Pope Benedict's Resignation

In case you didn’t see the headlines, statuses, Tweets, or hear any of the conversations, Pope Benedict XVI announced his intent to resign from the papal office at the end of the month. February 28, to be exact.

This announcement came on February 11, two days before the start of Lent, the World Day of Sick, the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, and a Monday to boot. I remember, for some reason, carefully avoiding getting on the computer that morning before going to Daily Mass. Perhaps that was the Holy Spirit wanting me to hear the news from Fr. Simon instead of Facebook.

I was . . . absolutely shocked. My jaw dropped. It was so unexpected, and I didn’t have much of an idea of how to cope with the news. All I could really think as I drove home and got ready for class was How am I supposed to go to class with this going on?

I sought out my Catholic friends and made it through the day. I tried to ignore all the negative comments and prayed over and over for Pope Benedict’s health and for his successor, and in thanksgiving for the wisdom the Lord God has blessed him with.

Worry plagued me the rest of the day. Worry for Papa Bene’s health, and worry for the Church. He said he wasn’t strong enough to lead the Church anymore. That got me thinking. Obviously the Pope is incredibly close to God, perhaps closer than anyone else on Earth, which leads to his wisdom. I get the feeling that Pope Benedict expects something big to happen to the Church, and he knows we need a warrior pope that he, in his age, cannot be.

Spiritual war sounds really scary. I’m kind of afraid. But the Lord won’t leave His Church; I can trust that “the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

I don’t begrudge Papa Bene’s decision at all. I know he’s doing what he believes best for the Church, and I am happy to have that beautiful example of humility to follow in my own life. The resignation was a jolt, considering the last time a pope resigned was 600 years ago to avoid civil war, but it’s certainly not unprecedented and completely possible.

I’m very thankful he doesn’t have much to do with the Internet – the mainstream media and celebrities have been absolutely cruel. And I don’t know how many times I heard or read, “Maybe the new pope will bring the Catholic Church out of the Dark Ages!” One pope will and can NOT change the doctrine of the Church, especially per the whim of the world. The gates of hell will not prevail against it, remember? Even if what the Church is teaching is not popular, it’s still Christ’s Church and Christ’s teachings, and no amount of legislation, complaints, or rainbows can make it change.

Besides, the Church has been around for 2000 years, longer than most if not all nations around today. It’s obviously doing something right.

Pope Benedict will officially resign on February 28. Fifteen days after that, the conclave (comprised of cardinals under the age of 80) will convene at the Vatican to vote for a new pope, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There has to be a two-thirds majority in order for the papacy to be offered to a man (fun fact, it took four votes for Pope Benedict to be elected). Any Catholic man is eligible, not just cardinals or bishops or priests, though it is quite unlikely a non-cardinal will be elected.

I don’t know who the next pope will be. But the Holy Spirit does, and I will sleep well through the fifteen days without a pope knowing there is a great leader on the way.

God bless you, Papa Bene. Thank you for your wonderful service to the Church.

God bless,

Jill