Pope Benedict XVI 'to resign'

[PazzoGrande]

How about Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Phils, 56, the 2nd youngest Cardinal in the Church? A theologian and known for his charismatic nature.

Seeing the accomplishments of JP II and Benedict XVI, the next pope has big shoes to fill in.

I think he would have been Papabile if the next Conclave weren’t so soon. He could be there for thirty years, which is a lot. Us Asians do live long.

Besides, frankly I think it’s better he stays with us Filipinos. The Philippines is going to have an economic upturn and it’s good that we have a Cardinal who’s that prominent.

Benedict XVI chose him knowing he’d be Archbishop of Manila for at least 20 years, and I think there was wisdom to that selection that would be a shame to squander.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I never expected this, what a shock.

 

[pollynova]

I think this seeing pope’s resigning instead of dying in office might become more common now. John Paul II set quite an example that a modern pope should be mobile. He needs to get out and visit the faithful where they live, not just preach in Rome. I think Benedict did a good job of carrying on that tradition, despite being much older than JPII was when he took office.

I doubt Benedict just woke up this morning and decided to just put in his 2 weeks notice. I’m sure a good deal of prayer, consulting with others, and more prayer went into the decision. I’ve decided I’m not going to be sad about today’s news, but instead I’ll wish our holy father a wonderful retirement.

 

[JackieMom]

I remember when Pope Benedict was elected, the media said they deliberately chose a Pope who was already elderly and less conventionally “likable” than JPii. They surmised that the conclave felt JPII had reigned so long that his personality had developed too much of a cult following, and people had come to think of him as THE Pope rather than as A Pope. Kind of how we’re not supposed to get too attached to or too hung up on our parish priest… I do not think Benedict was ever expected to stick around more than ten years. I wish him some peace and rest in his retirement. He deserves it.

 

[stormcloud]

I think that’s rather outdated. Arinze is no longer papabile – he can’t even vote anymore.

Sorry if this has already been asked. I’m still working my way through the thread trying to catch up. Why is Arinze no longer papabile?

 

[adv]

God’s will be done.

 

[irishpatrick]

I am guessing that the Holy Spirit was NOT surprised!

 

[jediliz]

this has to be a fake…there’s a world youth day this year! He had plans to visit the USA in 2014 or 2015 for a family conference i thought. This is also too suspicious…and you know the liberal religion haters, who especially hate that he refuses to change Catholic teaching…they would be celebrating in the streets…

 

[anp1215]

Incredibly shocked and saddened. My first concern is for his health though. Saturday night at Mass I prayed for the Pope and his intentions. Hard to believe I could be praying for a different Pope next month.

Pope Benedict is the Pope I converted under…I’ve always wished I could meet him and tell him that…I want to cry…I pray he has a long life to come here on earth if that’s God’s will.

 

[bpcatholic]

No matter who gets elected, he is protected from teaching error. Perhaps if a very liberal cardinal, who has made statements favouring same sex marriage and women’s ordination, is elected, how much greater faith will we have in God and his Church? I know I would.

 

[QuiteCatholic]

Heart Broken

 

[bpcatholic]

Incredibly shocked and saddened. My first concern is for his health though. Saturday night at Mass I prayed for the Pope and his intentions. Hard to believe I could be praying for a different Pope next month.

Pope Benedict is the Pope I converted under…I’ve always wished I could meet him and tell him that…I want to cry…I pray he has a long life to come here on earth if that’s God’s will.

Same here! I was received into the Church in 2008. I really wanted to meet hims as well.

 

[irishpatrick]

Catholics: trust in the Holy Spirit!

God is still in control–He knows exactly what He is doing.

 

[anp1215]

this has to be a fake…there’s a world youth day this year! He had plans to visit the USA in 2014 or 2015 for a family conference i thought. This is also too suspicious…and you know the liberal religion haters, who especially hate that he refuses to change Catholic teaching…they would be celebrating in the streets…

…The Vatican announced it. It’s not fake.

 

[pepipop]

I caught it when it first broke on BBC (I was incidentally watching the channel at that time), and I did watch the part you mentioned. As you said, the first few invited speakers seemed quite close to the Church, and the reporters did ask them about his handling of the sexual abuse crisis, but it was, as I said, either done in the context of his legacy or a long list of difficult problems he had to tackle as Pope. That’s a long shot from the reporters insisting that his resignation was about

the sexual abuse scandals.

They did infer it in the first few minutes - believe me, I heard it. The female presenter said the Pope had resigned, they did not know why and she said something along the lines of ‘the stress of the sex abuse scandals and his perceived mishandling of them’ had effected his health (or words to that effect). Needless to say, I think they were all cut on the hop by the news and couldn’t think of anything ‘coherent’ to say - needless to say, except that! Later their researchers must have gathered more information and fed them more lines to say! *

 

[CutlerB]

No matter who gets elected, he is protected from teaching error. Perhaps if a very liberal cardinal, who has made statements favouring same sex marriage and women’s ordination, is elected, how much greater faith will we have in God and his Church? I know I would.

Exactly. and who knows? Maybe it was God’s plan that Pope Benedict create so many new Cardinals who are considered conservative?

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

I’m in a state of shock and have already recited a couple of Rosaries already.

If this is a prelude to the end times…may God have mercy on us.

What? What in the world would make you say something like that???

 

[stormcloud]

this has to be a fake…there’s a world youth day this year! He had plans to visit the USA in 2014 or 2015 for a family conference i thought. This is also too suspicious…and you know the liberal religion haters, who especially hate that he refuses to change Catholic teaching…they would be celebrating in the streets…

His doctors had already told him no more transatlantic flights due to his health. Perhaps part of the timing is so that the next Pope will be able to attend World Youth Day considering how important it is to reach the youth especially in today’s world, and how much it means for World Youth Day for a Pope to attend.

 

[bly]

So sad… I love my German shepherd. He’s the only one I follow on Twitter.

 

[VivienneJ]

No matter who gets elected, he is protected from teaching error. Perhaps if a very liberal cardinal, who has made statements favouring same sex marriage and women’s ordination, is elected, how much greater faith will we have in God and his Church? I know I would.

That’s quite a thought…certainly would give those who say the Church should move with the times much to think about.

I was not even Catholic when Bl JPII died and well recalled how shocked and devastated I felt at his death. While the resignation of Pope Benedict is a shock, it it rather comforting to know that he is still in the world and perhaps we can look forward to another book or two from him.