I was in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI three times, twice while he was pope and once before he was chosen to lead the Catholic Church.

In 1986, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger came to Manhattan to make a philosophical presentation at a Lutheran church. He was considered a controversial figure because he was the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican. The visit became more newsworthy because radical gay groups promised to demonstrate in protest of the Church’s stance against the practice of homosexuality.

I wanted to hear this famous cardinal who was not particularly known for making appearances in the U.S. So there I was, on the floor of the Lutheran church, standing next to Cardinal Ratzinger, helping to set up a group photo that also included Cardinal John J. O’Connor, Father John Neuhaus and then-Archbishop Francis Stafford.

True to form, the gay groups disrupted the speech by standing up and yelling out while the cardinal was speaking. N.Y.C. police had been alerted and quickly removed the demonstrators from the church.

My lasting impression of the talk was the gentleness and soft-spoken tone of the cardinal’s remarks, which by the way had nothing to do with homosexuality. It was hard to believe that this was the man so many feared as the Grand Inquisitor.

In 2008 when Benedict came to New York, I was privileged to have been one of a select number of photo-journalists chosen to be at Kennedy Airport to record the pope’s arrival. It was a low-key affair with only a small group of invited guests. My photos of that event were later included in a book commemorating the papal journey.

A few days later, I was back at Kennedy Airport for the much larger send-off that was co-sponsored by the Diocese of Brooklyn and the Knights of Columbus. Thousands of Catholics from the area were invited. Local choirs and bands performed. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio hosted the event and introduced the pope to all of our auxiliary bishops. Vice President Dick Chaney and his wife Lynn were on hand to offer the nation’s thanks to Benedict for his commitment to peace and justice.

When Benedict XVI was elected in 2005, no one knew what to expect from an already 78-year-old. He surprised us with his vigor and his gentleness. His writings of encyclicals and books were best sellers and introduced us to a man of love and deep faith. He was a teacher and a scholar. He preferred to remain quiet rather than running around the world waving to crowds. But he did what God asked him to do at a time when most of us are kicking back and relaxing.

I once was asked by a Catholic college president whom I would like to hear speak at the school. I said Cardinal Ratzinger. That remark drew a smirk and was ignored. I often wonder if there was any second guessing my suggestion.

We really did get to know Benedict XVI, and that’s why there was sadness last week as he said his goodbyes and retired to a life that he said would be hidden from the public view.

I take him literally. I expect we will see very little of the pope emeritus because he will not want to confuse the world about the presence of two popes. There is only one pope, and Benedict will be the first to remind us of that.

We thank him for allowing us to get to know him. We realize that all of us are better people for his eight years as our pope. We wish him the peace and serenity he has been seeking.