Every pope leaves a distinctive mark on the Church, and in the case of Benedict XVI, the extent and value of his legacy will only be fully apparent in generations still to come. He made a remarkable contribution to Christian thought and Catholic theology, but we should acknowledge him first as a lovable and holy man – a saint, in the sense of a man who is now with God. His kindness and his humility made him not just a good pope, but an exemplary Christian.
For all his intellectual achievements, he was a shy person who did not take naturally to the publicity that goes with the modern papacy. He had the iron integrity that came with the conviction that the deposit of faith was worth defending, but in his manner he was unassuming and gentle. His death revealed the extent of the affection in which he was held by ordinary Catholics and by Christians outside the Catholic community.
