On Dec. 31, 2022, as the world learned of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Diocese of Trenton released a personal reflection about the pontiff who named him a bishop in 2010 and who had visited The Catholic University of America in Washington during then-Father O’Connell’s tenure as president.
Bishop O’Connell also announced that there will be a Memorial Mass for the late pope this Thursday, Jan. 5, at noon in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold. This will allow an opportunity for the clergy, consecrated religious and faithful in attendance to pray together as a diocesan family and still return home to watch the televised funeral Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica. For those who cannot attend the diocesan Mass, it will also be livestreamed at youtube.com/trentondiocese
Excerpts of Bishop O’Connell’s reflection follow: It is with great personal sadness that I ask the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton to join me in prayer for the repose of the soul of his Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
I have many great and favorite memories of Cardinal Ratzinger and Pope Benedict XVI, beginning with my election as President of the Catholic University of America in 1998.
As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, Cardinal Ratzinger was one of two prefects – the other being Cardinal Pio Laghi of the Congregation for Catholic Education – who was required to confirm my election. In the following 12 years, I was privileged to meet with him many times. I always found him warm, gracious, welcoming and very interested in CUA. He also demonstrated a good sense of humor!
In April 2008, Pope Benedict visited the campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to address US Catholic college and university presidents and superintendents of Catholic schools. As CUA President, I had the good fortune to welcome and introduce him before his talk. In May 2010, Pope Benedict appointed me as coadjutor bishop of Trenton. The following year, as diocesan Bishop, I attended my first ad limina visit to the Vatican and met with him along with the other bishops of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. On a subsequent occasion, Pope Benedict spoke fondly of his visit to CUA.
Pope Benedict spent his entire life in various roles of service to the Catholic Church. He will be well remembered for many accomplishments and, no doubt, criticized for others. To the end, Pope Benedict XVI remained a faithful, long-suffering yet joyful witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. May he rest now in the eternal peace of the Lord he served so well and loved so very much.
To read Bishop O’Connell’s full statement, click HERE.