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Tag Archive for ‘pope resigns’

Resignations – Benedict and Celestine

I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine Ministry…In order to govern the Barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary. I have had to recognize my incapacity to fulfill adequately […]

Benedict’s Resignation Speech in full

VIS 11/02/2013 “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 […]

Pope Benedict’s Resignation Raises Questions

Fr John Murphy is a Marist priest working in digital media at the Marist Internet Ministry, New Zealand.This article was first published in CathNews NZ Pacific — www.cathnews.co.nz — a free twice-weekly email publication Just as Joseph Ratzinger’s election was a surprise to some, the way he leaves the papacy surely surprises us all. For […]

Pope’s Resignation a Gift to the Church

No one saw it coming. Out of the blue at a Consistory summoned to announce three new saints, the Holy Father stunned his audience by dropping a bombshell – his resignation from the papacy at the end of the month. The reasons given were he lacked the strength to fulfil the office of Pontiff. The […]