Pope Benedict's Gifts to the Church

Back in April of 2005, when Cardinal Medina Estevez appeared on the balcony to announce the name of the new pope, my heart nearly stopped when he got to "Josephum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem..."  RATZINGER!  Who'd have believed it?  I got a chuckle at the thought of the gang at America or the National un-Catholic Distorter standing glumly around a monitor and then shuffling back to their desks in silence.  The scene at the Archlaic's Residence was a bit different, champagne corks were popped (as I recall it was just past Easter) and a stogie worthy of Churchill perfumed the air (to the dismay of Her Magnitude).

Of course one of my first thoughts was that he'd end the "limbo" that the traditional Mass had been in for 30+ years, and sure enough he did, two years later, with Summorum Pontificum.  Of course this was seen - not incorrectly - as a gift to the long-neglected Catholics who prefer the traditional liturgy, and also as a step toward a potential reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X.  However, many commentators hailed it aa a gift to the entire Church and I believe that they were correct.  For one thing it is Pope Benedict's intention that as priests learn (or re-learn) to celebrate the traditional form of the Mass it will have a positive influence on the way they celebrate the newer form.  As such it is an especial gift to priests, whose very life and purpose is to offer Mass daily.

I opined at the time Summorum Pontificum was promulgated that one of its fruits would be an increase in vocations to the priesthood, and that such would become apparent within five years of S.P.. i.e. by 2012.  I am not aware of any recent statistics in this regard, but anecdotally I do perceive activity along these lines.

Another gift, whose true value may also take some time to become apparent, is Anglicanorum coetibus; which provides for the establishments of "ordinariates" for groups of Anglicans wishing to become Catholic. These ordinariates are roughly analogous to personal dioceses, but do not correspond to or replace existing territorial dioceses; rather they are envisaged to "overlay" them much in the manner that the Military Ordinariate or various Eastern Catholic diocese and eparchies do.   The same aging liberal naysayers who condemned Summorum Pontificum predictably panned Anglicanorum coetibus, but it appears that it is likewise starting to bear fruit.  A group of traditionally-minded Anglicans in Australia has sought to avail themselves of the new provisions and the process of establishing a personal ordinariate is underway.  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal gives some hint of the way that the Anglicans-cum-Catholics will be integrated into the life of the Church while retaining certain of their own liturgical traditions

Because of these acts, and the ecumenical overtures he has made toward various Eastern Orthodox churches, Benedict XVI has been called "The Pope of Christian Unity".  This is certainly apt, but inasmuch as these concrete provisions in favor of true unity have been centered around liturgical worship it might be equally appropriate to call him "The Liturgical Pope".  Certainly this has been an area of concern for him both previous to and during his papacy, and it is an area in which he has some expertise.  As we look forward to the fifth anniversary of Pope Benedict's election to the Chair of Peter it can certainly be said that he has had some significant accomplishments.  For a man who wished to retire, and who predicted a short papacy for himself, it has thus far been a consequential one.