Non-Catholic reactions to Pope Benedict's resignation.

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LisaA said:
Fellow classmate (Tiber Swim Team 2005) I am not surprised and frankly I am avoiding these sources for fear of losing my temper. As a convert I had NO IDEA of the animosity toward Catholicism at the time. It is truly stunning to me still but no longer a shocking. The Truth does make the Evil One very nervous!

Lisa
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I know what you mean, I was blindsided by anti catholic sentiment when I converted and started going on non catholic chat rooms. 😦
 
I like Pope Benedict’s books “Jesus Of Nazareth” etc.

I wish him and the Catholic Church well in this transition.

And I really hope they decide to elect a more progressive cardinal to the papacy.
 
BlueEyedLady said:
I heard about it when I logged on to Facebook this morning. I didn’t (and still don’t) have any feelings about it one way or another.

I’m not trying to be rude or callous, but from the perspective of a non-Catholic the popeSorry has no bearing on my life, and as for the Catholics in my life I’m not too worried about them. They end up loving every pope, so I’m sure it will all work out.
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Sorry you feel this way
Hope you don’t have to find out the hard way just how much The Pope has on everyone.
You were not effected by the fall of Communism
Don’t under estimate the power of charity and truth
I too was an atheist. What a cokpllete waste
 
rbarcia said:
I really have no thought or opinion on the event itself. No significance to my life.

I find the quote interesting as he seems to be asking Mary to do more than intercede to Christ, but to actually assist in the selection. Much different than I hear people say her role is here in this forum. “We just ask her to pray for us like.”

From his resignation.

*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.

If the pope is leaving it to the care of the supreme pastor, why does Mary need to assist.
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What is wrong with asking the BVM? The Pope is asking her maternal solicitude…Mary works for her Son…and loves the Church…so why would it be wrong?

And besides, those in heaven…will they do something contrary to God’s will?
 
Augustus24 said:
I like Pope Benedict’s books “Jesus Of Nazareth” etc.

I wish him and the Catholic Church well in this transition.

And I really hope they decide to elect a more progressive cardinal to the papacy.
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That word is MEANINGLESS to the Holy Spirit.

:rolleyes::mad:
 
AbideWithMe said:
I’m saddened, but I can understand that at his age he needs a more restful lifestyle. My prayers are with the Catholic church.
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Thanks for your prayers. Just one thing that it is important to consider: Pope Benedict XVI is stepping down for the good of the Church, not for his own comfort. I agree that he deserves the rest but I don’t think that is what is motivating him. He doesn’t want the Church to be hampered by his lack of physical health.

God bless.
 
As a non catholic I can say that my reaction to the news was that it made me feel much respect for the man. It would have to be hard to let go of that kind of authoritative position, but he put others ahead of himself and that’s something to be proud of.
 
I’m sad and happy at the same time - I’m sad because Christianity is losing one of it’s great leaders in these troubled times. And I’m happy that the man who now occupies the office is inspired enough to know when he should step down - this is true wisdom.

Good, wise, and holy people like Pope Benedict XVI are a blessing to us all.

I know I will be praying for the Catholic church during this time of renewal, and paradoxically, I pray for another Pope that is so wise (like the current pope) that even I may pause a bit when I try to discount the claim of Papal Infallibility.
 
exnihilo said:
First off I have great sympathy for my brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church. For them the Pope is both the anchor and helmsman for their boat. Those are contrary analogies but both true I think. For my brothers and sisters they are not only experiencing the sorrow of a loss which accompanies any end of a papacy but also experiencing shock at resignation which is no doubt unusual.

I also feel sadness for Christendom. It seems to me that the Pope Benedict was a good Christian leader. In this time we seem to have a deficiency in good leadership. While so many churches are being led down a deadly path the Catholic Church has held steady to important moral truths. This may not be the result of one man, the Pope, but it is plainly true that he has been one of those who has helped maintained Truth in our day.

