Pope Benedict XVI is the next Pope after Pope John Paul II. At first I called him Pope Ratzinger, a strong and scary name for me. Although I wanted to see PJP II during my first World Youth Day celebration as a a pilgrim, it was nice to experience how the new Pope was during that time. With full of hope, we were able to see and feel PB XVI’s love for the youth and for the whole Church. It was a great feeling that he was also as encouraging and inspiring as the late PJP II.
Yesterday, as I was browsing my facebook feed, I saw a shocking-sad-breaking news! Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation from his post effective February 28, 2013. It was really a shock for me as I never thought a Pope can resign! Should he also tender a 30-day notice? It seems like being a Pope a “job” like we also experience day by day. I was in-fact reacting negatively then realized that I should read more about his resignation.
From the World Youth Day facebook page, here’s the 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
Reading his declaration made me understand better his reason of leaving his post. Admittedly, it’s a bit hard to accept what he just did but if it’s thru God’s divine will to be that way, so be it. Besides, he’s really old and he has a point that he can’t do his “responsibility” to the Church because of his age.
For now, Let’s all join together to pray for Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church and for our future Pope. God bless us all.
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