Pope Benedict XVI to Resign?

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Cat said:
My father is expected to die in the next few days (cancer), and he’s 83. So frail and weak now. So I feel like I’m losing two fathers this month.
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I am so sorry for you Cat! I will be praying for you and your father!

K.
 
ksenja said:
I know Mustard.
It is just that I recently reverted and I am currently experiencing a lot of hate in my personal life because of my religion. It hurts me very deeply so I guess I am too sensitive about it. I pray for him and for the Church to go through these difficult times as quickly as possible and that it comes out even stronger. I know our Lord is with his beloved bride- always.
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I know exactly how you feel, ksenja - as it happens, I’ve recently come back to the Church myself.
 
Cat said:
I don’t think it will cause scandal. There’s no disgrace or scandal in being realistic about the limitations of the human body, but rather, I think many people will admire Pope Benedict XVI for his willingness to step aside to allow a younger, stronger man to assume the responsibilities.

I think many decent people understand that it is difficult for someone who is 85 years old to continue to do a full day’s work, and the Holy Father doesn’t just work 8 hours a day, but 24/7. He’s never really “off work,” since he bears the responsibility of shepherding the Christians of the world.

My father is expected to die in the next few days (cancer), and he’s 83. So frail and weak now. So I feel like I’m losing two fathers this month.
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Cat, I am so sorry that your father is so ill. Can you pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at his bedside. It is so powerful.

I am very sad that our Holy Father is stepping down. At the same time, I hope that he has many years to rest, read, maybe write some more. Knowing how bad I feel some days (and he has more than 15 yrs on me), I marvel that he has been able to carry on this long. I know he will be thankful to be out of the public eye and have time for just he and our God.
 
Mustard said:
I know exactly how you feel, ksenja - as it happens, I’ve recently come back to the Church myself.
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Well don’t you go resigning too now, Mustard , because with a sense of humour like this (highlights mine) -
Mustard said:
ksenja,

Yes, no doubt worse is to come, but Benedict has seen it coming and has had the courage to accept it. We’re Catholics; if the world doesn’t hate us, we’re doing it wrong.
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(lol) . . . someone just might appoint you “morale officer” when we have to* dig in* in the trenches.

🙂
 
I cried when I heard the news this morning. I figured that this was confirmation of the rumours I had been hearing about his failing health. He just cannot do it anymore and is making the decision that is in the best interest of the Church.
 
floresco said:
I cried when I heard the news this morning. I figured that this was confirmation of the rumours I had been hearing about his failing health. He just cannot do it anymore and is making the decision that is in the best interest of the Church.
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I haven’t heard these rumors, so this is coming out of left field for me.

Eighty five (85) is ten years past retirement age for priests, and twenty years past retirement age for everyone else. Health issues or not, he’s earned his right to retire/step down.
 
Now is not the time to be afriad. The promise of our Lord is still with us. Instead let’s pray for the Holy Father, his successor, the cardinals, and the whole Church. Let’s see this with a heart of gratitude and love. Let’s be thankful for the love and the self-giving our beloved Holy Father has shown us. Let’s give thanks for his faithfulness.
 
Aside from the shock…I had two thoughts:
  1. coming here immediately (the one place I KNEW I’d find fellow Catholics
  2. my second thought, the prophecies of St. Malachy. I believed the news report to be valid but am in shock.
In the prophecies of Pope St. Malachy, there is only one Pope to follow Pope Benedict. “Petrus Romanus” - Peter, the Roman. Aside from the language / and St. Malachy’s interpretations, what does that mean to us all?

We are in a world of turmoil and ignored sins - and perhaps, near the “end” - but I am significantly frightened about this report, even though I know that, if the Pope had died this morning instead of resigned, we’d be in the same place. The shock is, of course, the resignation, which is unheard of in our lifetime but I DID believe it to be a sound reason, IF he feels unable to physically/mentally continue. Yet, as I typed this, I re-thought my position. Popes have gone to their deathbeds in Papal Office - unable to make decisions by then. If that’s the case, then, what is going on?

Just reported - that this resignation allowance (for want of better words) - was instituted in 1917…Does that year hit a cord for anyone?

The fear and tears, for this poor Catholic, is personal. God bless and help Pope Benedict.
God bless and guide the upcoming Pope. God help us all.
 
ConservativeOne said:
Aside from the shock…I had two thoughts:
  1. coming here immediately (the one place I KNEW I’d find fellow Catholics
  2. my second thought, the prophecies of St. Malachy. I believed the news report to be valid but am in shock.
In the prophecies of Pope St. Malachy, there is only one Pope to follow Pope Benedict. “Petrus Romanus” - Peter, the Roman. Aside from the language / and St. Malachy’s interpretations, what does that mean to us all?

We are in a world of turmoil and ignored sins - and perhaps, near the “end” - but I am significantly frightened about this report, even though I know that, if the Pope had died this morning instead of resigned, we’d be in the same place. The shock is, of course, the resignation, which is unheard of in our lifetime but I DID believe it to be a sound reason, IF he feels unable to physically/mentally continue. Yet, as I typed this, I re-thought my position. Popes have gone to their deathbeds in Papal Office - unable to make decisions by then. If that’s the case, then, what is going on?

Just reported - that this resignation allowance (for want of better words) - was instituted in 1917…Does that year hit a cord for anyone?

The fear and tears, for this poor Catholic, is personal. God bless and help Pope Benedict.
God bless and guide the upcoming Pope. God help us all.
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I think the St. Malachy prophesies have been shown to be a hoax.
 
Cat said:
I don’t think it will cause scandal. There’s no disgrace or scandal in being realistic about the limitations of the human body, but rather, I think many people will admire Pope Benedict XVI for his willingness to step aside to allow a younger, stronger man to assume the responsibilities.

I think many decent people understand that it is difficult for someone who is 85 years old to continue to do a full day’s work, and the Holy Father doesn’t just work 8 hours a day, but 24/7. He’s never really “off work,” since he bears the responsibility of shepherding the Christians of the world.

My father is expected to die in the next few days (cancer), and he’s 83. So frail and weak now. So I feel like I’m losing two fathers this month.
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My thoughts and prayers are with you, your father and your entire family.
 
I’m saddened but not shocked. Benedict truly has the Holy Spirit in him. To make such a monumental decision for the good of the Church shows a truly selfless leader.

Let’s hope the Church continues to elect strong leaders who are not swayed by the whims of liberal society and continue to preach the timeless Truth of Jesus.
 
ConservativeOne said:
In the prophecies of Pope St. Malachy, there is only one Pope to follow Pope Benedict. “Petrus Romanus” - Peter, the Roman. Aside from the language / and St. Malachy’s interpretations, what does that mean to us all?
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Give this no further thought: as Christ himself said, it is not for us to know the day or the hour. The Church does not approve of divining, even when associated with a saint.
 
floresco said:
I cried when I heard the news this morning. I figured that this was confirmation of the rumours I had been hearing about his failing health. He just cannot do it anymore and is making the decision that is in the best interest of the Church.
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This is probably most accurate. He cited his failing health.

***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. ***

The entire statement is here.

-Tim-
 
I am saddened for all of us who love him and pray for him. But what a display of humility and unselfishness! He cares more for the Church and knows this is a time that demands more than he has to give from a physical standpoint.

Prayers for him and for his successor.

Lisa
 
Wow…just wow…I don’t even know what to say. I’m sad and excited at the same time.

Sad because I think Pope Benedict is probably the greatest theologian on Earth and an amazing Pope, but excited to see what the Holy Spirit has in store for us next.
 
LisaA said:
I am saddened for all of us who love him and pray for him. But what a display of humility and unselfishness! He cares more for the Church and knows this is a time that demands more than he has to give from a physical standpoint.

Prayers for him and for his successor.

Lisa
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👍
 
I think we have to remember that, for many years, we watched PP. JPII’s health fail him, and saw how this impaired his ability (though certainly not entirely) to be a forceful advocate for the church and for Christ. And that was after two decades on the throne of St. Peter. Benedict was seen, at the time of his election, as something of a “caretaker” Pope - something that may be reflected in his choice of regal name. Perhaps, in a period of relative calm, he views it as a good time to pass the job on to a more vigorous leader. Nothing shameful about it. A Pope’s job is to offer himself fully to the service of God and the Church…on or off the throne.

By the way, pet peeve: He IS a reigning leader from a throne. For that reason, this is most truly an abdication, rather than a resignation or retirement.

…and on a side note, perhaps this paves the way, by not being during a time of grief, for the restoration of the tiara.
 
I’m shocked and sad, too. I just came back to the church a couple of years ago and looked up to the Pope. His health must be a lot worse than he is letting on if he is stepping down. Poor man, I have been praying for him and will continue to do so.
 
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