B
ByzCathCantor
Guest
An interesting commentary, and there are sure to be others:
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk comments on reports about Pope
Benedict XVI’s retirement
Print This Post
11.02.2013 · Inter-Christian relations, DECR Chairman
On February 11, 2013, the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s
department for external church relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of
Volokolamsk, made comments to ITAR-TASS news agency concerning that
coming reports about the retirement of the head of the Roman Catholic
Church, Pope Benedict XVI.
Reports about the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI have proved to be
unexpected even for his closest associates. Cardinal Sodano described
it as ‘a thunder out of a clear sky’. Really, there have been no
precedents of this kind in the modern history of the Roman Catholic
Church. Pope John Paul II remained in office to the end despite his
serious health problems.
Meanwhile, the office of the Roman Pontiff, just as that of any head
of a Church, presupposes active work. It is not a ceremonial office.
If one’s age and health prove to be an obstacle for effective work,
the head of a Church may decide to retire. In recent years, the
Catholic Church has come to face very serious challenges which require
new incentives to come from the See of Rome. Perhaps, precisely this
has made the pope to give way to a younger and more dynamic prelate to
be elected by the conclave of cardinals. The Pope Benedict XVI’s
decision to leave his office in the present situation may be seen as
an act of personal courage and humbleness.
We are grateful to Pope Benedict XVI for his understanding of the
problems which impede the full normalization of Orthodox-Catholic
relations, especially in such regions as western Ukraine. Only
yesterday I spoke about Pope Benedict XVI in my talk on Russia-24 TV
network with the new Russian ambassador to the Holy See, A. A.
Avdeyev. I pointed out that relations between the Russian Orthodox
Church and the Roman Catholic Church have acquired positive dynamic
after his ascension to the See of Rome. He enjoys great respect in the
Christian world. He is a prominent theologian, who is well versed in
the tradition of the Orthodox Church while having the sensitivity that
makes it possible for him to build relations with Orthodox Church on
due level.
My personal meetings and talks with Pope Benedict XVI remain memorable
for me. There have been three meetings since I was appointed chairman
of the DECR. In my talks with the pontiff I was always amazed by his
calm and thoughtful reaction, his sensitivity to issues we raised, his
desire to solve together the problems arising in our relations.
Specifically, I set forth in detail to the pope my vision of the
problems we have encountered in pan-Orthodox – Catholic dialogue (I
made a report about these problems to the recent Bishops’ Council, and
it made appropriate decisions). My attitude to the progress of this
dialogue is very critical, which I frankly stated to the pope and he
always showed understanding.
Even before his ascension to the See of Rome, Cardinal Ratzinger
declared war on ‘the dictatorship of relativism’ so typical for the
Western society today. It immediately made him unpopular in the eyes
of secular politicians and journalists. Pope Benedict XVI is not a
media star. He is a man of the Church. In the mass media, he is
continuously criticized for traditionalism and conservatism, but
precisely these merits of his are of credit for millions of
Christians, both Catholic and non-Catholic, those who seek to preserve
traditional Christian spiritual and moral values.
It remains only to hope that his successor will continue walking along
the same path and that Orthodox-Catholic relations will continue
developing progressively for the common good of the whole Christendom.
DECR Communication Service
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk comments on reports about Pope
Benedict XVI’s retirement
Print This Post
11.02.2013 · Inter-Christian relations, DECR Chairman
On February 11, 2013, the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s
department for external church relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of
Volokolamsk, made comments to ITAR-TASS news agency concerning that
coming reports about the retirement of the head of the Roman Catholic
Church, Pope Benedict XVI.
Reports about the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI have proved to be
unexpected even for his closest associates. Cardinal Sodano described
it as ‘a thunder out of a clear sky’. Really, there have been no
precedents of this kind in the modern history of the Roman Catholic
Church. Pope John Paul II remained in office to the end despite his
serious health problems.
Meanwhile, the office of the Roman Pontiff, just as that of any head
of a Church, presupposes active work. It is not a ceremonial office.
If one’s age and health prove to be an obstacle for effective work,
the head of a Church may decide to retire. In recent years, the
Catholic Church has come to face very serious challenges which require
new incentives to come from the See of Rome. Perhaps, precisely this
has made the pope to give way to a younger and more dynamic prelate to
be elected by the conclave of cardinals. The Pope Benedict XVI’s
decision to leave his office in the present situation may be seen as
an act of personal courage and humbleness.
We are grateful to Pope Benedict XVI for his understanding of the
problems which impede the full normalization of Orthodox-Catholic
relations, especially in such regions as western Ukraine. Only
yesterday I spoke about Pope Benedict XVI in my talk on Russia-24 TV
network with the new Russian ambassador to the Holy See, A. A.
Avdeyev. I pointed out that relations between the Russian Orthodox
Church and the Roman Catholic Church have acquired positive dynamic
after his ascension to the See of Rome. He enjoys great respect in the
Christian world. He is a prominent theologian, who is well versed in
the tradition of the Orthodox Church while having the sensitivity that
makes it possible for him to build relations with Orthodox Church on
due level.
My personal meetings and talks with Pope Benedict XVI remain memorable
for me. There have been three meetings since I was appointed chairman
of the DECR. In my talks with the pontiff I was always amazed by his
calm and thoughtful reaction, his sensitivity to issues we raised, his
desire to solve together the problems arising in our relations.
Specifically, I set forth in detail to the pope my vision of the
problems we have encountered in pan-Orthodox – Catholic dialogue (I
made a report about these problems to the recent Bishops’ Council, and
it made appropriate decisions). My attitude to the progress of this
dialogue is very critical, which I frankly stated to the pope and he
always showed understanding.
Even before his ascension to the See of Rome, Cardinal Ratzinger
declared war on ‘the dictatorship of relativism’ so typical for the
Western society today. It immediately made him unpopular in the eyes
of secular politicians and journalists. Pope Benedict XVI is not a
media star. He is a man of the Church. In the mass media, he is
continuously criticized for traditionalism and conservatism, but
precisely these merits of his are of credit for millions of
Christians, both Catholic and non-Catholic, those who seek to preserve
traditional Christian spiritual and moral values.
It remains only to hope that his successor will continue walking along
the same path and that Orthodox-Catholic relations will continue
developing progressively for the common good of the whole Christendom.
DECR Communication Service
I agree, Papa B16 will definitely be missed!
Why on Earth would he do that? I see no logic in changing rites. If you are talking about abandoning his faith altogether, that indeed is weird.
