Posted on 02/11/2015 6:22:14 AM PST by marshmallow
This is what it was like to witness the moment Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign in 600 years
February 11 is a holiday in the Vatican. It is the day when the Holy See celebrates the settlement in 1929 of the so-called “Roman Question”, the resolution of the 59-year stand-off between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See after the fall of Rome in 1870 to the Kingdom’s troops and the effective end of the ancient Papal States in central Italy.
By chance it was also the day Pope Benedict XVI chose to resign.
The date had been scheduled for a small consistory, comprising midday prayer and the announcement by Cardinal Angelo Amato of some beati due to be promoted to saints. There had also been a little gentle buzz for some time in the Roman Curia about the Holy Father announcing one or two important changes then, perhaps near the top of the administration, but these kinds of rumours circle like the seagulls around the Vatican’s Belvedere: they come round frequently, make a bit of noise and go away again. In other words, as in most places, nothing happens until it happens.
There was no indication that this day was going to be any different. It was also a holiday, and although the rest of the Curia was enjoying a rest, the few people around the person of the Holy Father, including myself, were to be on duty in the Apostolic Palace’s Sala del Concistoro to welcome him as he went to pray with the cardinals present in Rome and to go through the short ceremony.
As a Prelate of the Anticamera, a kind of aide de camp, who assists the Holy Father’s principal guests and makes sure everything goes according to plan when the great.....
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...
I wonder what Barry and the ‘RATS had on him that caused him to resign. Had to be something.
The official word was that the Pope was not well enough to perform his duties. But Pope John Paul II was unwell for a number of years till he died. He didn’t resign.
It’s too bad that Pope Benedict could not stay on. He was very much a conservative. With Pope Francis, who know what dark path he may lead the Church on? I’ve often felt that his election was engineered by political forces within the Vatican. Seems the commies have infiltrated the Church too.
I think he would have resigned only if he felt that doing so was the way to protect the Church. I don’t think Obama was involved in this, although the left wing of the Church certainly was, and I suspect that the current Pope also had a hand in it.
I honestly can’t imagine what it could have been. I don’t think it was anything of a personal nature, because that wouldn’t have affected the Church. There have been scandalous Popes throughout the history of the Church, and they have had no impact on it.
BXVI was a lightning rod to the left, and was under attack from the moment he took office. I remember he asked us in his inaugural words to pray that he not run away when the wolves came. But he did, for some reason. And he obviously knew what these wolves were and was expecting them to attack.
Jack Van Impe has mentioned on numerous occasions that the hall which displays all of the portraits of the Popes in Rome had space in this particular venue for only two more portraits (symbolic implication being there would no further Roman Popes beyond that point in time). So far, Francis has not done much to assuage that prediction with me.
At least Benedict did anoint conservative Cardinals.
No, I don’t think the U. S. government had anything to do with it.
No, I don’t think the U. S. government had anything to do with it.
Both age and poor health.
It was a coup d’état.
The hallway you are referring is probably the church in Rome (not in the Vatican itself) that has portraits of popes painted in spaces down the sides. I remember hearing about this first in the 1970s. My Mormon friend immediately said, “well, why not paint in another couple of faces and get rid of the Catholic Church without waiting?”. My response had been, “why not make some more empty frames and keep going?”
Bold and wise?
Are you thinking of St. Paul Outside the Wall?
Yes, I think so.
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