Written by Rick Koshko and Steven Devine
Local Catholic priests who remember Pope Benedict XVI say his work as the head of the Church will be honored for a long time. Benedict died at age 95 Saturday.
Monsignor Mark Merdian is with the Ottawa Catholic Parishes and talked with then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in Rome in 1994. He says the Cardinal encouraged Merdian and other new priests who were just beginning their service.
The future pope’s humility impressed Merdian and many others.
Monsignor Phillip Halfacre is from St. Michael the Archangel Church in Streator. He too got the chance to meet the Pope, but not as Benedict the 16th. At the time, he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
Although Benedict’s nickname was “The Rottweiler”, Halfacre says he was very kind, gentle, and generous. He also says the Pope had a very impressive memory as well. He told a story involving US Cardinal Justin Rigali. Rigali’s birthday was on the same day Benedict was selected as Pope.
Halfacre says Benedict’s greatest legacy was his intellect and ability to explain complicated logical matters.
Benedict was Pope for eight years and retired in 2013. He was the first Pope in about 600 years to retire and was known as Pope Emeritus Benedict for the rest of his life. The Peoria Diocese will hold a mass for Benedict at 5:30pm Thursday at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria.