[Mr. Lucky]

Gosh. An anonymous source quoted in an ecclesiastical gossip sheet. It must be true.

[Alex Murphy]

When asked why he stepped down from the Throne of Peter, the Pope Emeritus said “God told me to.” Ratzinger then apparently added that there was no apparition or any phenomenon of this kind. It was a “mystical experience”. The Lord planted the seed of an “absolute desire” in his heart “to remain alone with him, secluded in prayer." According to the source, this mystical experience has lasted throughout all of these past months, increasing his longing for a unique and direct relationship with the Lord.

Ping for later

[Buckeye McFrog]

I have no doubt that this is absolutely true.

I pray for the Pope Emeritus to continue being blessed in his remaining years.

[GBA]

His sudden departure was unexpected to an observer like me, but that God would speak or appear to him isn't surprising at all. That part is totally expected by an observer like me.

I wondered if this quote from Pope electors told of ‘Smoke of Satan’ in Vatican contains a clue:

“It is another thing when what is said about us is the truth, as has happened in many of the accusations of pedophilia. Then we must humble ourselves before God and men, and seek to uproot the evil at all costs, as did, to his great regret, Benedict XVI."

Fr. O'Connor and Fr. Martin both encountered and tangled with some ‘Smoke of Satan’ in the Church hierarchy and the messages in True Life in God also speak to this infiltration and it being overcome.

Interesting times times infinity!

[mlizzy]

I miss BXVI...

Good to hear from him...

[NYer]

Ping!

[HarleyD]

If this was Pat Robinson saying this, the Catholic reaction would be totally different.