The first Pope to leave office standing since 1415:
Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month in an unexpected development, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.
He became Pope in 2005 following John Paul II’s death.
Resignations from the papacy are not unknown, but this is the first in the modern era, which has been marked by pontiffs dying while in office.
Does anyone else remember Robert Ludlum’s The Road to Gandolfo? The Pope is kidnapped by a disgraced US Army general, hoping to collect $1 in ransom from each and every Catholic in the world. But the Pope decides he enjoys being away from the pressures and demands of Rome, and chooses to remain “hostage.” It was an uncharacteristically funny book from Ludlum, which is probably why he originally published it under a pseudonym.
I don’t mean to make light of Benedict’s retirement. I do hope he finds peace and enjoyment in whatever time he has left.
Pray and read.
The church needs to find the closest man to Pope Urban II they can to be his successor.
Thus ends the reign of the man who is most likely the last European pope ever. The next occupant of the throne of Peter, and, indeed, all future occupants, is likely to come from Latin America or Africa, since any growth in the CC comes from those places, and the CC in Europe has been dying for decades. A new era is about to arrive.
Eh, who knows? They were “supposed” to pick the first African pope the last time, too. Didn’t happen.
If there is someone that the media has declared the front runner…..he’s not gonna end up as Pope. Bank on it.
I say give a Filipino or Filipino-American a shot. They give back ($) as good as they get from the local diocese, and are fairly devout. If Wretchard is current on his confessions, why not he?
If I got to vote, it would be for Bishop Scicluna. (Alas, I lack Y chromosomes, so I’m disqualified right from the get-go)
What’s kind of interesting, what with the unsettled times around us, is that the (somewhat discredited) St Malachi prophecies don’t list anyone after the next pope (referred to as “The Second Peter” iirc). It’s probably a good time to carefully consider whether you’re one of the good guys, or not. I think we live in interesting times.
A difficult decision.
Let’s pray for him.
A man of great Faith and deep culture: his Encyclical letters are a treasury. I want to remember here the one titled “God is Love”.
OOps.
Apologies.
“a treasure”
Good on Benedict! He’s earned his rest. From my non-Christian (let alone Catholic) perspective, he was a distinguished leader, a serious intellectual and an admirable man. May his successor have similar qualities.
This was a very smart decision and very well timed. John Paul II made the papacy a very public office. I watch most papal appearances on EWTN and Benedict XVI has been increasingly frail. The rigorous schedule of Holy Week services are probably beyond him at this point. Benedict’s last act of public ministry will be Ash Wednesday services and his successor should be in place by Holy Week.
When he was elected in 2005 many people thought his papacy would be very short. He’s had almost eight years, which is more than most people expected.
He’s already older than John Paul II lived to be, but I wonder what reasons he has for choosing Lent to abdicate?
Possibly Alzheimer’s. I’m not a Catholic, but even I don’t want a senile pope.
He’s made a lot of enemies among the bad guys in the Vatican. I hear the weather in Kazakhstan is lovely this time of the year.
No question! The perfect replacement is Barrack Obama (PBUH)! And, no worries, he is so amazing that he can easily do both jobs at the same time. Yeah, that’s the answer.
Well, why not?!? BHO can walk on water, lower the seas, and heal the planet, can’t he; just ask the MSM!
Perhaps this had something to do with the surprise retirement.
http://wellaware1.com/artwork/large/pope.jpg