Free Republic

The Reason Benedict Resigned by William Fahey on February 15, 2013 ·  The Catholic world is largely shocked by the publication of Pope Benedict XVI’s letter of resignation this morning.  The secular world assumes the worst—no, it desires the worst, and by insinuation worms doubts into the minds of even the faithful.The secular world will tear through the brief letter and fixate upon the line about a “world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith.”  It will weave from these deconstructed words an existential tale of despair, scandal, and...

Pope Benedict XVI has allegedly applied to the President of the Republic of Italy for immunity from arrest and prosecution following a diplomatic statement of intent to issue an arrest warrant for him. Apparently an unidentified EU country wants to prosecute him for various charges related to ongoing child abuse scandals.

From this evening's Ash Wednesday Mass as a monumental Lent begins for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, here's the Vatican's English translation of Joseph Ratzinger's final homily as Pope Benedict XVI, bishop of Rome, the 264th successor of St Peter. *    *    * Venerable Brothers, Dear Brothers and Sisters! Today, Ash Wednesday, we begin a new Lenten journey, a journey that extends over forty days and leads us towards the joy of Easter, to victory of Life over death. Following the ancient Roman tradition of Lenten stations, we are gathered for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist....

Even for two millenia of a very full, yet never boring history, the Catholic Church has never seen a moment like this. Remember, folks – the "new" St Peter's Basilica was only opened some three centuries after the last time a Pope resigned. As prelates and people alike were seen fighting back tears, here are the closing moments of Benedict XVI's final turn at the Altar of the Confession (homily), a site literally upon the "rock" on which the papacy – and the church it guides – is built.... In a spontaneous move out of deference to Joseph Ratzinger's...

Vatican City, February 13, 2013 (Zenit.org). | 650 hits Here is a translation of the brief statement by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope's secretary of state and the cardinal camerlengo, at the end of this evening's Ash Wednesday Mass, over which Benedict XVI presided. * * * Most Holy Father,with feelings of great emotion and profound respect, not only the Church, but the whole world, has heard the news of your decision to give up the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, Successor of the Apostle Peter.We would not be honest, Your Holiness, if we said that this evening...

Father Federico Lombardi addresses the press on Feb. 11, 2013 about Pope Benedict XVI's resignation. Credit: David Uebbing/ CNA. Vatican City, Feb 13, 2013 / 06:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The last days of Pope Benedict XVI will include three public appearances, a meeting with the priests of Rome, Lenten spiritual exercises, and audiences with politicians and cardinals. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi detailed the final events of the Pope’s schedule for the press at a Feb. 13 meeting. The first event on the list is Ash Wednesday Mass this evening in St. Peter’s Basilica, which will be his final...

Rome -- Repeatedly over the last three days, media agencies have asked me to comment on the following question: Did Benedict XVI really resign just because he's old and tired, or was it really because of the sexual abuse crisis, the Vatileaks mess, and the various other meltdowns that have occurred on his watch? My answer has been that it's not an either/or. Benedict may not have quit "because of" the pedophilia scandals or any other specific controversy, but it's hard to believe they didn't play a role, at least as background. One can certainly take Benedict at his word...

Pope Benedict was cheered by conservatives for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity but liberals accused him of turning back the clock on reforms and hurting dialogue with Muslims, Jews and other Christians. The 85-year-old German-born pontiff announced on Monday he would step down at the end of the month because of the effects of old age meant he was unable to complete his ministry. It was a decision that stunned Church officials and Catholics around the world, but one that he had hinted at in the past.

Saint Malachy  Prophecies about 112 popes until the end of the world. Note: The Church does not lean on private revelation for doctrinal matters, but it does not oppose to the faithful obtaining benefit from them so long as they don't go against our faith.   This analysis focuses on the last five Popes in the context of the prophecies of Saint Malachy. + + +   Saint Malachy was born in Amagh Ireland in 1094, he lived a religious life as a monk, then he was ordained priest and finally Bishop. He was canonized in 1199 by Pope Clement III....

Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, director of the Vatican Press Office, met today with reporters to answer questions concerning yesterday’s surprising announcement of the Holy Father’s impending resignation. Catholic News Service has a very thorough report on the meeting, which yielded many interesting details about Pope Benedict’s decision and what the coming weeks will hold; that story can be read here. Vatican Radio’s report on Lombardi’s remarks is here. Some items of particular interest: — Father Lombardi confirmed that Pope Benedict has a pacemaker, and that it was put in before his election to the papacy. He also confirmed that Benedict...

Surprise and shock are an understatement when it comes to Pope Benedict XVI‘s resignation. Only a handful of Popes have called it quits. The Pope’s decision continues to spark speculation about who the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church will be. This decision will have far reaching impact for Catholics around the world… and certainly for Protestants. As most readers know, I’m not Catholic. I’m an American Baptist clergyman. I come from a tradition that fought to continue the reforms of the Church of England. Baptists were one of the many English separatist groups that wanted to go further...

ROME — A day after Pope Benedict XVI stunned Roman Catholics by announcing that he would resign at the end of the month, the Vatican disclosed new details about his physical well-being on Tuesday, saying he had been fitted with a heart pacemaker a decade ago but that had not influenced his decision to become the first pope in almost 600 years to step down. The disclosure about the device, whose existence was not widely known, came as the Vatican grappled with a series of logistical questions raised by a decision that gave Benedict just 17 days to wind up...

An Evangelical Looks at Pope Benedict XVI Russell Moore With Pope Benedict XVI’s shocking resignation this week, evangelical Christians might be tempted to see this the way a college football fan might view the departure of his rival team’s head coach. But the global stakes are much, much higher. As Pope Benedict steps down, I think it’s important for us to recognize the legacy of the last two bishops of Rome that we ought to honor and conserve: an emphasis on human dignity. As a Baptist Christian, I disagree with Rome on many things, of course, and some of those...

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation came like a bolt from the blue overnight. And the weather around the Vatican was eerily appropriate, with lightning striking St Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic sites, on the same day that Pope Benedict announced he would be stepping down. Global news agency Agence France-Presse published an image of lightning striking the basilica's dome, which it said was taken "on the day the Pope" announced his resignation. AFP said the striking image was captured by photographer Filippo Monteforte, who works for Italian national news and photo agency ANSA. Monteforte's website shows that he has...

In a nearly unprecedented move Pope Benedict XVI will step down at the end of the month. Twitter was buzzing with the news and, sadly, gutter sludge crawled out of the cracks.Vile fake retweets are coming in.RT @Pontifex f**** this, i'm done.— Max Vedel (@SoGreeen) February 11, 2013 Steady on old boy. RT @pontifex: f**** you and f**** your s***ty job!!!1!!— Ben (@ben_postgate) February 11, 2013 RT @Pontifex: f**** the lot of ya. Go to h**l. c**ls.— something in the way (@AllApologies_) February 11, 2013 But even more repugnant are the despicable death wishes and disgusting tweets from morally bankrupt cretins.AP...

<p>Pope Benedict XVI is to resign from the head of the Catholic Church on February 28, the Vatican confirmed in a statement on Monday, after he said he no longer had the strength to fulfill his duties adequately.</p> <p>A Vatican press conference started at 11.40 a.m. London time. A Vatican spokesman said the decision "took us by surprise".</p>

No pope has resigned in almost 600 years. But Pope Benedict’s surprise announcement is not entirely unprecedented. More than 260 men have reigned as Pope since Saint Peter was martyred in Rome in the third decade after the death of Christ, and at least four of them have resigned. We spoke to medieval historian Doctor Donald Prudlo, Associate Professor of History at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, about the history of papal resignations. Listen: Vatican Radio: It’s been centuries since a Pope has resigned the See of Peter. Can you tell us about the last Pope to resign? Dr....

Pope Benedict XVI 'is to resign' Breaking news The Pope is to resign at the end of this month in an entirely unexpected development, reports from the Vatican say.

Are we headed towards an apocalypse? First an asteroid comes close to the Earth, then the British start eating horse and now … the Pope resigns. Resigning is something that Popes very rarely do. That last time it was done voluntarily was by Celestine V in 1294; Gregory XII stepped down under political pressure in 1415. By contrast, John Paul II remained in his position regardless of his declining health – a testament to the man’s extraordinary will power.

Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also tocommunicate 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,...