Pope Benedict Resigning

[add]

(VATICAN CITY) — Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.

[Ash Wednesday]

This is not a joke. It broke on the BBC this morning, apparently the statement is that he is resigning due to his age.

 

"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...

 

"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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me."

 

Prayers for our pope and our Church.

[AnneLine]

I just saw this, add.... glad to know I am not hallucinating.

 

Praying for Pope Benedict, and asking the Holy Spirit to guide the conclave and the next Pope.  

[EmilyAnn]

:shock:

I really didn't believe it when I saw the news. But I trust that the Holy Father would not make such a decision lightly. I will definitely be keeping him in my prayers, and for the Holy Spirit to guide the conclave and his successor. 

[Nihil Obstat]

Oh my. This is very unexpected. I do not know what to make of this.

I am kind of in shock.

[BG45]

Pretty shocked.

 

http://en.radiovaticana.va/articolo.asp?c=663815

 

Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28th. Below please find his announcement.

Full text of Pope's declaration

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

 

[Ash Wednesday]

People are probably going to panic or throw out conspiracy theories because of a pope resigning but we are in unusual times. I'll trust his decision. The red shoes aren't easy ones to fill, let alone when you are 85 years old.

[Nihil Obstat]

I wonder if they will remove Mahony from the College of Cardinals before the Conclave........ :|

 

 

But seriously, this is an absolutely crucial moment. To find a new pope of Benedict's calibre is... well, it is a job for the Holy Ghost, because none of us could do it. God help us; this will be quite an interesting month.

[BG45]

People are probably going to panic or throw out conspiracy theories because of a pope resigning but we are in unusual times. I'll trust his decision. The red shoes aren't easy ones to fill, let alone when you are 85 years old.

 

I see you've not yet been on Facebook or Twitter. :|

[homeschoolmom]

:(

[beatitude]

I'm stunned.

[Ash Wednesday]

I see you've not yet been on Facebook or Twitter. :|

 

This is the part where I am going to avoid most social media. I deal with enough stupidity in daily life.

 

[BG45]

This is the part where I am going to avoid most social media. I deal with enough stupidity in daily life.

 

If I could prop this more times I would.  I've already seen a dozen 'sex abuse' statuses about this.  One from a Jew saying it doesn't impact him, but he thinks the 18 hour days would get to anyone, and one from a Protestant friend who hopes the Church finds a leader with Benedict's moral backbone again.

[NonNovi]

I just heard on the radio :covereyes: :unsure: :cry:   And so soon! Just a few weeks left...

[homeschoolmom]

And in the middle of Lent?