Benedict XVI
IN MEMORIAM
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who received an honorary doctorate from the University in 1998, has died in Rome at the age of 95. "His death touches the heart of the University in a special way. First of all, because our desire to serve the Church leads us to love the Pope with all our hearts. We are deeply grateful for the pontificate of Benedict XVI, a true gift for the Church and for every member of the faithful," said president, Maria Iraburu.
The president also recalled the special bond that united the University to the person of Joseph Ratzinger, theologian and academic: "His figure is especially close to us because he was a member 'honoris causa' of our faculty. In a few days it will be 25 years since his visit at campus. They were intense and exciting conference in which he held meetings with professors and students, visited academic centers, the Clinic and some colleges. He talked with us about theology, bioethics, poverty and women in the world, to mention a few topics.
"I remember a brief meeting with him, before a meeting. With the boldness of youth, I spoke to him about a bioethics question and an approach that seemed interesting to me. I was struck then, and I appreciate it even more now, by his ability to listen, his genuine interest in the vision of others; an almost touching simplicity and openness - to the truth, to people", added president.
Joseph Ratzinger was born in Marktl am Inn (Germany) on April 16, 1927. He studied at the technical school of Philosophy and Theology in Freising and at the University of Munich. Ordained a priest in 1951, he received his doctorate in theology two years later.
In 1977 he was appointed Archbishop of Munich-Freising and that same year he became a Cardinal by the hand of Paul VI. John Paul II appointed him, in 1981, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and since then, he has also been President of the International Theological Commission and of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. Since 1986, Cardinal Ratzinger has presided over the Commission in charge of elaborating the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
In April 2005, after the death of John Paul II, he became the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church. He exercised his pontificate under the name Benedict XVI. In February 2013 he announced his Withdrawal to the Papacy and has since been Pope Emeritus.
STAY AT HIGH SCHOOL MAYOR BELAGUA
Cardinal Ratzinger arrived in Pamplona on a Friday and, after rehearsing the ceremony at Central Building, he went to Belagua where he stayed for the duration of his stay.
That first evening, the students enjoyed a get-together where the cardinal often evoked his university memories as a student, researcher and professor.
AT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
Professor Pedro Rodriguez, Dean of the School of Theology, was the sponsor in the proposal of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as doctor 'honoris causa' of the University. Of the then Cardinal, and Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, his intelligence "and his vigorous way of doing theology" were highlighted.
THE CARDINAL IS INVESTED DOCTOR 'HONORIS CAUSA'.
In his speech, Cardinal Ratzinger defined Scripture as "the bearer of God's thought", and added that, for this reason, "it is mission statement of the Magisterium not to oppose thought, but to give voice to the authority of the Answer that has been given to us, and thus create space for the Truth itself that comes to us".
TO DEEPEN
- Remarks by Professor Pedro Rodriguez in praise of His Excellency and Rev. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
- speech of His Eminence and Rev. Cardinal Dr. Joseph Ratzinger
- Studia et Documenta Journal. Volume 16, 2022. Collects a article by Isabel Troconis graduate "The doctorate honoris causa of Cardinal Ratzinger by the University of Navarra (January 1998)".
- Article from Nuestro Tiempo magazine
AT HIGH SCHOOL MAYOR GOIMENDI
During his stay at the University, Joseph Ratzinger also visited the Goimendi. high school Mayor Goimendi. There he answered, attentively and with full disposition, to the questions that the students wanted to ask him.
They dealt with topics such as beauty, science and Christian realism and some of their answers left an impression on those who listened.
VISIT LA CLÍNICA UNIVERSIDAD DE NAVARRA
During his visit visit to the Clinic, the Cardinal had the opportunity to talk with the professionals about bioethics, transplants, the care of terminally ill patients, the research of stem cells or assisted reproduction... In addition, he also visited the staff laundry, ironing and diets.
BENEDICT XVI AFTER HIS VISIT TO THE UNIVERSITY
"I have been very impressed by the scientific, human and spiritual level of this University. I have had the opportunity to talk to professors from all the Schools and I have seen here an exceptional dynamism and a love for the research as well as a great sensitivity towards the students. I am very happy to be a doctor of this University".
José María Bastero
President of the University in 1998
"On the occasion of his investiture as honorary doctor of the
University of Navarra, on January 31, 1998, I had the good fortune to meet Cardinal Joseph
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger for three days.
It comes to my attention report that, in a moment of informal conversation, I asked him a question about a certain .
a question about a certain topic. The Cardinal, after a silence of several seconds
seconds, he said to me: "Forgive me for not answering you, since I have not thought about that
I have not given it any thought. I was deeply impressed by his humility and
his humility and his intellectual rigor - his love for the truth - and I thought to myself: "What would my answer have been if I had exchanged
what would my answer have been if we had exchanged our
roles?"
Luis Herrera Mesa
Vice President from International Office in 1998
"During his stay in Pamplona he stayed at high school Mayor Belagua. I remember that one day we had dinner with him and afterwards we had a get-together with the schoolchildren. He spent a pleasant and charming evening.
Before starting the academic act I also had the opportunity to spend a few moments with him. He was interested in the research I was doing with the endowment of the award Humboldt, at partnership with the University of Munich, in the field of continental aquatic ecosystems. With great kindness he offered me to visit him when I went to Rome".
Paz Ugalde
Student delegate in 1998
"I reread now what he answered me to the question I asked him then about the words of Pope John Paul II in the text 'Tertio Millennio Adveniente' and it is still current. He told us, 'the Holy Father has made many proposals and now gives way to the freedom and commitment of all Catholics to translate them into concrete action. update his words in different environments demands creativity and that is beautiful: it is not about ready-made recipes.'
I was impressed by the humility and simplicity with which he responded to a group of students. We had been warned that he was a very important figure in the Vatican, but he seemed so close to me that I encouraged myself to ask him something staff. Pray for my brother who is thinking of becoming a priest. In time my brother would become a priest and he would become Benedict XVI.
Pedro Rodriguez
Dean from the School of Theology in 1998
"For me at that time Cardinal Ratzinger was the prototype of the university professor, the ideal, the archetype, to which one aspired to dedicate oneself to theology. When I went through the University of Tübingen he taught the course 'Introduction to Christianity', it was such an impressive course that there were screens in the corridors so that people could attend. More than 1,000 students from all Schools, not just Theology, attended that course."
Montserrat Herrero
Professor of the School of Philosophy and Letters
"I went to the talk by C. M. Goimendi. I remember, above all, how he skipped the question turns to give voice to a doctoral student who was not included in the list.
On the way out I was able to approach him to thank him for his books. He asked me why I knew German and where I had learned it. I told him in Munich and to read Carl Schmitt and he immediately said: political theology! Yes, we had found a common topic . His writings on politics and eschatology; the book on St. Bonaventure's theology of history, in short, a few minutes were enough to enter topic".
Enrique Banús
Director of the Center for European programs of study in 1998
"During the visit, I was his interpreter and companion. It was an extraordinary and rewarding task. The Cardinal was a great theologian and intellectual. He was affectionate, close, of great naturalness. A beautiful person, as we would say in Spanish".