Rhys82192
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How sad! I pray for His Holiness! :'(
Pope Benedict XVI to Resign on February 28
Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28. Shortly after news surfaced, Vatican released Papal Declaration announcing Benedict XVI’s decision. Unusual as the announcement may seem, Papal resignations are actually nothing new. It is part of the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Easter Churches. The only condition is that the decision must be made freely and be manifested in a proper way. There are plenty of precedents too.
Pope Benedict IX was apparently the first Pope to resign his position; he did it for less than savoury reasons though – for financial gain (incidentally, he became Pope again after one of his successors resigned as well, and the other died). The last Pope to resign was Gregory XII. His reasons were rather more noble: he wanted to end the Western Schism – a point in history when there three claimants to the Papal Throne, namely Gregory XII (Roman Pope), Benedict XIII (Avignon Antipope), and John XXIII (Pisan Antipope).
Vatican Radio - Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation at end of month
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
Well, that was a very brave of him to admit he's getting older and can no longer carry out his duties as Pope.
Why are older Popes are elected anyway? Shouldn't there be a younger person considered for the job?
I hope his holiness is able to enjoy his retirement. It couldn't have been an easy decision. I wonder if he will be an advisor of sorts to the next Pontiff?
Well "younger" is a relative term when it comes to the Cardinals. I suspect they do not want someone who will reign for decades so electing someone of a certain age limits that possibility.
Well when his doctors advised against more travel ,and his brother says the Pope is having trouble just walking, clearly his physical health is not up to the task. Hopefully the Cardinals will elect someone more in tune with the 21st century although that is probably wishful thinking when it comes to the Vatican.
I wonder what becomes of an ex-Pope. Does he simply go back to live with his brother in Germany or does he retire to a monastery? Is he still a Prince of the Church or merely a retired priest?
We should all pray for the Holy Father in these moments! We should also thank the Lord for this wonderful Pontificate.
I never anticipated that the Holy Father would step down,it will be interesting to see who is elected the next spiritual leader of the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
Good. He was not a man whose vision for the church was something I found admirable. Perhaps now the church can find someone who is more focused on the great tradition of Catholic social justice and less concerned with the private acts of consenting adults,
I'd love to see a pope who recognizes that the church must adapt to survive and that correspondingly acts to make a more inclusive church.
Perhaps a non-European? Maybe someone from Latin America?
Good. He was not a man whose vision for the church was something I found admirable. Perhaps now the church can find someone who is more focused on the great tradition of Catholic social justice and less concerned with the private acts of consenting adults,
I'd love to see a pope who recognizes that the church must adapt to survive and that correspondingly acts to make a more inclusive church.
Perhaps it is time for an Italian cardinal. Do we have any information on possible candidates? Bookmakers hint that Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria may become the next Pontiff.That's what I was thinking,Latin America or Africa perhaps....my wild card is Ireland (highly unlikely) .
That's what I was thinking,Latin America or Africa perhaps....my wild card is Ireland (highly unlikely) .
Actually, Benedict XVI focused a lot on social justice and on ecology. He spoke a lot of criticism against the (ultra-)liberalism and the consumer society, against the destruction of environment. The medias would rather speak about sexuality than about all the speeches he made about Catholic social justice, which are very many.
I can see someone from Latin America but the African church seems to be on the extreme right. Amongst the Europeans I rather like the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna who seems quite moderate but not sure of his age.