Pope Benedict

Well, as I am sure you heard, Pope Benedict announced his resignation yesterday, and what a shock it was. I was just doing some homework in the library, and one of my friends came running in and told me that the Pope resigned.  And really, I did not know how to react at all.  I did know, however, I would not be retaining much more of the reading I would be doing.  The Pope resigning?  Has that ever happened before? What is going on?  But now that I have had a bit of time to consider the situation, I do have a few thoughts.  First off, I want to just say how much I love Pope Benedict and how grateful I am for his service to the Church.  He has been the only Pope I have seen in person and has been such a blessing for the Church.  Being elected the Pope after Blessed John Paul II, he had some enormous shoes to fill, especially for a man elected when he was 78.  But his willingness to submit to the will of the Lord should be a model for us.  He faithfully exercised his role as the Sucessor of Peter, giving all that he had to the Papacy.

In respect to the fact that he actually retired, I have to say that it is an incredibly humbling witness to his love for the Church.  Benedict, because he knew what the vocation of the Pope entailed, did not believe that he could fulfill its duties.  Now this can cause some controversy because some people say "Well is anybody really able to carry out the ministry of the Pope?"  And on his own power, no, but with the help of God, yes.  And Pope Benedict, through careful discernment, believes that this was the best time for him to step down from this office because he physically cannot handle the pressures of the Papacy anymore.  His love for the Church is so great that he realizes what a Pope needs to do, and how he is physically incapable to fulfilling that need.

And this is an interesting time emotionally for everyone, because there is no precedence for this at all.  When a Pope is done being Pope, it is usually because he is dead, so there is great mourning.  But Benedict isn't dead.  But there is still a  sense of mourning.  He is a good and holy man, so it is sad that he won't be leading our Church any more.  But there is also a great sense of excitement for the future of the Church.  This is a historical event, and the future of the Church depends on it.  So it is a very exciting time to be Catholic.      

Some of the thoughts going through my head include: "Wow, I saw him the day before he announced his retirement!"  "Wow, I am going to be in Rome for a Conclave!"  "The announcing of the new Pope will probably the most important historic event I ever witness in person."  "I can't believe I am here for this."

So ya, it is crazy being here, but what a time to be in Rome.  Please pray for Pope Benedict and his health, and especially for the College of Cardinals that the Holy Spirit may guide their discernment.

If you are interested in reading the text of his resignation address, here is a link for a copy in English http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.it/2013/02/b16-announces-resignation.html