Pope Benedict XVI's Decision - An Orthodox Perspective

[ComeHome2Rome]

Probably I shouldn’t say this, and I hate the very thought of it, but what if he (or his doctor) has recognized early signs of oncoming dementia? If so, he would be doing the absolutely right thing, no matter what.

Wow! Never thought of it, but could be.

I also heard on Catholic Radio tonight that it’s rumored that the Pope has congestive heart-failure and could die at any moment and that it’s rumored that he had a pacemaker implanted 3 months ago and that these are only rumor because the Vatican doesn’t release this type of information to the public and they even said that the Vatican Never released that BPJPII had Parkinson’s, that’s just been rumor too based on his tremors.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

Now you’re just trying to upset me.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

Now you’re just trying to upset me.

 

[Limerickman]

To the OP for a very informative article.

What strikes me about the article is what high regard that Benedict is held in by our Eastern Orthodox brethren.

 

[pnewton]

Wow, really? Even though the thread is called “Pope Benedict XVI’s decision - an Orthodox perspective”, Orthodox are not welcome here, and are uneducated and unintelligent, and might as well be Muslims?.. Just my uneducated, unintelligent, quasi-Islamic opinion.

Your words, not mine. I said** nothing** like that. You may be very well educated and highly intelligent for all I know and only lack the ability to properly quote others. If you do not want to read compliments to the Holy Father, or if you take such complimenst personal, because they are not directed at you, then you should not read them. I know of no other answer to such an absurd speculation. It is so far out there I did not even catch some one was suggesting that it was Orthodox that split from the Church being referred to.

I just asked for this thread to be moved to Non-catholic forum so no one else gets confused.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

 

[Digitonomy]

I don’t think that it’s okay to criticize the previous Pope for NOT resigning in an effort to support the perfectly legal decision of Pope Benedict.

But that’s just me.

I haven’t seen such criticism in this thread, either in the remarks by Metropolitan Hilarion, or in the posts by members. To what do you refer?

What if he’s quitting to become Batman?

Who would be Robin?

 

[Margy1948]

What if he’s quiting to become Orthodox? I highly doubt it, but what-if?

Orthodox what?
The first thing that came to my mind was Greek Orthodox, unless there’s a German Orthodox group that I don’t know about.
Come to think of it, maybe there’s a group known simply as ‘ORTHODOX’ that I’m also unaware of but usually there’s more.

 

[Margy1948]

I haven’t seen such criticism in this thread, either in the remarks by Metropolitan Hilarion, or in the posts by members. To what do you refer?Who would be Robin?

No, not at all here, I’m sorry if that’s what you thought I was implying, it’s in the articles I’ve read in various newspaper articles and on Google.
Writers go on and on about how sick the previous pope was …it’s just not nice because it seems a veiled criticism of him for not resigning and he seemed to me to be a nice, devout person who was trying to do the right thing as he saw it.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

Orthodox what?
The first thing that came to my mind was Greek Orthodox, unless there’s a German Orthodox group that I don’t know about.
Come to think of it, maybe there’s a group known simply as ‘ORTHODOX’ that I’m also unaware of but usually there’s more.

My question was purely a “what-if”. Orthodox Christian Church of which Greek Orthodox and Orthodox Christians in Germany are a part. I highly doubt that is why he’s quiting.

Since I posted that question I learned on the Catholic radio tonight that most likely the Pope has congestive heart-failure and had a pacemaker implanted within the last 3 months- he could die at any time so this is problem like Scott Hahn says a correlation to what King David did- passing the baton just before his death.

 

[RobbyS]

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

Thank you, Sir. God please that the next pope be as open to truth as Benedict.

 

[Anthony86]

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Issues Statement at the Announcement of the Retirement of Pope Benedict XVI

NEW YORK – Upon being informed on the way to his native island of Imvros of the imminent retirement of Pope Benedict from the Petrine Throne of Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew issued a formal declaration and personal statement to the media, responding with sadness to the news. His All-Holiness closely cooperated with the Pope during the tenure of Pope Benedict, issuing joint statements on contemporary problems facing humanity and realizing official exchange visits, but above all resuming in 2007 the conversations of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches (established in 1980 and interrupted in 2000). His Holiness Pope Benedict accepted a formal invitation from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit the Phanar in November, 2006, on the occasion of the Patronal Feast of the Church of Constantinople. He also invited the Ecumenical Patriarch to deliver the only address by an ecumenical leader during the official celebrations in St. Peter’s Square for the 50th Anniversary since the opening of the 2nd Vatican Council in October, 2012. Below is the text of the formal statement by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Statement
by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
At the Announcement of the Retirement
of Benedict XVI, Pope of Rome
(February 11, 2013)

*It is with regret that we have learned of the decision by His Holiness Pope Benedict to retire from his Throne, because with his wisdom and experience he could have provided much more to the Church and the world.

