Pope Benedict’s last scholastic was a Keralite priest. Fr Alex Thannippara CMI who is presently leading a retired life at St. John’s C.M.I.House in Mutholi, Pala, was one of the two men from Asia who were fortunate enough to start their research under Pope Benedict; Father Alex has the distinction of being the only person from India. He shares with Catholic news.in about his rare relationship with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. This is the interview with Fr. Alex Thannipara CMI conducted by Dr. G. Kadooparayil MCBS, Editor in Chief, Catholic news.in.
“After my M.A. degree in Sanskrit, I was teaching at Dharmaram College, Bangalore, when my authorities decided to send me to Germany for further studies. The congregation wanted me to study under the famous theologian Ratzinger, who was then teaching at the University of Regensburg, Germany.
On my behalf, Fr. Thomas Aikara cmi, then provincial superior, wrote to Father Ratzinger enquiring about the possibility of my proposed higher studies. Fr. Ratzinger wrote a very welcoming reply: “Students from all foreign countries are studying under me. But, no one from India. I am happy to have someone from India come to study. Welcome!’
Fallen in Love even before Meeting the Person
After receiving the cheerful reply, I wrote to him directly for the first time. Meantime Fr. Joseph Ratzinger has been appointed Archbishop of Munich, and a Cardinal in a few months. Hearing the news, I felt huge blue that I would not be able to pursue my study under his guidance. But soon he wrote to me:
‘Alexander, I have been appointed Archbishop of Munich. Don’t worry; I’m still an honorary professor at the university. So you can do research under me. Welcome to Germany!’
I have fallen in love even before I met him. So I went to Germany in the month of September 1978 as per his suggestion.
Cardinal Ratzinger had two assistant professors in the university at that time. One of them was Fr. Stephen. He was the first assistant. Another, a Lay professor was also there as an assistant. I met Fr. Stephen at first.
Fr. Stephen said:
“Cardinal Ratzinger has arranged a parish for you. You should celebrate Mass on Sundays, and the food and accommodation will be provided.”
I was happy. I settled at the parish that he had arranged for me.
The Story of an Unrepaid Debt
Already a month in Germany, I went to meet the cardinal in person. I had come to Germany having done only a basic course in the German language. So I was not very proficient in the language. Anyway, I met him. He received me with great warmth of love. I could communicate with him by combining German and English.
He enquired about the details of my travel and expenses for my study. I only had a monthly scholarship of 650 German Mark from the agency, Missio. The currency in Germany at the time was the Mark; the era of the euro was not yet started. I told him about my details and concerns. He listened to me with fatherly affection and compassion. Before leaving, he told me to give my bank details to his first assistant at the university. As he suggested, I gave all the required details to Fr. Stephen.
It happened to be a big surprise for me as I went to my bank to withdraw the scholarship money for the next month. The bank statement showed an unexpected inward remittance of 5000 German Mark to my bank account. On enquiry it was revealed that the amount was transferred from the account of the Archbishop of Munich. It was a real surprise for me. Then only I understood why I was asked to give the details of my bank account to Fr. Stephen.
I informed Fr. Stephen that, I have received so much money. Then Fr. Stephen’s reply was,
“Our Cardinal is like that.”
Such an amount was a great help and comfort to me during my studies. Financial worries related to studies have disappeared. That 5000 Mark still remains an outstanding debt.
He was always happy and proud of me. My research topic was ‘Sachidananda, Isvara, Avatara: Some Reflections on Indian Christian Theology’.
While listening to my topic, he expressed his astonishment as the subject was new to him too. But I was guided with great interest. He would often say, ‘I will study with you too’.
To Rome
While the research was being continued, Cardinal Ratzinger was named Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. So, he had to move to Rome. Then he told me:
“Alexander, I cannot continue guiding you in your research. It would be difficult for me to do that from Rome. So you can find another professor. I will help you.”
