I was in the sacristy of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse at 6:15 am today, vesting to assist at Mass when a parishioner entered and said the pope was going to resign. I and the young priest also present were surprised, to say the least, and thought perhaps someone in the secular media had it wrong again. I was to preach this morning, which I did focussing on how God reveals himself in creation and in how he heals that which is damaged in our lives.
When I returned to the sacristy, the rector was standing there, Msgr Chuck Stoezel and he confirmed that the Holy Father had indeed indicated he would resign as of 8 pm, February 28, Rome time, due to poor health.
All I can say is, “Wow!”
This brings back so many memories of my time in Rome in the late 1970s when I saw three popes, and the funerals and elections of two.
We are in uncharted waters here. There are no provisions for what role if any a retired pope may have. I understand that Benedict will continue to reside in the Vatican in a monastery there. He will have no role to play in the conclave itself.
My dear readers, let us all dedicate ourselves to prayer starting today until the end of the conclave. Let us pray that a wise and holy man be selected to lead our Church in these troubled times. Let us pray that a new pope will be given us that has his heart with the poor and needy of the world, a pope that brings about reconciliation among all the baptized in Christ.
Let us thank God for the papacy of Benedict XVI, for his humility and his holiness, for his writings and for his love of the Church.
