Benedict the Builder Pope Resigns His Office. His Work Will Continue in a Restored Church and a New Missionary Age

2/12/2013

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overcome with joy, gratitude and profound hope for the future when I heard the news while I was visiting with a priest friend in Richmond, Virginia. We were immersed in an intense conversation when another friend, then still a Bishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, called me on my cell phone to tell me the news. "Have you heard?" he asked, "Habemus Papem, We have a Pope!" he proclaimed, hardly able to contain his own joy. My priest friend and I immediately turned the television on and, with the entire world, witnessed history.

One day later, I realized how significant it was that a Christian from another community told me, a Catholic Deacon, the "we" had a Pope. I believed it was a seed and sign of the movement of the Holy Spirit toward the coming full communion of the whole Christian Church. Now today, while I was still engaged in my morning prayer, that same man informed me of this news of a papal resignation! However, he is a fruit of the ministry of Benedict the Builder Pope. Shortly after the announcement in 2005, my friend resigned his ministry and began the process which led him into full communion with the Catholic Church. He had no assurance of any ordained ministry; he was just drawn by the splendor of truth which is the ancient but ever new Catholic faith and could not resist its pull.

"How very fitting" I thought to myself this morning "that Fr Randy Sly would inform me of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI". He did so while he was on his way to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Fr Randy Sly was one of the first to be ordained to the holy priesthood for the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter and now serves as a Catholic priest. As I write, he stands at the altar as fruit of the extraordinary pontificate of Benedict the Builder Pope!

I believed from the beginning of his papacy that Benedict XVI would be a builder. He is one of the most brilliant, insightful and fecund theologians of the age. He knew the need for a New Evangelization and he understood the challenges that the Church faced as she walked forward to the Third Christian Millennium. He was present at and participated in the Second Vatican Council. He understands the authentic teaching of that Council and has led the way in its proper implementation in many areas of life, both within the Church and in her mission to the modern world.

He also understands the way that the Council was hijacked in some circles, disregarded in others and absolutely misinterpreted in still others. He has been a voice for dynamic orthodox and faithful Catholic Christian faith, practice, worship and life. In his homily prior to the convening of the conclave where he was chosen to fill the Chair of Peter, then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger gave a prophetic insight: "How many winds of doctrine we have known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking... The small boat of thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves - thrown from one extreme to the other: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism, and so forth.

"Every day new sects are created and what Saint Paul says about human trickery comes true, with cunning which tries to draw those into error (cf Eph 4, 14). Having a clear faith, based on the Creed of the Church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. "Whereas, relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and "swept along by every wind of teaching," looks like the only attitude (acceptable) to today's standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires."

Some attempted to misuse this insight to paint him as rejecting the modern world. That was nonsense. What he rejects is the emptiness of modernity and what he aptly referred to as the dictatorship of relativism. What he proposes is a different path, not to the past, but to a future of hope and authentic freedom. It is the reassertion of saving and liberating truth that paves that path to authentic human flourishing and freedom. It is to be found in Jesus Christ who proclaimed that He is the "Way, the Truth and the Life." Jesus reminds every person in every age, that we can "know the truth" and that "the truth will set you free." Benedict has been his mouthpiece and Vicar.

His choice of the name Benedict was a sign of his pontificate. One of the young priests who commented on his election noted that then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger visited Subiaco before all the events in Rome began. He prayed and rededicated himself to the work of the Church for the future. Benedict the great monk helped to rebuild the Church of his age and spread the influence of Christendom. Pope Benedict XVI has laid the seeds for a similar work in the Third ...
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Pope Benedict XVI, resignation, Papal resignation, Vatican Church history, papal, New Pope, Vicar of Christ, successor of Peter, Joseph Ratzinger, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 10 of 39 Comments

DLL
3 months ago
Lilian
Are you suggesting that because the Pope retiring for the good of the Church,in his opinion,that if Pope Benedict afterwards suffers a stroke,that the church should possibly euthanize him,because modern medicine keeps people alive too long? Is this the new age,politically correct,compassionate way of dealing with the elderly,who may suffer strokes,for instance so as to liquidate them so they are not a problem,as in this case,the old retired,ailing Pope might be to the church? Are you thinking that euthanasia should become accepted as the great new way of the church so it conforms to the times that we are living in today? I think not and the church also thinks not,so forget it. There is no teaching to back that thought in any form of Catholic teaching.
Lilian
3 months ago
Pope Benedict XVI has guided the Church for eight years and is going out of the spotlight. May God bless him. The Church needs to come up with ideas about how to deal with the issue he raised about "modern challenges" in respect of age and personal health problems. For example, Ariel Sharon, former Israeli prime minister suffered a stroke in 2006 and still alive. Should that happen to a Pope, how would the Church handle it? Modern medicine can people alive, but necessarily active.
Rob
3 months ago
I have complete trust that he did what he was divenly inspired to do. He completed what he needed to do.
Paul-Emile Leray
3 months ago
By "cultural utilitarian stew" I didn't mean the horsemeat scandal in Germany now taking place. Not only does it exist in theology/philosophy, now it is explicitly evident at the butcher shop! Now we see what happens when the packaging gets all mixed up. Right there, another lesson to be learned. Let the true theologians/philosophers under the umbrella of the Papacy label the packages in the world of theology/philosophy; NOT CULT-URE. Cult-ure and the passing winds of pop cult-ure and journalism, sensationalism, partisan politics, political ideologies messes things up. Keep the beef and the horses separated. The utilitarian cult-ural stew pot is starting to smell bad. Why not throw in some fish, fresh and salt water alike, some rice and spaghetti, what the heck mix in some vegetables too; brew it all up and then we wonder why cult-ure is sick? Marinate the whole thing with wine, beer, whiskey, vinegar, water, mix it all up and we end up with a cult-ural omelette of moral relativism and utilitarianism resembling the what? The horsemeat scandal! Blend it all together, throw in some cats, dogs, rats and mice, and let us see what happens? After all, isn't this what moral relativism is like? Yes. And to be sure to not offend anyone, add in every last bit of spice known to the human mind and let us see what comes out of the bakery shop. (something that will make you throw up!) The horsemeat scandal. Keep the cattle in the pastures and the horses on the track. Or, the cattle running aound the track with cowboys on top of them and the horses in the pastures. But don't mix and match everything. Why? You never know what will come out of the oven. It might have gone in as beef, to then come out as a horse tasting like chicken with nobody around the table knowing what to make of it. This is, in part, moral relativism. Utilitarianism, in part. A MESS. If it is a rabbit, it is too cute to eat; if it is a cow or bird, then take out the knives and forks and slice the living daylights out of it and if it is a turkey; stuff it. Which CULT in CULT-URE has it right? And on the ocean floor, the truth is still and silent. Deep. Unchanging. (why, because human nature and the human condition doesn't change) And God is God. Man is Man. Yes, there is a difference between God, man, and nature. Who are the masters of the universe? NONE. Economists? The weatherman is more trustworthy. CEOs? DUST. (in the future, as with everyone) Politicians? DUST. ASHES. As the mustard seed seemingly rests in proper soil and conditions, it grows and grows. And who invented the soil and mustard seed? And the sun and rain? Who has a patent, copyright, or jurisdiction over truth? The One. (not us) And The One was, is, will always be; Jesus Christ. As the politicians display their feathers on the stage show of parading peacocks, The One observes and listens. And if anyone wishes to make him laugh? Tell him your plans in great detail. (and then, observe how he writes straight with crooked lines often) A ship out at sea, not a train on tracks. Masters of the universe? Which nutbells dream up these fancy marketing promo slogans? Sophists. Fairy-Sees. And then? The humility of The Cross shrinks them to mustard seeds. (if they are fortunate) Going up, by going down, but first going down is necessary to then rise up to glory. Humility. Being humble. No, the masters of the universe are not on Wall Street. They are often NATURAL and UN-NATURAL DISASTERS on the planet! (one planet) Not the universe. Then, ashes. Dust. Humility goes a long way.
Paul-Emile Leray
Angev Emmanuel Sachia
3 months ago
May God give him a peaceful life till he meets Him to part no more
Harold Olsen
3 months ago
The Pope, one of our greatest, is stepping down due to health reasons. Why are they using the term "resigning?" It makes it sound as though he his stepping down because of some scandal or disgrace. It seems to me that the term "retiring" would be a more proper term. Many anti-Catholics are viewing his stepping down as a result of some of the scandals in the church in past years, most of which happened before Benedict became Pope. Even the brain dead media seems to be implying it.
Anna-Marija
3 months ago
@Joseph: Ditto! May the Lord help us!
Tom McGuire
3 months ago
May God continue to bless a great man, Benedict XVI. As a teacher, his clarity and depth of thought shines light on the way of the future. In Verbum Domini he wrote:

"As the Synod Fathers stated, the expression “word of God” is used analogically, and we should be aware of this. The faithful need to be better helped to grasp the different meanings of the expression, but also to understand its unitary sense. From the theological standpoint too, there is a need for further study of how the different meanings of this expression are interrelated, so that the unity of God’s plan and, within it, the centrality of the person of Christ, may shine forth more clearly."

He knew the centrality of our faith is not the natural law, an ethical system, or an ideology, but the person of Jesus Christ. He made clear human understanding of the mystery of God is always analogical. The work of the future is to grasp the DIFFERENT MEANINGS of the expression "word of God". He now passes on to another the leadership that will guide us in the further study. Deo Gratias.
Jeffrey Caperton
3 months ago
There will be those who will find only negative things to say about his decision, but I feel it was a good decision for the Church as well as him. The office of the Pope is very demanding and Benedict XVI's actions show that he loves the Church so much that he will acknowledge that advancing age and failing health may hinder his effectiveness in such a demanding position. He put the Church before his own ego.

But consider that while he will not be the Pope any longer, we will still have the benefit of one of the greatest modern Christian thinkers in our age. One can hardly open a theology textbook without seeing his name somewhere. I believe he has been exceptional in his capacity as the Pope, but I always felt he was more suited for the academic environment and I hope we will see more of his writing. I offer him fond prayers for his future endeavors.
Leah
3 months ago
I loved this pope. He was good for the Church and the faithful as well. I hope he wasn't being pressured because of his advanced age to resign. Alot of people are thinking he couldn't do as much or go as many places as a younger man can go. I believe there are way's even at his age he could have got his message out and his leadership enacted with the right kind of support. Now having said that, maybe deep within and with much reflection and guidance from the Holy Spirit, he really want's to resign. Maybe he didn't want to be Pope to begin with.

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