From the BBC, we learn:
Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month in an unexpected development, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.
He became Pope in 2005 following John Paul II’s death.
Resignations from the papacy are not unknown, but this is the first in the modern era, which has been marked by pontiffs dying while in office.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti is quoted as saying he is “greatly shaken by this unexpected news”.
The BBC’s Alan Johnston in Rome says the news has come “out of the blue”, and that there was no speculation whatsoever about the move in recent days.
A Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said that even the Pope’s closest aides did not know what he was planning to do and were left “incredulous”.
Here’s the Pope’s full statement:
Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 steer the boat 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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.
This is a sad thing as this man was one of the few leaders of The West who understood the dangers we face – he ‘got it’.
God bless him.
UPDATE at 2013…
-Stacy McCain filed a report this morning that he has updated several times.
-Devout Catholic Pete DaTechGuy has an aggregation going over at his place with many updates.
-Of course, The Jug-Eared Wonder Clown had to make the abdication about hisself, as Twitchy documents.
-The ’Pope Truthers’ have emerged and, as is to be expected, they’re being lead by a git and a twit.
-Some ’D List’ actor named Joe Rogan wins the award for most vile comments.
-The vast majority of disgusting commentary has come from the Left, but some has come from those pitiable souls on the Right who still believe The Church, the Papists, to be the greatest evil in the world. Daria DiGiovanni comments [her webpage; her Twitter page]:
Well this has certainly brought out the Catholic bigotry not only among the left but among some of my conservative non-Catholic friends. Disappointing and disheartening to say the least. We may disagree on some matters of faith but I believe we have more in common than in opposition. If only some of them could afford me the same respect I demonstrate toward their denomination of Christianity. But I guess I’m just a descendent in the long line of “Hitler Youth to the Vatican” as someone on Ted Cruz’s Facebook thread noted. I expect utter depravity from the left, but when people on the right exhibit similar attitudes, it’s beyond upsetting.
Indeed, it is. The fact of the matter is: if you are truly concerned about preserving The West and all it stands for then, despite the fact that you might be a Protestant or Jewish, you know that The Catholic Church is one of the pillars Western Civilization stands on.
-Non-Catholic Jeff Goldstein has a better understanding of The Church than those bigoted fools [and all the CINO's who are ensconced in their cafeterias]:
Me, I’m not a Catholic, so I lack the authenticity to pronounce on such things, but from my perspective, it is the very idea that there is settled Church doctrine that gives the religion its claim to faith. Whereas a desire to see the religion adopt to certain personal lifestyles — so that those who engage in practices that fall outside of Church doctrine can continue to belong — strikes me as completely self-indulgent, and more befitting entry barriers into a country club than a faith.
Brilliant.
-How about I end this on two humorous notes…
=Over at The Other McCain, Friend In The Ether K-Bob comments:
The headline you should have used is:
Pope Joins Millions Leaving Workforce Under Obama
=This Tweet from Brad Dayspring will resonate with anyone who was brought-up Catholic:
So the Pope is resigning.Is it something we did? #catholicguilt
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) February 11, 2013
-I am hoping to compose a post in the next few days on the dangers faced by The Roman Catholic Church.
____________________________________
*The word I originally used in the title was ‘Resign’
but, as McGehee pointed out, he is a monarch [part
of his official title is: Sovereign of the State of
Vatican City].
