The timing of the Papal resignation

[blaskoman]

I was wondering why Pope Benedict could not wait til after Easter to resign. As Easter is the summit of our faith, his resignation could give mixed signals to non-catholics, eg., awake sentiments that the Pope does not hold Easter in high regard since his abdication occurs during one of the holiest times of the year. As a catholic. I even am perplexed by the timing of his decision.

 

[vames]

The Holy Week is a very demanding time for a pope. Just look at the 2012 calendar:
vatican.va/liturgical_year/holy-week/2012/index_en.htm

If he had the physical energy to do that again, he would have postponed the announcement. Don’t forget that he made the announcement on Feb 11, which is the World Day of the Sick. And various reports have talked about his rapidly diminishing physical strength. Ex.:

In October 2011, Pope Benedict began riding a mobile platform in liturgical processions. At the time, Father Lombardi said it was “solely to lighten the burden” of processions, although he acknowledged the pope had been experiencing the kind of joint pain normal for a man his age. Just a few months later, the pope began using a cane to walk, although it often looks like he is carrying it, not relying on it, for support. However, just in the past few months when celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope no longer walks all the way around the altar when using incense at the beginning of Mass; instead he raises the thurible only from the back of the altar. And at the end of a Mass Feb. 2, the pope lost his grip on his crosier; as it fell, Msgr. Guido Marini, the papal master of liturgical ceremonies, caught it.

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1300569.htm

Such incidents would attract all the attention to himself at Easter, so he didn’t want anyone to stare at him and talk about his health instead of concentrating on the Easter significance. The illness of Bl. John Paul II was well-known and people knew what to expect from a Parkinson’s sufferer; this time, Pope Benedict’s health would have been the object of all kind of speculations.

Besides, I guess he hopes that the time between his announcement and Easter is enough for the Conclave to select a new Pope. And having a new Pope to preside at the Holy Week celebrations will enrich the “Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus Papam” message.

 

[Skye_Ariel]

I was wondering why Pope Benedict could not wait til after Easter to resign. As Easter is the summit of our faith, his resignation could give mixed signals to non-catholics, eg., awake sentiments that the Pope does not hold Easter in high regard since his abdication occurs during one of the holiest times of the year. As a catholic. I even am perplexed by the timing of his decision.

Maybe he intended to stick it out till after Easter but his health took a sudden turn and he just couldn’t put it off any longer. Sometimes that happens. I wouldn’t read too much into the timing, too many variables to come to any conclusion about the timing.

 

[Regina_Love]

I trust the Pope to be led by The Holy Spirit to do the right thing at the right time. I think his timing is excellent. It is lent! All our hearts are turned to God as we fast, and pray as a huge family! Let’s be Thankful for the wonderful Pope we have had, and pray for God’s blessing on our new Popa!

 

[SonSearcher]

How awesome would it be if we had a new ridiculously Holy Pope by Easter? That would be a wonderful blessing.

And if we don’t have one by then we can truly experience God’s guidance. Remember Christ is the head of the Church, this would also show everyone that the Church is guided by God and that is a wonderful Lenten meditation.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

Cardinal Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI said he would do the job as long as the Lord gave him the strength.

And, now his strength is failing.

Last year he was visiting in South America and got up during the night, tripped over a piece of furniture and hit his head; lost some blood.

He is blind in one eye, partially deaf, has a pacemaker. And is losing weight to the extent that his tailor has to keep altering his vestments and garments.

His mind is fine, but the rest of him… not so much.

It’s a 24/7 job … no rest. Sunday is a “work day” for him; constant public appearances and talks about The Faith … catechesis. [And so are the other days.]

If you do a google search for " Benedict XVI catechesis " , you can see for yourself the unique aspects to his papacy.

For example:

annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/benedetto-xvi/catechesi.html

[Keep in mind that he basically is a writer … so his public work tends to be outside of his comfort zone. Bl. Pope John Paul II LOVED to travel.]

The work he has done as Pope has been grueling.

You can visit YouTube and watch the interviews he has granted with numerous radio and television hosts … he describes the housecleaning he has had to do, which must have been enormously stressful. Raymond Arroyo has described this situation in some detail; others as well, I am sure.

And there is still much work to be done and he doesn’t want to put the Church through the ordeal that it has experienced by the final illnesses of previous popes.

 

[aemcpa]

We will have a Pope in plenty of time for the new Pope to celebrate Palm Sunday and the rest of Holy Week.

 

[Megan7]

Cardinal Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI said he would do the job as long as the Lord gave him the strength.

And, now his strength is failing.

Last year he was visiting in South America and got up during the night, tripped over a piece of furniture and hit his head; lost some blood.

He is blind in one eye, partially deaf, has a pacemaker. And is losing weight to the extent that his tailor has to keep altering his vestments and garments.

His mind is fine, but the rest of him… not so much.

It’s a 24/7 job … no rest. Sunday is a “work day” for him; constant public appearances and talks about The Faith … catechesis. [And so are the other days.]

If you do a google search for " Benedict XVI catechesis " , you can see for yourself the unique aspects to his papacy.

For example:

annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/benedetto-xvi/catechesi.html

[Keep in mind that he basically is a writer … so his public work tends to be outside of his comfort zone. Bl. Pope John Paul II LOVED to travel.]

The work he has done as Pope has been grueling.

You can visit YouTube and watch the interviews he has granted with numerous radio and television hosts … he describes the housecleaning he has had to do, which must have been enormously stressful. Raymond Arroyo has described this situation in some detail; others as well, I am sure.

And there is still much work to be done and he doesn’t want to put the Church through the ordeal that it has experienced by the final illnesses of previous popes.

God bless.