Pope cites waning strength as reason for resignation | Catholic World Report
First pontiff to resign in almost 600 years
Vatican City, Feb 11, 2013 / 07:20 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Benedict XVI told a gathering of cardinals Feb. 11 that he no longer has the strength to carry out ministry and will resign on Feb. 28.
“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,” Pope Benedict said.
He made his remarks in Latin to a meeting of cardinals who were gathered to vote on whether or not to canonize three people.
The last pontiff to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who resigned in 1415.
At a quickly arranged Feb. 11 press conference, Father Federico Lombardi told the media that there is no sickness the Pope is suffering from that is behind this decision.
“It’s something that happens normally in people with advanced age,” the Vatican spokesman said.
Pope Benedict observed his lack of strength “over the past few months and courageously came to this decision,” the spokesman said.
He also stressed that Pope Benedict made the decision after carefully examining his conscience and the responsibilities of his office.
“This is an absolutely personal decision made with his conscience before God,” he remarked.
One member of the press commented on the contrast between Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II, who suffered with Parkinson’s disease until he passed away on April 2005.
Fr. Lombardi said Benedict XVI respects the decision of his predecessor and that with his suffering he offered a great testimony to the Church.
That Benedict XVI has taken this unusual step of resignation tells me much about the critical importance that he sees in the next papal election with respect to continuity, one of the great themes of his pontificate.
And given his statement I think also it stresses the importance of physical vigor that he understands at this time is necessary to carry on the task he has begun. His has been anything but a passive pontificate, despite his mild demeanor, and I sense he believes that the time is right to elect someone who will carry on where he has left off.
It is interesting as well that not only has he put the pieces in place for this election, he will be able to watch it unfold. That alone will perhaps help any who are lacking stiffness of spine among the cardinals, just knowing that Joseph Ratzinger is still there, observing the proceedings.
In setting a course of continuity it seems that Benedict XVI is also practicing continuity. May God richly bless him.
Posted by: LJ | Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 01:15 PM
Hard to know exactly what to make of this announcement. The rush to comment and praise seems awfully premature to me. Popes are not infallible, their every decisions not great, and the effort to discern God's will must be a challenge to them as well as us. Summations and interpretations -- are we so spin-inclined there can't just be a period of silence? Of course not.
Posted by: Joe | Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 10:49 AM