Pope Benedict XVI Announces Resignation
UPDATE from Rorate Caeli:
from the Holy See spokesman Fr. Lombardi): Following his resignation, Pope Benedict XVI will spend some time in Castel Gandolfo to end all pending work. Following that, he will live the life of a monk in a cloister within the Vatican walls.
The following comes from the Vatican News Site:
“Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28th. Below please find his announcement.
Full text of Pope’s declaration
Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI”
This is an unprecedented move. Pope Benedict XVI is not the first, however, I don’t have time right now to do the research.
Let us pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI and his lawfully elected successor!
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What a witness to the Gospel message of humility! When I heard the news live on WJAR 10, Frank Coletta looked stunned. Watching the “Today Show” His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan was on and shared his surprise as well. In this age of instant gratification Benedict has given everyone a gift of love and blessing with his decision, for the good of the Church! God bless you Holy Father.
….still, makes me a little sad…
I am quite stunned by the anouncement and am truly saddened, but we must reflect on what Pope Benedict XVI has accomplished in nearly eight years, especially in promoting more solid liturgy and theology. We can only wish him well in his “retirement” and the relaxation and peace he deserves. He will still be “Pope” for me.
Only Pope Benedict XVI himself could know if he absolutely cannot do it anymore and we should respect his decision. By the way, it seems that Cardinal Marc Ouellet, formerly the archbishop of Quebec City, has the best odds of replacing the Pope and he is expected to be the continuity of Benedict XVI.
The next pontiff should have a strong commitment to social justice, and be prepared to make some big changes. The American church is in crisis. Time for change.
He was not only the head of the Catholic Church but also an intellectual with an extensive knowledge of a variety of subjects and above all one of the greatest defenders of the protection of the environment who spoke openly about the threats such as global warming and other challenges we’ll have to face in the years to come. I live in a city whose inhabitants care a lot about the environment, famous for projects like the so-called Greenest City 2020 Action Plan whose aim is to eliminate the negative impact that our actions often have on the environment and I have to say Pope Benedict was never afraid to raise his voice to oppose the disastrous results of such actions. I think politicians could be inspired by his beliefs and ideas in this particular area and that’s why he will definitely be missed by many here in Canada.