Editing Pope Benedict XV (section)

== Legacy  ==
[[File:Pope Benedict XV statue.jpg|thumb|right|185px|Statue of Benedict XV in the courtyard of [[St. Esprit Cathedral, Istanbul|St. Esprit Cathedral]], Istanbul]]
[[File:Saint Peter's Basilica 2020 P07 Grotte vaticane Tomb of Benedictus XV.jpg|thumb|right|Tomb of Benedict XV in the grottoes of [[Saint Peter's Basilica]] in [[Vatican City]].]]
Benedict XV made valiant efforts towards the Catholic Church. In 2005, Pope [[Benedict XVI]] recognized the significance of his long-ago predecessor's commitment to peace by taking the same name upon his own rise to the pontificate. Benedict XV's humane approach to the world in 1914–1918 starkly contrasted with most of the monarchs and leaders of the time, with few notable exceptions.

[[Pope Pius XII]] showed high regard for Benedict XV, who had consecrated him a bishop on 13 May 1917, the very day of the first reported [[Vision (spirituality)|apparitions]] of [[Our Lady of Fatima]]. While Pius XII considered another Benedict, [[Benedict XIV]], in terms of his sanctity and scholarly contributions to be worthy as [[Doctor of the Church]],<ref>Pio XII, Discorsi, Roma 1939–1958, Vol. VIII, 419</ref> he thought that Benedict XV during his short pontificate was truly a man of God, who worked for peace.<ref>Discorsi, I 300</ref> He helped prisoners of war and many others who needed help in dire times, and was extremely generous to Russia.<ref>Discorsi, II 346</ref> He praised him as a Marian Pope who promoted the devotion to [[Our Lady of Lourdes]],<ref>Discorsi XIX, 877</ref> for his encyclicals ''[[Ad beatissimi Apostolorum]]'', ''[[Humani generis redemptionem]]'', ''[[Quod iam diu]]'', and ''Spiritus Paraclitus'', and for the codification of [[Canon Law]].<ref>Discorsi XIII, 133</ref>

Pope Benedict XVI showed his own admiration for Benedict XV following his election to the papacy on 19 April 2005. The election of a new Pope is often accompanied by conjecture over his choice of papal name; it is widely believed that a Pope chooses the name of a predecessor whose teachings and legacy he wishes to continue. Cardinal Ratzinger's choice of "Benedict" was seen as a signal that Benedict XV's views on humanitarian diplomacy and his stance against [[relativism]] and [[Modernism in the Catholic Church|modernism]] would be emulated during the reign of the new Pope. During his first [[Audience (meeting)|General Audience]] in [[St. Peter's Square]] on 27 April 2005, Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to Benedict XV when explaining his choice:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6444|title=To Reflect on the Name I Have Chosen|publisher=Catholic Culture|author=[[Pope Benedict XVI]]|date=27 April 2005|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

{{blockquote|"Filled with sentiments of awe and thanksgiving, I wish to speak of why I chose the name Benedict. Firstly, I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples."}}