11 - 20 of 39 Comments

1. abey

   3 months ago

   In his time as Pope Benedict, Ratzinger did keep & strengthen the Apostolic faith of the Catholic Church, to know the faith, that the gates of hell cannot prevail against this Church founded upon the Rock "Christ". As far as the St.Malachi in the powers of "Levitation & Clairvoyance" to the Prophecy regarding the Church, the Prophecy that many an enemies of the Church used to profess against it, is a different story for God works in mysterious ways which the enemies neither understand nor can contemplate

2. Obiesie Michael.C

   3 months ago

   I was shocked when the news came across me. I pray that the supreme God whom he serve will shower his precious mercy upon him. I pray that the third person of the trinity will equally guard the Cardinals in selecting a new Pope.

3. jh

   3 months ago

   A beautiful commentary and appreciation of Pope Benedict XVI, Deacon. Before knowing the reasons for his resignation, I thought: the Pope is humble, wise, close to Jesus. I knew that the decision was all right. I also thought of the Holy Spirit. May God bless our Holy Father. In his humility and the resplendent use of his gifts, I see God's work in him.

4. Kasoy

   3 months ago

   We need a new conservative pope who will continue Pope Benedict XVI's mission of New Evangelization to convert the world. Someone like Pope John Paul II who travelled widely to reignite the fervor among the youth and 'lukewarm' Catholics. May the Lord bless and guide the cardinal-electors. Let's all pray that the Lord may give them light to discern His will for the new pope's selection next month.

5. Paul-Emile Leray

   3 months ago

   To raphaelmarie:
   1. Mk 13.32
   2. Everyone has opinions, including politicians, as well as those in Italy.
   3. What so called prophets and visionaries may or may not have said, refer once again to Mk 13.32 and who said it.
   4. Pope Benedict XVI has more wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence, most importantly enlightenment, than the world's politicians combined. If he, in his discernment with God, made his decision then give the dear man a break. He likely accomplishes more by noon on Monday than most people half his age do of significance in a year, perhaps years, and in some cases an entire life-time.
   5. All these conspiracy theories and sky is falling tin hat club attitudes are getting very old and worn out. The Pope and Cardinals, his advisors, and so forth are brilliant. The journalists, politicians, opiners and emoters can bark all they want. Either way, noise will be made. And as they say in Spain, if you listen to all the dogs bark you can never make it to the grocery store to get your groceries. We say "thank you" and we drop the conspiracy spin doctored sensationalism. It is difficult enough getting objective journalism these days, without Catholics adding gasoline and firecrackers to the tin hat club emoter-opiner social BBQ bonfire association crisis seeking bingo-bonanza burger flipping volunteers unwittingly siding with pop cult-ure and politicians. Faith and reason, unified in objective reality that is truth, not the association of emoters/opiners sponsored by Sophists who end up using means resulting in ends that result in a catastrophic omelette of moral relativism and cultural utilitarian stew that risks seeing no difference between anything.
   Paul-Emile Leray

6. Joseph

   3 months ago

   A big mistake by the Pope. Sounds like he has had some sort of personal crisis, there is something flustered and hurried about this decision, something almost irrational. Certainly it is a powerfully negative symbol for the church. The Papacy symbolizes continuity, service in harness through to death, total submission to the papal mission, whatever the cost. Unfortunately, the implicit symbol provided by the Pope's resignation is one of defeatism, loss of commitment, a retreat from the field of battle. To put it bluntly, and it pains me to say it - no matter what spin so many people in the Church and outside are trying to put on it - the Pope comes across as a 'Quitter'. And that is the last thing the Church and the faithful need in these most trying and desperate of times.

7. Greg

   3 months ago

   @rafaelmarie - There is only one Seat of Peter. Our current Pope, in his humility, and after consulting with God, leaves it for someone who is going to take this Bark of Peter to a new, better, place. Our Pope is Peter, but in a sense of a function. The visible Head of Visible Church, the same as Christ is Invisible Head of Invisible Church. Please, do not fall into fallacy of jumping into conclusions and thinking that anyone with an extraordinary or ordinary name is a prophet. Stick to the Magisterium of the Church. You will never be lost, and the Truth will always be with you, as Christ is Always with His Bride, the Church. It is at the end a Catholic, insoluble marriage.

8. Teresa Hernandez

   3 months ago

   I thank God for our Pope Benedict XVI. He is truly a humble saint in our times. He has given his full service to God and to our Catholic Faith. He has been an instrument of peace to other religions and beliefs. Let us all get down on our knees before the Eucharistic Presence in the Blessed Sacrament and pray for him and for our Catholic faith. May we all learn from him and let us pray for him and his successor. God bless everyone.

9. rafaelmarie

   3 months ago

   "This is disconcerting, he is leaving his flock," said Alessandra Mussolini, a parliamentarian who is granddaughter of Italy's wartime dictator.
   
   "The pope is not any man. He is the vicar of Christ. He should stay on to the end, go ahead and bear his cross to the end. This is a huge sign of world destabilization that will weaken the Church."
   
   I agree with Ms. Mussolini. I think a Pope is a Pope forever. I also feel that any so-called pope elected while he is alive is an illegitimate one.
   
   Other Visionary/Prophets have said that the last pope will be the anti-pope, and will not be legitimately elected, maybe due to Benedict XVI still being alive.
   
   The have also said that this anti-pope will legitimize abortion, Priests marrying, women becoming Priests, gay marriage, etc..
   
   But I am sure of one thing, we should always pray the Holy Rosary daily for our beloved Clergy.
   
   But if Church law permits this, then I humbly submit to Church law as a Catholic layperson.
   
   As far as any changes to the teachings of the Holy Roman-Catholic Church, so long the they do not conflict with the teachings of Jesus-Christ's Gospel, tradition and my conscious then I submit to them also.
   
   God save us.
   

10. mjgt

    3 months ago

    I agree, Pope Benedict is a brilliant scholar and thinker and a beautiful, holy man. I feel so blessed to have lived in the time of Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. They are giants!!

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