Shocking!!! Pope Benedict XVI

And the Sage Bows Out

It was indeed an emotional one for many faithfuls at the revelation by the Senior Pontiff of Rome. Pope Benedict XVI publicly announced his resignation from the office as the Bishop of Rome and Successor of St. Peter. He was anointed as the pope on the 25th of April 2005.

Several reactions had been on since the announcement of his resignation. Opinion polls are flying wild. But from a perspective, I believe it takes great faith and courage to come out and declare one's incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to him. His humility can never be overstated as he regularly contributes to ensuring world peace at all times.

The Catholic faithfuls have never experienced this in about 500 years! This is to say that it has to be a very tough decision for the pope himself to make. The fact remains that we are all human. Below are his exact broadcast on Vatican radio:

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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

Well, we can only wait and watch and trust God to uphold His church. 

Great day Folks!