Understandably, in a world where the arrogance of "power and prestige" in public office abounds, our human minds are "surprised" when confronted by acts of humility.
Perhaps, this understanding is especially difficult in America where, for decades, as Michael Ledeen observed in 2008, on another subject altogether, as he wrote of the degree to which Americans have been "dumbed down" on some basic ideas underlying our own freedom as a nation:
Ledeen said, "Our educational system has long since banished religion from its texts, and an amazing number of Americans are intellectually unprepared for a discussion in which religion is the central organizing principle."
In the Pope's speech in Germany a few years ago, he observed:
"A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures."
To understand the Pope's "resignation," it seems, one may be called upon to examine ideas which have not been part of "the dialogue" of our culture for some time now--ideas derived from ancient writings deemed by so-called "progressives" as out of touch with "the times."
Few students of recent decades may have been provided the opportunity to read the following excerpt from former U. S. Army General and First American President George:
"I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the state over which you preside in his holy protection: that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United State at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field: and, finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the divine author of our blessed religion: without an humble imitation of whose example, in these things, we can ever hope to he a happy nation." - Circular Letter to the Governors, June 13, 1783
Here.
George Washington, too, "resigned" his office, never seeing that Office as a place of power or prestige, but as one of service.
I also used the George Washington analogy when discussing the pope’s decision. With people living longer now, Pope Benedict started a new precedent in which retirement for popes will now become the norm rather than the exception. By walking away, Benedict XVI will now be remembered as a revolutionary pope.