Ireland’s lasting affinity with the late Pontiff obviously spilled from the visit.
He called for the moral fibre of the nation to be preserved by continued devotion to the sacredness of life and the true sense of human sexuality.
These were interpreted as code words for abortion, divorce and contraception.
Yet at the time his words of guidance were questioned by few.
As an apparent charismatic figure, Pope Benedict XVI never seemed to create that inspiring feeling in the modern Catholic society.
As his life and times are being dissected, various faults, comparisons and questions will be asked.
Has he made a difference?
How did he deal with scandal in the Catholic Church and why is he resigning?
However, taking a position for excusing Pope Benedict’s ineffectiveness throughout his eight years due to his incompatibility with the current thinkings of modern Catholics isn’t fair either.
It is well documented that ‘God’s Rottweiler’ was an unwavering conservative theologian before taking the papacy at the age of 78, and like most, old habits die hard.
But for those who have had their childhoods stolen at the hands of Catholic clergy and religions they will feel continued anger and possibly no feeling at all with the announcement of the resignation.
Rather than struggling to deal with the flood of sexual abuse disclosures throughout his papacy head on, the Pontiff who previously referred to homosexuality as “more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil”, chose to become ‘Benedict the Benign’.
As a former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontiff earned the nickname ‘God’s Rottweiler’ for his pursuit of Catholic theologians and clergy seen to stray from orthodox teaching.
Yet when faced with an increasingly endemic problem in the clergy as a result of rules forbidding the right of the clergy to live normal lives while carrying out God’s work, Pope Benedict XVI held up his conservative views ignoring those of the clergy who not only strayed, but ignored orthodox teachings completely.
For want of a better word, ironically the Pope should have been more prepared for the scandals that have marred his term as leader of the church as he was appointed by Pope John Paul II to deal with clerical sex-abuse scandals when he was a Cardinal.
Having read thousands of pages of reports about clerical sex-abuse in the past, Pope Benedict could have set in place some sort of change, instead, he said he was ‘truly sorry’.
What will the Pope’s eight year term as head of the Roman Catholic Church be remembered for?
More than likely, his resignation.