After a year in office, Pope Benedict has proved a better listener than many expected, writes Fr Michael Collins
In his first encyclical, God is Love, Pope Benedict focused on Christian charity. It was a thoughtful and gentle meditation on the meaning of what constitutes the essence of Christian life and the call of Christians to care for those in need. Few could find anything to criticise in it. It seemed a world away from his previous image of the Panzer Cardinal.
Apart from donning ruby red Renaissance-style caps and capes, trimmed with ermine, Pope Benedict has kept a rather low profile. The pontiff, who celebrates the first anniversary of his election tomorrow, has largely eluded the imagination of the masses.
When he came to office one year ago many gasped in disappointment, while others could not contain their glee. There was something of a caricature that Joseph Ratzinger was a figure of repression. After 23 years at the nub of controversy in the Vatican, his reputation seemed rather tarnished. Now, 12 months later, can we see if it was justified?
After John Paul's pontificate, which spanned more than quarter of a century, Benedict found himself with the delicate task of stepping into the Polish shoes and making his own contribution to the bishopric of Rome. Benedict was aware that he lacked much of the charisma of John Paul and came to the papacy an elderly man. At 78, he was already 20 years older than when Karol Wojtyla was elected to the papacy. Recognised pre-eminently as a theologian, his pastoral experience had been negligible. Given his age and frailty, he is still discovering a way of being an effective pastor. In the early months of his pontificate, the Bavarian Pope quietly established himself not as John Paul II's successor but as the successor of Peter, the 265th bishop of Rome.
After a somewhat uncertain start, Benedict developed a personal rapport with the crowds who continued to flock to Rome. Although retiring by nature, Benedict found himself warming to the crowds as they warmed to him.
A lifetime of lecturing and his easy style of speaking stood him in good stead. In the opinion of some people, his writings also were more direct and engaging than his predecessor's.
His homilies were miniature gems of theology. He succeeds in saying a great deal in a short space. Benedict evidently prioritises his time. Private papal audiences have been cut by 70 per cent from John Paul's pontificate. He does he not invite people to his early morning Mass as his predecessor did.
Benedict's ability and willingness to speak off the cuff ensure that his remarks have a distinctive spontaneity. In meetings with priests in July of last year and March of this year, he acknowledged the needs of divorced people, the role of women in the church's higher echelons of administration, and the crisis of vocations. He also has decided to engage the College of Cardinals in regular meetings, something similar to a senate. Many have noted how well he listens. That does not necessarily mean that he implements all suggestions, but it does indicate a surprising receptivity.
As prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Ratzinger's main work was theological. As pope, his concerns are now much wider. There are enormous problems on the horizon for the Catholic Church. Shrinking congregations in Europe, clerical sex abuse, declining vocations and increasing secularisation are only some of the issues he must urgently tackle. His style has been remarkably unconfrontational.
He must also engage with other faiths and other Christian denominations. Already Benedict has taken a robust approach to Islam, insisting that in Muslim countries governments take steps to protect Christians who are being actively persecuted. Whether he has the skills necessary to tackle these problems remains to be seen.
Given his age, Benedict cannot expect a lengthy pontificate. He has spent the past year politely batting off requests to visit here, there and everywhere. He has given a strong indication that he will visit Istanbul on November 30th. The purpose of the visit will be to strengthen ties with the Orthodox Churches, which he greatly respects.
He also intends to visit the Holy Land. He is the second pope in history to visit a synagogue.
However, his reluctance to travel will have an interesting consequence. If Benedict keeps his visits to a minimum, they will be more effective and will give the local church the chance to "breathe" and develop its proper autonomy.
Michael Collins, a priest of the archdiocese of Dublin, is the author of Benedict XVI Successor of Peter