It was monday morning.The island of Trinidad was embroiled in Carnival... the J'Ouvert (or in english: I open) celebration was almost at en end. The electrical power went out and being bored I decided to get in my car to look for some breakfast. Switching the station to BBC I was dumbfounded to learn that Pope Benedict XVI had resigned. Who or what made him resign? Was he being run out of Rome? All sorts of things went through my mind.
You know I never took the end of the world (dec 2012) prophecy seriously. I am wondering about the next Pope though. Will he be Peter the Roman, of the St Malachy Prophecy. Even though the Church says that the prophecy is false, one can't help but wonder. About the next Pope the Prophecy states:
Peter the Roman will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end.
I am sorry to see Pope Benedict resign, but I do agree with one political pundit, Benedict has made it OK for Popes to resign. He has ensured dignity to the position of the Pope. He has given up the position of power with a humility that is not common in todays world. God bless you Your Holiness.
There are many people who have published part of the Pope Benedict's resignation speech, I have chosen to publish the whole thing. Here it is:
"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 bark 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."
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