Monday, February 11, 2013

The Abdication of the Holy Father



The Holy Father
took everybody by surprise when he announced his abdication today:

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.

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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousMonday, February 11, 2013

    Father I'm not sure how to take this, my heart broke at this news. So sad, Scott

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  2. KonstantinMonday, February 11, 2013

    Let's all pray even harder this Lent. And don't get caught up in the internet rumors, people are losing their heads again...

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  3. benedictMonday, February 11, 2013

    The Lord Bless thee and keep thee,
    The Lord make His face to shine upon thee,
    And be gracious unto thee,
    The Lord lift up His countenance afore thee,
    And give the peace.

    Farewell, Holy Father. You will be sadly missed by all faithful Catholics.

    Holy Mother Mary comfort him, St Benedict pray for him.

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  4. inkstainMonday, February 11, 2013

    How sad for the Holy Father.

    We have so much to be thankful for to him, in spite of seeming insurmountable obstacles.

    I will start my lenten rule today.

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  5. AnonymousMonday, February 11, 2013

    So very sad to hear this news. I look forward to Fr. Michael Mary's commentary soon.

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  6. KennethMonday, February 11, 2013

    Let nothing disturb thee,
    Nothing affright thee
    All things are passing;
    God never changeth;
    Patient endurance
    Attaineth to all things;
    Who God possesseth
    In nothing is wanting;
    Alone God sufficeth. - St. Teresa of Avila

    And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16,18

    God bless and keep Pope Benedict for his humility and graciousness. May the Fire of the Holy Spirit fill the hearts and minds of the Cardinals and that of our new Holy Father!
    Kenneth

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  7. Michelle ThereseTuesday, February 12, 2013

    Satan must be scared stiff: We'll have a new Pope on the Chair and a retired Pope dedicating the rest of his life to prayer.

    Looks like God is taking aim with a double-barreled shotgun!

    ReplyDelete