Benedict the Builder Pope Resigns His Office. His Work Will Continue in a Restored Church and a New Missionary Age

By Deacon Keith Fournier
2/12/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. 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. (Pope Benedict XVI)

Pope Benedict XVI

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - Pope Benedict XVI will resign his office on February 28, 2013. He will be 86 years old on April 16, 2013. Some early observers indicated his age would make him some sort of caretaker Pope. His pontificate has demonstrated the observers were wrong. He has been an indefatigable and tireless missionary of a Pope.

With the humility which has characterized his extraordinary papacy, the announcement was simple and straightforward. It was made to a consistory of his brothers in the episcopate, cardinals who had gathered in Rome where he will soon approve over 800 causes for canonization. He will become the first Pope since 1294 to resign his office in this way. Here is his complete statement:

*****
Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.

I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. 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.

For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI

****
I must confess - I was not surprised. I had been sensing, in that strange "baptized hunch" way - which is sometimes from the Holy Spirit and sometimes not - that he was not to be with us much longer. I watched closely for word on his declining health. Like many I have noted his frailty over the last year as he took to using assistance in his mobility. But nothing emerged. Then today came this honest and humble announcement from this Successor of Peter who so appropriately demonstrates that title "Servant of the Servants of God".

I vividly remember the day in 2005 when the announcement of his own election to the Petrine ministry was made. "Habemus Papem", "We Have a Pope!" the Cardinal announced. Pope Benedict XVI stepped forward onto the balcony overlooking St. Peters Square calling himself "a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord." The applause was uproarious. The joy filled not only that Square but the hearts of millions throughout the entire world who had prayed for this moment.

He continued ". that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers. In the joy of the risen Lord, trusting in his permanent help, we go forward." Then the questions began. All of them related to one singular question "Where will the Pope lead us?" Morning papers and television commentaries were besieged with alleged answers. They ranged from ecstatic commentary to morose complaint, depending, as if often the case, on the speaker or writers positions on the so called hot button issues that the dominant media culture seems to be obsessed about.

However, like his beloved predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, Benedict XVI was never so obsessed. In fact, he approached the world in an entirely different way. That way is the ever ancient but ever new way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as lived, loved, proclaimed and taught by the Catholic Church for two millennia. He, like John Paul, could not be fit into the tired labels that so many try to fit him into. He is simply a faithful Catholic Christian.

I was ...

