"And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel." - 1 Samuel 8.
"And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save King Solomon." 1 Kings 39 - this occurred before the death of King David.
My guess is he is getting senile, maybe Alzheimer’s. If he had a terminal illness he would just let it run its course and have a new successor. If he was just frail, then he would cut back on touring.
I fear he’s losing his mental faculties, and doesn’t want to linger on for years not even knowing who he is, leaving the Church paralyzed.
Just a guess as to why he would do such an unusual thing.
Because I prayed a short time ago he would, or better yet could, if need be, and it be no loss for His kingdom, but used for His holy purpose? A few months perhaps, then again more recently, both brief prayers rather small, no big deal, really... Not to be rid of the man, but to lift burdens from him. He has been becoming more stooped over here recently. I'm sure I'm not alone in having some compassion towards him for that.
That said, I have and had at the time, only small doubt I was not picking up (to my reference point or view) some long range signals, so to spoeak, possibly a leading of the Spirit. Like the spirit leading me towards what to pray for? I can tell you my own prayer in this was colored by gentleness, mercy & some grace. Not my usual around these parts, I will admit. The better to stand out from my own more typical interior narrative, too.
So not for any reason of a failing I imagine of the man do I recall praying "if this be of you, if this mercy & grace can be extended, then let this come to pass." Nor do I pretend to myself for one second that I am all alone in this. Have mercy.
I have no real idea what it may be, to be that man. One can read his writings, I suppose. That can help give sense of how the man thinks. Though I've not read all that much of his, I would most always be struck by some small aside included, some small thing about how something struck himself to be, and agree I was struck in much the same way by the small thought or item. Cynics have told me he was just manipulating, but I'd not have or get any whiff the man was saying any but what he truly felt (in those small instances).
Consider...or pretend if one must, that Mr. Ratzinger is acquainted with the Spirit of the Lord. No pope in a very long time has retired. Ratzinger will be able to devote himself to prayer and writing much to his own schedule. Hope he sticks around and lives many years.
The church may yet need him. Who in the church would not be influenced yet by the man? He could still continue. I hope and pray he is used prophetically, is led upon occasion to speak words the Lord's Spirit will inhabit, stirring those whom can hear, yes, this thing of the heart of the Lord towards us.
'Pray the Lord uses Him maybe? I mean...why not?
please take note. I'm no Roman...in fact I'm known to dispute many of the claims. if I was picking up on the spirit (if hearing rightly that is) from this distance, with my limited 'spiritual radio' skills (ongoing tuner problems, with periodic long stretches of bad signal/noise ratio), well then, it must have been a good signal at point of origin, huh? lol.
He’s retiring from the office of Pope, but he will remain devoting himself to prayer and writing and teaching. If you read the Pope’s homilies and meditations on the Word, you would see that Pope Benedict’s greatest gift is teaching. He is moving back to that role