Since the Catholic Church does contain the largest number of Christians on the planet I pray for comfort for those in her who mourn and God’s guidance for those who select a new Bishop of Rome.
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Thank you for the beautifully written and meaningful response. Before I was Catholic, before I even THOUGHT about being Catholic, I remember my admiration for Blessed John Paull II for standing firm against Communisim and being a light shining in the darkness. I am happy to know that Pope Benedict XVI has also impacted your thoughts although you are not Catholic. Thank you again.

Lisa
 
I respect Benedict and will miss him. I pray to our Triune God to lead the church of Rome to pick a worthy successor. I pray a truly godly and orthodox succesor is chosen to sit in the chair of Peter. Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed by Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Hail Mary full of grace pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
 
That the Pope is retiring is to me a good thing… He likely needs a rest…🙂
 
Don’t count on the majority of carm people coming here. They don’t like the suggestion of courtesy.
 
YKohen said:
I have a question, and mean no disrespect. In his resignation, the Pope wrote:
…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…
What of Papal infallibility?

Or does that only apply to doctrinal issues?

Thanks.
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The Pope is only infallible when he is speaking ’ Ex Cathedra’ and that happens on extremely rare ocassions.

The Pope is a man and a sinner like the rest of us, and like the rest of us he has his faults and can make mistakes. His asking pardon for his defects is a sign of his humility.

From Pope Benedict’s own lips “The Pope is not an oracle; he is infallible in very rare situations, as we know”.

A very good Pope who continued the work of his predecessor, let’s hope the man who follows him continues his good work in the same fashion.
 
👍

The Church should not adapt itself to reflect the increasingly liberal, secular values that have become more and more prevalent in society today. The Church is a rock that stands firm for what is true, it doesn’t adapt to fit in with the cancer of moral relativism that infects society today.
 
More thoughts/questions:
  1. It seems to be a very humble thing to do, to give up the highest office within the Catholic Church. If so, should BPJPII be considered as one lacking humility while having many other wonderful qualities?
  2. Since it’s considered the Holy Spirit that guides the cardinals who elect a Pope, is a Pope resigning a rejection of the Holy Spirit? A rejection of God’s Will?
 
ComeHome2Rome said:
More thoughts/questions:
  1. It seems to be a very humble thing to do, to give up the highest office within the Catholic Church. If so, should BPJPII be considered as one lacking humility while having many other wonderful qualities?
  2. Since it’s considered the Holy Spirit that guides the cardinals who elect a Pope, is a Pope resigning a rejection of the Holy Spirit? A rejection of God’s Will?
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Of course there is that contrast but realize we are projecting OUR opinion regarding the way that Blessed John Paul II responded to his dminishing health. His manner of suffering and death was also a model of humility, just a different expression.

As to question two, again we presume that the Holy Spirit is not behind the Pope’s decision. I believe it is. He spoke of the process of examining conscious leading to the resignation. The Holy Spirit is at work even if we do not always recognize His presence.

Lisa
 
LisaA said:
Of course there is that contrast but realize we are projecting OUR opinion regarding the way that Blessed John Paul II responded to his dminishing health. His manner of suffering and death was also a model of humility, just a different expression.

As to question two, again we presume that the Holy Spirit is not behind the Pope’s decision. I believe it is. He spoke of the process of examining conscious leading to the resignation. The Holy Spirit is at work even if we do not always recognize His presence.

Lisa
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It’s all very thought provoking.

My grandma suffered & died the same way as BPJPII did, but she did not hold onto any office she previously held. Of course as a housewife and mother she never held anywhere near the level of the office of the Pope in her volunteer positions.

Your answer to two leads me to another question- why would the Holy Spirit have inspired the election of someone who was unable to do the job as PBXVI determined he was unable to do once he with the aid of the Holy Spirit discerned? I really don’t think God is like, “Hahaha I (Holy Spirit) am going to inspire others to give you a position that you can’t handle & then once your in the position I’m going to guide you to leave it rather than giving you the strength needed to do it Hahahaha” I don’t think He’s like that. The Bible says that we can do all things through God Who strengthens us.

This will be a mystery to me.
 
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