Pope Benedict leaves an indelible mark on the life and history of the Roman Catholic Church, sealed not only by his brief papacy, but also by his broad and longstanding contribution as a theologian and hierarch of his Church, as well as his universally acknowledged prestige.

His writings will long speak of his deep theological understanding, through his knowledge of the Fathers of the undivided Church, his familiarity with contemporary reality, and his keen interest in the problems of humankind.

We Orthodox will always honor him as a friend of our Church and a faithful servant of the sacred proposition for the union of all. Moreover, we shall rejoice upon learning of his sound health and the productivity of his theological work.

Personally, we remember with emotion his visit to the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate over six years ago, together with the numerous encounters and excellent cooperation, which we enjoyed throughout the duration of his primatial ministry.

From the Phanar, we pray that the Lord will manifest his worthy successor as the head of the sister Church of Rome, and that we may also continue with this successor on our common journey toward the unity of all unto the glory of God.*

goarch.org/news/epbartholomew-benedict-02112013

 

[Catherine_Grant]

Note from Moderator:

Since many threads can fit under a variety of forums (e.g., a thread about priests could legitimately be placed in Church News, Moral Theology, Apologetics, Non-Catholic Religions, Eastern Catholicism, Spirituality, or Liturgy & Sacraments, depending on the context), if a thread could legitimately be placed within a particular forum, it will remain in its original forum.

This thread will remain in the Eastern Catholicism forum. Please see the Eastern Catholicism Important Information sticky thread post #10 for an explanation.

All forum members are free to discuss, dialogue, question, disagree with each other, and debate the topic at hand in compliance with the forum rules.

May God Bless You Abundantly,
Catherine Grant

 

[GaryTaylor]

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Issues Statement at the Announcement of the Retirement of Pope Benedict XVI

NEW YORK – Upon being informed on the way to his native island of Imvros of the imminent retirement of Pope Benedict from the Petrine Throne of Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew issued a formal declaration and personal statement to the media, responding with sadness to the news. His All-Holiness closely cooperated with the Pope during the tenure of Pope Benedict, issuing joint statements on contemporary problems facing humanity and realizing official exchange visits, but above all resuming in 2007 the conversations of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches (established in 1980 and interrupted in 2000). His Holiness Pope Benedict accepted a formal invitation from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit the Phanar in November, 2006, on the occasion of the Patronal Feast of the Church of Constantinople. He also invited the Ecumenical Patriarch to deliver the only address by an ecumenical leader during the official celebrations in St. Peter’s Square for the 50th Anniversary since the opening of the 2nd Vatican Council in October, 2012. Below is the text of the formal statement by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Statement
by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
At the Announcement of the Retirement
of Benedict XVI, Pope of Rome
(February 11, 2013)

*It is with regret that we have learned of the decision by His Holiness Pope Benedict to retire from his Throne, because with his wisdom and experience he could have provided much more to the Church and the world.

Pope Benedict leaves an indelible mark on the life and history of the Roman Catholic Church, sealed not only by his brief papacy, but also by his broad and longstanding contribution as a theologian and hierarch of his Church, as well as his universally acknowledged prestige.

His writings will long speak of his deep theological understanding, through his knowledge of the Fathers of the undivided Church, his familiarity with contemporary reality, and his keen interest in the problems of humankind.

We Orthodox will always honor him as a friend of our Church and a faithful servant of the sacred proposition for the union of all. Moreover, we shall rejoice upon learning of his sound health and the productivity of his theological work.

Personally, we remember with emotion his visit to the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate over six years ago, together with the numerous encounters and excellent cooperation, which we enjoyed throughout the duration of his primatial ministry.

From the Phanar, we pray that the Lord will manifest his worthy successor as the head of the sister Church of Rome, and that we may also continue with this successor on our common journey toward the unity of all unto the glory of God.*

goarch.org/news/epbartholomew-benedict-02112013

 

[Margy1948]

Note from Moderator:

Since many threads can fit under a variety of forums (e.g., a thread about priests could legitimately be placed in Church News, Moral Theology, Apologetics, Non-Catholic Religions, Eastern Catholicism, Spirituality, or Liturgy & Sacraments, depending on the context), if a thread could legitimately be placed within a particular forum, it will remain in its original forum.

This thread will remain in the Eastern Catholicism forum. Please see the Eastern Catholicism Important Information sticky thread post #10 for an explanation.

All forum members are free to discuss, dialogue, question, disagree with each other, and debate the topic at hand in compliance with the forum rules.

May God Bless You Abundantly,
Catherine Grant

I apologize if my posting in this thread was offensive, I found the title interesting.