ANALYSIS: The Surprising Afterlife of Pope Benedict XVI

Religion News Service ^ | 2/25/14 | David Gibson

[marshmallow]

VATICAN CITY (RNS) When Pope Benedict XVI officially left the Vatican in a helicopter a year ago this week (Feb. 28), becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, many in his conservative fan base were aghast, even angry.

He has betrayed us, said those who thought Benedict’s papacy would be the final triumph of old-school Catholicism. He has undermined the papacy itself, they worried. Lightning even struck the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica hours after Benedict departed, surely a bad omen.

Rumors that he was suffering from a terminal illness were taken as gospel truth. After all, what else could explain Benedict’s unorthodox decision to abandon the Throne of St. Peter?

Well, it turns out the emeritus pope is doing just fine, thank you. Yes, he is nearly 87, slightly stooped and walking with a cane. But his overall health is pretty good and his spirits — and his wit, say friends who see him — are as strong as ever.

“His memory is fresh and his eyes are very bright and joyous,” the Rev. Stephan Otto Horn, head of a close-knit circle of Benedict’s former theology students, said after meeting Benedict in June.

Indeed, Benedict receives a regular stream of visitors in a retrofitted Vatican monastery where he passes the days praying but also reading, playing the piano, and corresponding with old friends and intellectual foes, like the Swiss theologian Hans Kung.

Despite initially vowing to remain “hidden from the world,” Benedict made a surprise appearance on Saturday at St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope Francis installed his first batch of cardinals — the first time Benedict has appeared at a Vatican liturgy in a year. “When I saw him, I was startled,” said one of the new cardinals, Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano of Nicaragua.

Vatican officials say Benedict..........

[Alex Murphy]

When Pope Benedict XVI officially left the Vatican in a helicopter a year ago this week (Feb. 28), becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, many in his conservative fan base were aghast, even angry. He has betrayed us, said those who thought Benedict’s papacy would be the final triumph of old-school Catholicism. He has undermined the papacy itself, they worried. Lightning even struck the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica hours after Benedict departed, surely a bad omen. Rumors that he was suffering from a terminal illness were taken as gospel truth. After all, what else could explain Benedict’s unorthodox decision to abandon the Throne of St. Peter?

Well, it turns out the emeritus pope is doing just fine, thank you. Yes, he is nearly 87, slightly stooped and walking with a cane. But his overall health is pretty good and his spirits — and his wit, say friends who see him — are as strong as ever.

Let the speculation recommence!

Related thread:
Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI: Theories Surrounding Resignation are 'Absurd'

[StormEye]

The guy just wants to live the rest of his life as he sees fit; not constantly being plagued with the problems of running a city/state and the Roman Catholic Church. He wants to enjoy what time he has left.

[onyx]

God bless and keep him.

[TexasRepublic]

Pope Benedict may have resigned because of embarrassing church scandals that can’t be swept under the carpet any longer. The PBS program FrontLine broadcast a very shocking documentary last night. Corruption in the Vatican is apparently far worse than any suspicions I ever had.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secrets-of-the-vatican/

[BillyBoy]

>> Rumors that he was suffering from a terminal illness were taken as gospel truth. <<

Tell me about it. I was flamed on FR numerous times for disputing other freepers who insisted Pope Benedict was "deathly ill" and it was "obvious" to anyone who had been "paying attention" to his physical condition weeks before he resigned.