The situation saddened me a lot. But I could go to another eminent professor whom he suggested to me. Since that professor was not thorough enough on the subject, and he referred me to another professor at the University of Bonn.
When he heard that I was doing research under Cardinal Ratzinger, he said: ‘It’s a pleasure to have a student of Ratzinger.’ So I continued my studies under him.
How did Father Alexander become the Pope’s Last Student?
‘Pope Benedict XVI used to arrange a get-together of all those who had done research under him once a year. Around sixty people from different countries of the world have done research under Ratzinger. Only two of them are from Asia. One is a female theologian from Korea. The other one is me, the only person from India. I started my research under him, but when he moved to Rome it had to be completed under someone else.’
‘But the Pope accepted me as his last student and admitted me to that community of students. So I was qualified to attend the annual conference of those who did research under him.’
Annual Reunions
Cardinal Ratzinger used to arrange the reunion during his vacation in Rome in the month of August. Every year, it was convened as starting on Thursday afternoon in the last week of August and ending with Mass on Sunday morning. This conference was held at the retreat center in Regensburg. Fr. Stephen was always the leader. His disciples such as Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna and the Auxiliary Bishop of Hamburg attended the meeting every year.
The schedule for this conference was as follows, everyone would arrive on Thursday afternoon. We should have the evening prayer and dinner together. But he will not arrive on that day. The next day, we should have morning prayers and Holy Mass at 6.30 am with him. And we all together have breakfast. At 9.30 am the Theological Conference starts and which is presided over by Cardinal Ratzinger. The paper presentation is by any theologian who is proficient in any theological subject. The matter has to be decided at the previous year’s conference. We could suggest three subjects and three professors for the paper presentations. The Cardinal will moderate the session and he always said, ‘We should listen to other’s ideas too’.
While presenting the papers and discussions, he seemed to be sitting as if not listening to us. But astonishingly he would be very active in the discussions and he would be the one who codifies everything after the question and answer session. While he summarizes everything, he would include even the minute details of what has been said and we would unconsciously ask in our mind ‘Where did he get all this knowledge?’ Each meeting revealed his extraordinary skill to observe, intellectual excellence, and deep spirituality.
Benedict XVI was a priest and a teacher who knew and loved each one personally. At all our meetings we all had the opportunity to speak with him personally. A paper will be given on the first day itself in order to write down the names of those who wish to see him and how much time each needs. The Holy Father used to meet everyone personally on Friday or Saturday during his allotted free time.
A theological discussion is held on Friday. Saturday is the special day that will decide the next year’s topic for discussion and other things. On Sunday, the Mass and sermon will be presided over by him. Later, with breakfast, the four-day conference is concluded.
The conference was held every year from the last Thursday to Sunday in August in Regensburg, from the time he went to Rome in 1982 until he became Pope in 2005.
Conferences after the Papacy
None of us thought that these meetings would continue after he became Pope. He was elected Pope on 19 April 2005. In May, the Pope’s secretary intimated Fr. Stephen:
“The Holy Father wishes to continue your meeting. The month and the time are the same. But the location is different – this year’s meeting will be in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. There will be a little change in the days; this time, it will be on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
We were all surprised to hear this. None of us thought that even after becoming Pope, he would come to theological discussions with his students. But the Holy Father was very actively involved in deciding the topic, listening to the presentation, and leading the discussion.
We also had the opportunity to meet him in person at this conference. But the time was less than two or three minutes. We received instructions from the Vatican to follow official protocol as the Holy Father was present at this conference. But he became our teacher when he came to us.
Even after he became Pope, his personal relationships with us did not diminish. In the meantime, I was appointed the Provincial of CMI. When we met the next year, the Pope asked: ‘You are still provincial, aren’t you?’
At the end of a conference held after he became Pope, it was Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn who gave thanks on our behalf. He said:
“We have never met a professor who loves students like you.”
In reply, the Holy Father said:
“I have never met students who love their professors as much as you do.”
