IT SHOCKED ME to learn that a favorite pope of mine, Pope Benedict XVI, has announced his resignation effective 28 February 2013. Since I was a child I thought that the Office of the Pope, the Seat of the Ministry of Saint Peter, entails an election for life. That once elected a pope, a Cardinal is expected to die a pope. But that's the presumption of a child. After reading the translated transcript of the Pope's announcement of resignation, it became clear to me that a pope has not been made for the ministry, but the ministry, designed to guide the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ through time, must take precedence even in the personal choices of the pope.
Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign however does not flow from a personal desire to have a break from the demands of the ministry to which he was called eight years ago. His decision flows from an intimate discernment of the will of God for His Church today. And following that will of God means having to set an important precedence in the servanthood of a pope. That precedence is to put above all else the optimum care of the Church, which in the hands of an elderly and sickly shepherd may prove to be an uninspired undertaking. This courageous act of the Pope may put in place a rule that encourages the election of much younger Cardinals to the See of Saint Peter. And that positive change in succession policy is profoundly inspired.
I would miss Pope Benedict XVI's impressive courage in defining principles of faith that, although sometimes labelled as ultra-conservative, I believe a faithful definition of God's will on the issue at bar.
The establishment of an Ordinariate to facilitate the coming home of our Christian brothers and sisters who became unwitting victims of the unfortunate schism of Luther in the 16th century. The return to our fold of some of our lost former Anglican brothers and sisters made me feel upbeat on the Pope's unifying policies.
The accomplishments achieved in our dialogue with our Orthodox brothers and sisters also gave me an excitement on the prospect of seeing a unified Church the way it was before the unfortunate Great Schism in 1054.
Obviously some many works remained to be completed. And his decision would pave a way to the faster resolution of these worldwide issues by account alone on the potential youth of the "new" pope.
I would miss the orthodoxy of his theology and teachings. And that means that I hope, under the consent of the Holy Spirit, that the pope who will succeed him will be another conservative with the spirit and youth of any progressive theologians.
I would miss you, Pope Benedict XVI. Still I dream that in your newfound time to continue to exercise your prophetic call your teachings may continue to be made available to us Catholics far away from the Seat of Apostle Peter.
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