 July 2013).
In 2013 it was reported that Benedict had multiple health problems including high blood pressure and fallen out of bed more than once, but the Holy See denied any specific illnesses (Cf. HuffPos,t 2013). The former pope made his first public appearance after his resignation at St. Peter’s Basilica on 22 February 2014 to attend the first papal consistory of his successor Francis. Benedict entered the basilica through a discreet entrance and was seated in a row with several other cardinals. He doffed his zucchetto when Francis came down the nave of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet him. (Cf. Tornielli, Andrea, 2014). He then made an appearance at the canonization mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, greeting the cardinals and Francis.
In June 2020, Benedict visited his dying brother Georg in Germany for the last time. Georg died on 1 July, aged 96. (Cf. katholisch.de, 2020). On 3 August 2020, Benedict’s aides disclosed that he had an inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. (Cf. Elise Ann Allen, 2020). Pope Benedict became the longest-lived pope on 4 September 2020 at 93 years, 4 months, 16 days, surpassing the age of Pope Leo XIII. (Cf. Hattrup Kathleen N., 2020). On 29 June 2021, the pope emeritus celebrated his Platinum Jubilee (70th anniversary) as a priest. (Allen, Elise Ann, 2021).
Worsening health and death of Emeritus Pope Benedict
On 28 December 2022, Pope Francis said at the end of his audience that Benedict was ‘very sick’ and asked God to ‘comfort him and support him in this testimony of love for the Church until the end’. (Cf. The Guardian, 2022).
The same day, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, stated that ‘In the last few hours there has been an aggravation of [Benedict’s] health due to advancing age’ and that Benedict was under medical care. He also stated that after Francis’s audience, the latter went to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery where Benedict was. (Cf. Brockhaus Hannah, 2022).
Funeral of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI
From 2 January 2023, Benedict’s body laid in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. His funeral took place on 5 January 2023 in St. Peter’s Square at 9:30 am and was celebrated by Pope Francis and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. (Cf. Sky news, 2022). Archbishop Georg Ganswein, Benedict’s personal secretary since 2003, and Bishop Diego Ravelli, instructor of liturgical celebrations, also attended the funeral. (Cf. Catholic News Agency, 2023). This was the first time a pope attended a funeral for his predecessor. (Cf. Horowitz, Jason, 2023).
The funeral was attended by an estimated 50,000 people. He was interred in the crypt beneath St. Peter’s Basilica originally occupied by John Paul II before his beatification in 2011. (Cf. The Guardian, 2023). The tomb site opened to the public on 8 January 2023, following announcements from the Vatican.
Honours and awards
In 2013, one of Notre-Dame de Paris’ new bells was named Benoît-Joseph after Pope Benedict XVI. A variety of awards and honours were given to Benedict including the following: 1999 Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; 2010 honorary citizen of Romano Canavese, in Piedmont; 2010 honorary citizen of Lisbon, honoring his visit to the city on 11–12 May 2010; The asteroid 8661 Ratzinger was named in his honour for the role he played in supervising the opening of the Vatican Apostolic Archive in 1998 to researchers investigating judicial errors against Galileo and other scientists. The name was proposed by the asteroid’s discoverers, L. D. Schmadel and F. Borngen at Tautenburg.
Writings
Pope Benedict XVI wrote 66 books, three encyclicals, and four apostolic exhortations.
Conclusion
To my mind, it was indeed divine providence that Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI was able to have a private audience with Fr. Dr. Prof. Maurice Ashley Agbaw-Ebai in which the Benedict XVI Institute of Africa was established before his death. What an honor and privilege for the entire Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda. It is my wish that the Institute will promote the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI throughout Africa and the world at large.
By Nchumbonga George Lekelefac, Doctorandus, University of Münster, Germany; Europe/ US Correspondent of the SUN Newspaper; Founder/ CEO of the “Nchumbonga Lekelefac Institute of Research, Documentation, Language and Culture, USA.