How better can we interpret the Guru-Shishya (teacher-student) relationship?
After his Retirement in 2013
The Pope resigned on 28 February 2013. After that, he communicated to our leader, Fr. Stephen: ‘I will not come to any public event hereafter.’ He kept that firm decision in all respects. That was the specialty of that great personality and so he was absent from our meetings as well. Although he did not attend the conference, we were invited to attend Mass with him in a private chapel in the Vatican on the last Sunday of August in subsequent years. After the Mass, he was given two minutes to talk to each one individually. This was continued until his health deteriorated in 2018. Pope Benedict was a man who kept up personal relationships. He also implemented fully his decision not to appear in public again. Every meeting with him gave us great spiritual and intellectual examples and the richness of his devotion to God.
An Intimate Relationship
‘In 2002 I was appointed the Procurator of our congregation and I had to reside in the Procura in Rome. During that time Cardinal Ratzinger was the head of the Congregation of Doctrine of Faith. He was happy when he came to know that I was in Rome. Once when I had a chance to meet him I asked him, ‘Your Eminence, could you please grant me permission to meet you every month?’
He agreed to my wish with a smile. He told to the secretary and allowed me to fix the time every month. For the three years, I was in Rome, I met and talked to him for half an hour every month. It was a great spiritual relationship. And he was a spiritual father to me. He appeared to be very compassionate to me when I met him after the demise of my father and showed him the photographs of my father’s funeral.
Malayalee Conference in Rome
‘Marthomma Yogam’ is an association of priests and sisters belonging to the Syro-Malabar and Syro- Malankara Church in Rome. Its office bearers asked me to invite Pope Emeritus to their annual meeting. Earlier, the officials approached him through the personal secretary. He had replied that he would not attend the meeting. So I was reluctant to go and meet again for the same matter. He told me: “Alexander, it is an incident where the secretary said ‘no’ earlier. Besides, one more lecture at this age, shouldn’t I prepare?”
I replied: “Holy Father, no need of preparing a lecture. Just come and answer the questions they ask.”
“Do you want me to come?” Holy Father asked again.
I said, “Yes, Holy Father.”
“Are you sure you don’t want the lecture?”
“No,” I said firmly.
“Then tell the secretary,” he replied.
I said: “Holy Father if I tell the secretary, he may not agree. You will have to say him.”
Then he encouraged me.
“Don’t be afraid, just say what I said.”
I approached the secretary and politely mentioned the matter. The secretary had only one question to ask.
“He would agree with all your wishes, right?”
I smiled.
Before that meeting, the questions to be asked to him were prepared and forwarded to the secretary.
The secretary telephoned me on the eve of the conference.
“Holy Father has asked you to sit with him on the stage at the meeting tomorrow. If any unfamiliar English word comes up during the discussion, he needs to get clarification in German.”
I agreed. I was proud and happy. We always spoke in German.
The conference was held in the main hall of the Oriental Institute in Rome. It was full with priests and nuns from Kerala.
During the session, he asked me only the German word for ‘Christ Event’.
Each of his answers was very clear. He gave the answers with great clarity and precision, even a priest asked a question not given earlier. Everyone was convinced that he was full of knowledge and wisdom.
I have had many opportunities for very close dealings with Pope Benedict XVI. During a personal conversation, once he said to me:
“Alexander, we priests and bishops are called to be witnesses to the truth. Let history judge me.”
His life was so brave. His sermons and books are filled with testimonies of truth.
When Guru Passes Away
Although he passed away at the age of 95, I am deeply saddened by the death of my dear professor and spiritual father. I am also sick now. I can’t even go over there and pay homage to him.
But I am proud to be his humble student and disciple. I thank God for giving me that spiritual opportunity to get a Guru at his best!
(The interview conducted by Dr. G. Kadooparayil MCBS with Fr. Alex Thannippara CMI)
Translated by: Sunisha V.F./ Fr. Cyriac Kottayarukil MCBS