With the spotlight now fully on Pope Francis, how do I look at Benedict XVI?

“When I am weak, I feel strong”. These words were said by St Paul. I feel they can be applied to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

One of the Austin friars in Malta, the late Fr Hugh Gatt, a very learned man and a true and honest philosopher, once said that not all people are able to resign. This is true. Intelligent ones are able to do it but ignorant ones are not.

Pope Benedict was feeling weak, yet he was strong in his determination to step down before it was too late. He did not want to let the Church descend into confusion. He wanted to put everything in order.

He was truly a great man, an unselfish one who thought of others. He loved the Church and was not an egoist.

Pope Benedict dedicated his whole life to the Church. He looked at the Church with a renewed faith that opened the doors to its future and locked them for himself.