The decision indeed shock the Catholic world but being the person he is, it must be made through prayer and for the good of the Church. Not that he has to abdicate, but by doing so it is more of the pragmatism in the Holy Father and he knows best his exact reason.
The Camerlengo is charge until a new Bishop of Rome is elected.
Since I’m an intellectual lutheran, and an admirer of Benedict’s intellectual integrity, I esteem it as a loss for all Christians, although I fully understand and respect the reasoning behind his decision: he is not in full mental nor physical vigor to be able to serve the church 100% according to his wishes. He spoke about retiring and write a book before being elected pope, so I hope that he will be able to write exactly that book now, if God wishes.
Great Post!!!I can’t imagine what the responsibility of the Office of Pope must feel like.
I would imagine it must be one of the most physically, emotionally and spiritually demanding jobs out there.
I admire him for his integrity to do what he feels is best for the Church and the world wide congregation of Catholics he leads.
It must have taken an enormous amount of personal courage - and I have nothing but admiration for people of integrity and courage.
To the extent this has upset some of my Catholic friends, I feel great empathy with them, and my heart goes out to them. I can understand the shock it must have been.
But I hope they can take heart in the fact the Pope is doing what he feels led to do in their best interest and the interest of the Church as a whole, and trust this is the right decision.
And in this, I hope they can take some measure of comfort.
Sarah x
He is a scholarly and prayerful man. His books are incredible, I read a number of them before and after his being named Pope in 2005. I know his recent book on the Infancy Narrative was shorter and some were wondering if it would be his last. I hope in his retirement he is able to finally focus on prayer and writing.
I love this post.I can’t imagine what the responsibility of the Office of Pope must feel like.
I would imagine it must be one of the most physically, emotionally and spiritually demanding jobs out there.
I admire him for his integrity to do what he feels is best for the Church and the world wide congregation of Catholics he leads.
It must have taken an enormous amount of personal courage - and I have nothing but admiration for people of integrity and courage.
To the extent this has upset some of my Catholic friends, I feel great empathy with them, and my heart goes out to them. I can understand the shock it must have been.
But I hope they can take heart in the fact the Pope is doing what he feels led to do in their best interest and the interest of the Church as a whole, and trust this is the right decision.
And in this, I hope they can take some measure of comfort.
Sarah x
There are some very magnimanous and hearts-warming posts about this subject and this is one of them. Thank you.I can’t imagine what the responsibility of the Office of Pope must feel like.
I would imagine it must be one of the most physically, emotionally and spiritually demanding jobs out there.
I admire him for his integrity to do what he feels is best for the Church and the world wide congregation of Catholics he leads.
It must have taken an enormous amount of personal courage - and I have nothing but admiration for people of integrity and courage.
To the extent this has upset some of my Catholic friends, I feel great empathy with them, and my heart goes out to them. I can understand the shock it must have been.
But I hope they can take heart in the fact the Pope is doing what he feels led to do in their best interest and the interest of the Church as a whole, and trust this is the right decision.
And in this, I hope they can take some measure of comfort.
Sarah x
You are not telling the truth. Please refrain from untrue and perjorative statements about our Holy Father. I am tempted to contrast the reaction of Muslims when specious claims are made about Mohamed. However we are supposed to be charitable on this board.
I have all three of the “Jesus of Nazareth” books. I haven’t read the Infancy Narrative yet. The first two are outstanding! I also have Mary; The Church at the Source by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Hans Urs Von Balthasar, and this book is excellent as well. So yes, a very scholarly and prayerful man indeed!
What a surprise. The BBC doesn’t “do” God, unless it wants something twee for radio 4, or to shout about the theatrics of a church service for some public event.
