It’s and act of abandonment and cowardice, unfortunate from a man who has done so many wonderful and intelligent things over the years.
I am in agreement with you. I believe first 33 popes were martyred. They did not quit, they did not renounce their Petrine office.
The same people who lauded Pope John Paul II for retaining the Holy Office until the very end, even after being silenced by a trach tube, are now praising Pope Benedict for getting out, while the getting’s good.
I considered Pope Benedict to have been the most orthodox pope since Pope Pius XII. I will miss him. He had so much good work ahead ahead of him, in my opinion.