Pope Benedict XVI: 2005-2013

Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in April, 2005. Now he's announced that he's resigning. Pretty soon we'll have another pope.

In one way, it's a very big deal.

On the other hand, the authority my Lord gave Peter has been handed on hundreds of times before. Popes come and go, the bark of Peter keeps sailing through time. Change is part of this creation, and that's another topic.

Predictably silly 'news' reporting has started. I don't know how much of European editorializing about "machinations and plots," "deadly centralism," and "a bygone age" will come across the Atlantic. ("Le Monde," as reported by BBC News) I've put brief excerpts from the news, about Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, at the end of this post.¹

The Catholic Church is old - ancient. We've been around for two millennia. I don't think the Church is an outmoded relic, though. But then, I'm one of those people who follow @Pontifex: Benedict XVI's Twitter account.

I think Fulton Sheen was right:

"There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church - which is, of course, quite a different thing."
(Bishop Fulton Sheen, Foreword to Radio Replies Vol. 1, page ix (1938), via Wikiquote)

Somewhat-related posts:

• Catholic Church
  • "A Pilgrimage, the Magisterium, Authority, and Mayonnaise"
    (November 20, 2011)
    Particularly
    • The Bible; the Magisterium; and Tradition
  • " 'Come Back When You're Sure' "
    (June 15, 2011)
    Particularly
    • Chain of Command
  • "We Won: Quite a While Ago"
    (January 13, 2011)
    Particularly
    • Wildly Improbable Survival
  • "The Roman Catholic Church isn't a Democracy"
    (February 19, 2009)
  • "The Catholic Church: Authoritarian, Which Isn't Necessarily a Bad Thing"
    (October 2, 2008)
• Authority
  • "Gratitude, Authority, and Duty"
    (December 2, 2012)
  • "Obedience, Yes: Blind Obedience, No"
    (March 12, 2012)
  • " 'Come Back When You're Sure' "
    (June 15, 2011)
    Particularly
    • Chain of Command
  • "Authority: My Wife's Right"
    (March 30, 2011)
  • "The Village, the Fence and the Sign"
    (December 5, 2010)
    A fable
• Me
  • "Reason, Evidence, and Searching for Truth"
    (February 3, 2013)
  • "Ulysses, Tennyson, and Me"
    (December 30, 2012)
  • "Being Catholic: By Choice"
    (March 18, 2012)
  • "I Accept Catholic Teachings: Or, Understanding Why I Believe What I Believe"
    (June 24, 2010)
  • "Being Counter-Cultural: I am Not Now, Nor Have I Ever Been, a Hippie"
    (January 12, 2010)

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¹ Benedict XVI in the news:

"The unexpected announcement that rang out in the Concistory Hall"
L'Osservatore Romano, via NEWS.VA (February 12, 2012) [it's 'tomorrow' now, in Europe]

"Dismay, surprise, amazement and emotion at the words of Benedict XVI who announced his decision to 'renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome'. These sentiments were etched on the faces of the cardinals, bishops and prelates - assembled for the Ordinary Public Concistory on Monday morning, 11 February, in the Concistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace - who heard the unexpected announcement in the Pope's own voice.

"Everyone's eyes met, a light murmur swelled in the hall and astonishment faded into sorrow. Yet, after the first few moments of confusion, the unanimous recognition that the Pope's act was a very lofty act of humility made headway among those present - who included the papal masters of ceremony, representatives of the postulations, choristers of the Sistine Chapel Choir, papal chair bearers and technicians.

"It was a decision that took everyone by surprise. As did the fact that the Pope - accompanied by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Prefect of the Papal Household, and Archbishop Guido Pozzo, the Pope's Almoner, Mons. Leonardo Sapienza, Regent of the Papal Household, and Alfred Xuereb of the Pope's Private Secretariat – chose to communicate it personally, when, at the end of the celebration of Midday Prayer and after the announcement that the three canonizations on the agenda of the Concistory would be held next 12 May, he read the Latin text of the Declaratio written in his own hand. Speaking in a firm, calm voice, while those present listened to him in an almost unreal silence, he explained the reasons for his decision, made 'with full freedom', and 'after having repeatedly examined my conscience before God'...."

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"Pope Benedict resigns: European media stunned"
BBC News (February 11, 2012)

"European media comments on the Pope's dramatic resignation draw attention to the huge challenges that have tested his papacy, but there is also some admiration for his bold, highly unusual decision to quit.

"Writing in France's centre-left Le Monde newspaper, Stephanie Le Bars says the end of Pope Benedict's papacy is overshadowed by 'machinations and plots'...."

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"Pope cites waning strength as reason for resignation"
David Uebbing, CNA/EWTN News (February 11, 2012)

"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...."