
Rachel M. Bulman reviews a new book by Robert Cardinal Sarah about the pope who greatly influenced the faith of many Catholics.
He Gave Us So Much: A Tribute to Benedict XVI
by Robert Cardinal Sarah
Ignatius Press
Shortly after I became Catholic, I discovered the papal documents written by Pope Benedict XVI. After reading Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), I continued on with other encyclicals and writings, growing in admiration for his heart and mind. I can’t think of a single work that didn’t cause me to pause in wonder, contemplation, and tears. After the passing of the pope emeritus, there was a certain vacancy left in my heart — but his thought echoes in the work of so many thinkers today including that of Robert Cardinal Sarah who wrote He Gave Us So Much: A Tribute to Benedict XVI.
The book explores Cardinal Sarah’s reflections on who Pope Benedict XVI was to the Church and dives into his fundamental works as well as more obscure writings. Not only does Sarah approach the reflections with generality speaking of sweeping images of the late pope, but he also speaks of him with great fraternal and filial admiration. Almost every reflection evolves from “this is how this work impacted the Church at large” to “this is how he impacted me personally,” and it is quite moving!
What's in this book?
The second part of the book, "Faces of the Pontificate," is my favorite section. Cardinal Sarah moves from talking about Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as his friend to his vocation as priest and confessor. He also compares Benedict's work, specifically his homilies, to that of St. Augustine:
I think that I can say that every one of the homilies that I heard him pronounce was a genuinely spiritual experience that left its impression on my soul.
In this section, the chapters on Benedict’s love for the African continent — for its people and for its culture — and Benedict’s view of the Church during the sexual abuse crisis are especially poignant.
Many blamed Benedict and his predecessor St. John Paul II for the crisis, and Cardinal Sarah masterfully unfolds Benedict’s approach to the crisis pinning it on a beautiful quote from Benedict himself:
How could pedophilia reach such proportions? In the final analysis, the reason lies in the absence of God.
Many write this off as a pithy and lofty remark but Sarah explains that this is nothing of the sort, that Benedict is not reducing the atrocities of the crisis but instead focusing on the fundamental reason for the atrocity — that “faith no longer determines man’s actions.” This chapter is worth a slow and prayerful read.
The next chapter, "The African Continent, Spiritual 'Lung' of Humanity," sheds light on Pope Benedict XVI’s visits to Africa. This opening stat is breathtaking:
In 1900, there were only two million Catholics in all of Africa. Today, they number 147,000,000 with an impressive crop of vocations to Christianity.
Cardinal Sarah, who himself is from the African country of Guinea, spends this chapter reflecting on the deep capacity of the Church in Africa to be a beacon of hope for the whole world.
The final section of the book, titled "The Grandeur of Man Is His Resemblance to God," expounds on many of Pope Benedict XVI’s major works. From books to encyclicals, this section is a master course in reading and understanding much of the late pope’s work. Much of my own reflection is spent contemplating the imago dei or the image of Christ in man, so the final chapter holds a special place of prominence when I think about this book. Sarah reflects on a speech that Pope Benedict gave at the International Conference of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers in 1996, discussing the grave horrors that overtake a society when man’s worth is no longer seen as innate but instead is reduced to utility and power. This part, addressed especially to those who suffer mentally, is quite beautiful:
[You are] images of Christ who should be honored, respected, helped to the utmost, certainly, but, above all, images of Christ who are bearers of an essential message about the truth of man, a message that we tend to forget too often: our value in the eyes of God does not depend upon intelligence, stability of character, or the health that enables us to engage in many actions of generosity. These elements could disappear at any moment. Our value in the eyes of God depends solely upon the choice we have taken to love as much as possible, to love as much as possible in truth.
Who would enjoy this book?
I highly recommend this book to everyone with any curiosity about the work of Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah. If you’ve ever wondered why so many love the late German Shepherd so deeply, Sarah answers that wonder with his own. It’s a fitting tribute and a beautiful introduction for those that may not have known his work when he was still with us. Because of how deeply his presence was felt in the Church and the world, Pope Benedict XVI will never leave our hearts and minds. This book aids in preserving that lasting legacy.
Ask for He Gave Us So Much at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Ignatius Press.
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Copyright 2024 Rachel M. Bulman
Images: (top) detail from book cover; (bottom) Canva
About the Author

Rachel M. Bulman
Rachel Bulman joined the Catholic Church in 2008. She is a wife, mother, writer, and speaker, but most of all, she is a child of God. She has a weakness for the Eucharist and really good ice cream, obviously not at the same time. Get to know more about Rachel at RachelBulman.com or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @rachelbulman.
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