The Resignation of a Pope
We had a good pope. I am sad to see him go but I am not surprised by today's news. I could see it coming in the way he walked, and the way he talked in 2010 in his interview when he said a pope should step down when he could no longer physically, mentally and spiritually carry out his role as
successor to Peter.
I still remember the beautiful warm spring afternoon when he was elected. I had just returned to the Church the year before after 31 years as an evangelical Protestant. I marveled at the process of electing a pope and was in awe of seeing the naming of Peter's successor. My wife came in the door and I shouted " Habemus papum!" We were so excited to watch this ancient process for the first time as engaged Catholics.
I had grown very fond of Blessed Pope John Paul 2 in the short time that I had gotten to know him and study his writings and I wept when he died. I wondered if I could grow fond of this elderly timid man who really just desired to retire and read and pray and play his beloved Mozart. Yet when called upon by God to lead Christ's flock on earth, he said yes, and I felt myself quickly warming up to him.
Here is the song I wrote for Pope Benedict's election to the papacy a few months after the conclave.
May God bless him mightily and I trust very much in the Lord's hand in leading his Church through this next election. "You are Peter, and upon this Rock, I will build my Church."
successor to Peter.
I still remember the beautiful warm spring afternoon when he was elected. I had just returned to the Church the year before after 31 years as an evangelical Protestant. I marveled at the process of electing a pope and was in awe of seeing the naming of Peter's successor. My wife came in the door and I shouted " Habemus papum!" We were so excited to watch this ancient process for the first time as engaged Catholics.
I had grown very fond of Blessed Pope John Paul 2 in the short time that I had gotten to know him and study his writings and I wept when he died. I wondered if I could grow fond of this elderly timid man who really just desired to retire and read and pray and play his beloved Mozart. Yet when called upon by God to lead Christ's flock on earth, he said yes, and I felt myself quickly warming up to him.
Here is the song I wrote for Pope Benedict's election to the papacy a few months after the conclave.
May God bless him mightily and I trust very much in the Lord's hand in leading his Church through this next election. "You are Peter, and upon this Rock, I will build my Church."
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 7:19 PM
2 Comments:
My feelings exactly, Russ. Reading the writings of JPII around the time of his passing sparked my desire to become a Catholic, but I entered Holy Mother Church on Pope Benedict's watch, and I have come to love him just as much as his predecessor.
Given all the problems inside and outside the Church it would be understandable to feel a little anxiety, but I have to believe our Lord will provide us with the shepherd we need in these difficult times.
yes Nancy, I am thankful for Pope Benedict's obedience to the Lord and we have the reassurance that Christ will never leave or forsake the Church, his body on earth.
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