Pope On The Run

Photograph by Stefan Wermuth/WPA Pool/Getty Images
as it appeared in BloombergBusinessweek.com

It has been a while since I’ve written anything substantial. I’ve been depressed and uninspired. However, today Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will resign on February 28^th at 10:00 PM Italian time. This announcement took me and the rest of the world by surprise, just as it did even the people close to the pope. I was in awe, a good awe since I can’t stand the Catholic Church. This man, Benedict XVI was appointed by John Paul II to review the rape cases in the Catholic church, he was the one that tried to hide this from the public, that did absolutely nothing to bring those corrupt priests to justice, Benedict XVI was the one that implied that sexual relationships with children wasn't viewed as depraved in the 70s.  Now, many are speculating as to the reason why this pope has decided to do what no other pope has done since 1415 and incredibly enough, apparently everyone is swallowing the excuse he is giving, not one single mention to the scandal brought to light by the Vatileaks. Following is a translation of his resignation, as it appears in the Vatican website:

“DECLARATIO

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

© Copyright 2013 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana”

 

What caught my attention is the part where he says “shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith.” It seems to me that the pope has doubts about faith and that doesn’t surprise me. But I am more inclined to believe that the Vatileaks and the investigation brought upon him and the Vatican by them is what has prompted this pope to run and hide in what used to be a monastery inside Vatican City and away from the public eye.

I have ordered the book, written by Gianluigi Nuzzi, “Sua Santità. Le carte segrete di Benedetto XVI” (His Holiness: The secret papers of Benedict XVI” in order to see first hand how incriminating these documents are; I don’t believe that he is too ill or old to perform his Papal duties, previous popes far older and weaker than he is, have held their positions until their death – the difference between those and him is that none of them had their twisted secrets exposed to the world and this Pope does, and as cowards usually do, he is running to hide behind the cross not capable of facing what awaits him… of course, he will be living comfortably without a care in the world. Soon, another Pope – a carbon copy of this one – will take the throne and the farce and corruption will continue as usual.