Benedict XVI, who succeeded John Paul II as Pope in 2005, had a difficult task ahead of him. Many people expected him to rule the Roman Catholic Church with strictness and intolerance due to his background as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. However, Benedict surprised people with his soft and timid side. He was known for his love of cats and would often caress strays in Rome, as well as playing Mozart on the piano. Despite his Bavarian roots, he was known for his fashion-consciousness and would order gold-woven robes and wear red Gucci slippers under his white robes. Benedict found the demands of being Pope tiring and ultimately made the decision to retire in 2013, the first Pope to do so in 600 years.
Despite his softer side, Benedict XVI faced criticism for his handling of certain issues. Many expected him to apologize to the Jewish community for the Vatican’s apparent indifference to the Holocaust, but apologies were something he struggled with. However, he did teach that the essence of Christianity was pure joy and the unfailing love of God. His first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, focused on the love between man and God. Benedict XVI believed that humans, like angels, could fly if they didn’t take themselves too seriously.
Overall, Benedict XVI’s papacy was marked by his surprising softness and timidity. While many expected a strict and intolerant ruler, he showed a love for cats, played Mozart on the piano, and had a fashion-consciousness that bordered on foppishness. He ultimately found the demands of being Pope exhausting and made the unprecedented decision to retire. Despite his struggles with apologies, he believed that the essence of Christianity was joy and the unfailing love of God.
