Three years ago today, Pope Benedict XVI abdicated.
My posts from that sad, remarkable day, HERE.
For your interest and edification, Benedict’s Last Official Speech.
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Miss the German rational approach. I hope he will be named a Doctor of the Church someday.
Doubt, however, that there will ever be another German or South American pope. Most likely next one from Italy or France.
Also, just because I was in the right place at the right time, here is an almost verbatim presentation with the Pope’s former press secretary, with whom I spoke for several days at the time of this talk. The secretary spoke in broken English, which is why the article is like it is.
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2013/03/talk-by-ex-press-secretary-to-pope.html
It’s been a sad, confusing three years.
“Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.”
Pope Benedict XVI, Mass of Inauguration, April 25, 2005
Let the next Pope be African. Win the battle for souls on the fastest-growing continent and push back 1st world relativism and phenomenology.
Europe is no longer the heartland of the Faith.
Papa Benedict, when I first heard of your abdication I thought it was a sick joke.
When I realized it was real – I was angry and thought you abandoned us.
With time I came to realize you had worn yourself out in service to Our Lord and His Holy Church, and needed to rest until He calls you to your heavenly home.
You were telling us that you carried the load as long, and as far as you could – and that now it was our turn to pick up the Cross and help rebuild Christ’s Church.
Holy Father pray for us, as we pray for you.
Charles Taibi
Not a fan of applause during Mass. This was an exception:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3_J4wQIDEE
Benedict XVI gave his life to the Church and his resignation was one more act of selflessness. He knew it would be better for the Church if he stepped down. Would that more leaders would have that kind of wisdom and humility.
A great man and potentially a great Pope. I respect his long service to the Lord, but can’t help but wonder if his abdication paved the way for the slow-rolling disaster we are now experiencing, and to the extent that it is, then his long standing service must be capped off with FAILURE.
As multos annos to both Popes.
Ad*. Mobile phone auto-correct hates Latin. Must be a spirit of Vatican II programmer?
This explains a few things. From Rorate, via a book soon to be published.
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2016/02/pope-francis-served-traditional-latin.html
I understand why Benedict stepped down, but Lord have mercy on us for the state of His Bride since then =-
Seems like longer ago, and yet it’ll go down in history.
One of the most brilliant minds to “stand in the shoes of the fisherman”. Each action has an affect. The action his Holiness Benedict took three years ago, has certainly given us, “an affect”. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” The Good Shepherd LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE for the sheep. Our earthly shepherd, three years ago, abandoned his flock. That one action, almost, obscures the GREAT actions he undertook. Almost. Knowing what has happened in the past three years, would Pope Benedict still have taken the action, that he undertook then? A question for the Theologians and Church Historians. His Holiness will, most likely take the answer to that question, to eternity. “Perhaps Fr. Lombardi could, clarify”
Pope Benedict XVI is a true example of great and inspiring humility.
I, too, pray our next Pope is from Africa.
Or it will be Cardinal Burke.
Either would be fine with me.