1 | 2 | 3 Next Page

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 39 Comments

DLL
3 months ago
Lilian
Are you suggesting that because the Pope retiring for the good of the Church,in his opinion,that if Pope Benedict afterwards suffers a stroke,that the church should possibly euthanize him,because modern medicine keeps people alive too long? Is this the new age,politically correct,compassionate way of dealing with the elderly,who may suffer strokes,for instance so as to liquidate them so they are not a problem,as in this case,the old retired,ailing Pope might be to the church? Are you thinking that euthanasia should become accepted as the great new way of the church so it conforms to the times that we are living in today? I think not and the church also thinks not,so forget it. There is no teaching to back that thought in any form of Catholic teaching.
Lilian
3 months ago
Pope Benedict XVI has guided the Church for eight years and is going out of the spotlight. May God bless him. The Church needs to come up with ideas about how to deal with the issue he raised about "modern challenges" in respect of age and personal health problems. For example, Ariel Sharon, former Israeli prime minister suffered a stroke in 2006 and still alive. Should that happen to a Pope, how would the Church handle it? Modern medicine can people alive, but necessarily active.
Rob
3 months ago
I have complete trust that he did what he was divenly inspired to do. He completed what he needed to do.
Paul-Emile Leray
3 months ago
By "cultural utilitarian stew" I didn't mean the horsemeat scandal in Germany now taking place. Not only does it exist in theology/philosophy, now it is explicitly evident at the butcher shop! Now we see what happens when the packaging gets all mixed up. Right there, another lesson to be learned. Let the true theologians/philosophers under the umbrella of the Papacy label the packages in the world of theology/philosophy; NOT CULT-URE. Cult-ure and the passing winds of pop cult-ure and journalism, sensationalism, partisan politics, political ideologies messes things up. Keep the beef and the horses separated. The utilitarian cult-ural stew pot is starting to smell bad. Why not throw in some fish, fresh and salt water alike, some rice and spaghetti, what the heck mix in some vegetables too; brew it all up and then we wonder why cult-ure is sick? Marinate the whole thing with wine, beer, whiskey, vinegar, water, mix it all up and we end up with a cult-ural omelette of moral relativism and utilitarianism resembling the what? The horsemeat scandal! Blend it all together, throw in some cats, dogs, rats and mice, and let us see what happens? After all, isn't this what moral relativism is like? Yes. And to be sure to not offend anyone, add in every last bit of spice known to the human mind and let us see what comes out of the bakery shop. (something that will make you throw up!) The horsemeat scandal. Keep the cattle in the pastures and the horses on the track. Or, the cattle running aound the track with cowboys on top of them and the horses in the pastures. But don't mix and match everything. Why? You never know what will come out of the oven. It might have gone in as beef, to then come out as a horse tasting like chicken with nobody around the table knowing what to make of it. This is, in part, moral relativism. Utilitarianism, in part. A MESS. If it is a rabbit, it is too cute to eat; if it is a cow or bird, then take out the knives and forks and slice the living daylights out of it and if it is a turkey; stuff it. Which CULT in CULT-URE has it right? And on the ocean floor, the truth is still and silent. Deep. Unchanging. (why, because human nature and the human condition doesn't change) And God is God. Man is Man. Yes, there is a difference between God, man, and nature. Who are the masters of the universe? NONE. Economists? The weatherman is more trustworthy. CEOs? DUST. (in the future, as with everyone) Politicians? DUST. ASHES. As the mustard seed seemingly rests in proper soil and conditions, it grows and grows. And who invented the soil and mustard seed? And the sun and rain? Who has a patent, copyright, or jurisdiction over truth? The One. (not us) And The One was, is, will always be; Jesus Christ. As the politicians display their feathers on the stage show of parading peacocks, The One observes and listens. And if anyone wishes to make him laugh? Tell him your plans in great detail. (and then, observe how he writes straight with crooked lines often) A ship out at sea, not a train on tracks. Masters of the universe? Which nutbells dream up these fancy marketing promo slogans? Sophists. Fairy-Sees. And then? The humility of The Cross shrinks them to mustard seeds. (if they are fortunate) Going up, by going down, but first going down is necessary to then rise up to glory. Humility. Being humble. No, the masters of the universe are not on Wall Street. They are often NATURAL and UN-NATURAL DISASTERS on the planet! (one planet) Not the universe. Then, ashes. Dust. Humility goes a long way.
Paul-Emile Leray
Angev Emmanuel Sachia
3 months ago
May God give him a peaceful life till he meets Him to part no more
Harold Olsen
3 months ago
The Pope, one of our greatest, is stepping down due to health reasons. Why are they using the term "resigning?" It makes it sound as though he his stepping down because of some scandal or disgrace. It seems to me that the term "retiring" would be a more proper term. Many anti-Catholics are viewing his stepping down as a result of some of the scandals in the church in past years, most of which happened before Benedict became Pope. Even the brain dead media seems to be implying it.
Anna-Marija
3 months ago
@Joseph: Ditto! May the Lord help us!
Tom McGuire
3 months ago
May God continue to bless a great man, Benedict XVI. As a teacher, his clarity and depth of thought shines light on the way of the future. In Verbum Domini he wrote:

"As the Synod Fathers stated, the expression “word of God” is used analogically, and we should be aware of this. The faithful need to be better helped to grasp the different meanings of the expression, but also to understand its unitary sense. From the theological standpoint too, there is a need for further study of how the different meanings of this expression are interrelated, so that the unity of God’s plan and, within it, the centrality of the person of Christ, may shine forth more clearly."

He knew the centrality of our faith is not the natural law, an ethical system, or an ideology, but the person of Jesus Christ. He made clear human understanding of the mystery of God is always analogical. The work of the future is to grasp the DIFFERENT MEANINGS of the expression "word of God". He now passes on to another the leadership that will guide us in the further study. Deo Gratias.
Jeffrey Caperton
3 months ago
There will be those who will find only negative things to say about his decision, but I feel it was a good decision for the Church as well as him. The office of the Pope is very demanding and Benedict XVI's actions show that he loves the Church so much that he will acknowledge that advancing age and failing health may hinder his effectiveness in such a demanding position. He put the Church before his own ego.

But consider that while he will not be the Pope any longer, we will still have the benefit of one of the greatest modern Christian thinkers in our age. One can hardly open a theology textbook without seeing his name somewhere. I believe he has been exceptional in his capacity as the Pope, but I always felt he was more suited for the academic environment and I hope we will see more of his writing. I offer him fond prayers for his future endeavors.
Leah
3 months ago
I loved this pope. He was good for the Church and the faithful as well. I hope he wasn't being pressured because of his advanced age to resign. Alot of people are thinking he couldn't do as much or go as many places as a younger man can go. I believe there are way's even at his age he could have got his message out and his leadership enacted with the right kind of support. Now having said that, maybe deep within and with much reflection and guidance from the Holy Spirit, he really want's to resign. Maybe he didn't want to be Pope to begin with.

Prev12 3 4 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment