POPE Benedict’s decision to resign represents an act of “great courage” according to Archbishop of Nassau Patrick Pinder.
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, Archbishop Pinder called on all Catholics in the Bahamas to give thanks for the ministry of the Pope over the last eight years.
“This surprise announcement,” he said, “is certainly a decision of great courage on the part of the Holy Father, which he arrived at after much prayer.
“When his decision becomes effective on February 28, 2013 at 8pm, the Chair of Peter (the papacy) becomes vacant and the established norms for the election of a Pope take effect.
“Let us, as we continue in this Year of Faith and as we begin the season of Lent, give thanks for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI. Let us pray for the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit for the Church during the weeks ahead.”
Yesterday morning, the Pope announced that he will resign the papacy due to “lack of strength of mind and body.”
In his resignation statement, he said: “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 govern the bark 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.”
On February 28, Benedict XVI will become the first pope to resign since 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since 1294.
Born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16 1927, the native of Bavaria, Germany is the 265th Pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
Comments
John 11 years, 2 months ago
Well at least we know tha the pope is not GOD because God does no retire. Even the Sabbath was created for man and not man for the Sabbath. As human beings, our bodies will deteriorate as we age, until eventually we give up this flesh body for one that never grows old
TalRussell 11 years, 2 months ago
Whose Hat is this go'in be?
Since them web shops numbers "bosses" got's the Supreme Court and the PLP government to delay closing them down, why not offer their customers odds-spreads about which one them 120 Comrade (male of course) Cardinals to be summoned in matter of days, is go'in be the one chosen to wear that Tall-Hat the Pope does likes wear in front he Catholics?
You know this sudden Papal resignation could also be a sign to encourage some minimum visibility of younger faces, as was promised during 2012 General Elections, and less presence and more absence, by the growing bunch of old-timer PLP's we be seeing all over the media, getting all them plum overseas and local appointments and jobs? After all it take 600 years for a Pope to admit the demands placed on the job required a more youthful mind and body?
Don't let it be lost on anyone, that them Comrades Justices also does wear some colourful costumes. They so bright they must be running on AAA batteries?
by TalRussell
TimeForChange 11 years, 2 months ago
Christie needs to follow suit and retire as well! Cause once a failure always a failure and a second time around dont prove to be any different. Scandal after scandal and not even a year in government yet!
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