VATICAN CITY — After Pope Benedict XVI retires at the end of February, he will dedicate himself to a life of prayer and study in a Vatican-based monastery.
The Pope, who announced today he will step down on Feb. 28, will first stay in Castel Gandolfo, before eventually going back to the Vatican to live in Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.
The monastery is currently being renovated, but it is normally inhabited by a group of nuns who pray for the ministry of the Pope, a mission Pope John Paul II gave to them.
“He will be dedicating himself to prayer and reflection,” said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, during an unexpected Feb. 11 media event at the Holy See Press Office.
“The Pope will not be cloistered, nor should he be considered confined in any way, and he will have his freedom,” said Father Lombardi.
“Certainly, this is a new situation, and we will see how he lives it,” he added.
Some fear having two popes alive will cause problems, but Father Lombardi dismissed those suggestions.
“I wouldn’t have any fear about this because there’s a knowledge of Pope Benedict XVI as being discrete, and there would not be any interference with his successor,” said Father Lombardi.
“This would be completely against his personality,” he noted.
On the matter of how the Pope came to his decision, the Vatican spokesman said it was “not a rash decision; he is not depressed or overwhelmed by his pontificate.”
Canon law states a meeting to choose the next pope, a “conclave,” must be held within a maximum of 20 days after his seat is vacant.
This could mean the Church will have no head during most of Lent, but the Vatican hopes to have one by Easter.
This is the first time since Gregory XII relinquished his office in 1415 that a pope has resigned.
Pope Benedict will still hold his title of cardinal, which he had before he was elected Pope.
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There is more here than meets the eye.
I feel awful and am still numb. We have failed to pray and sacrifice for our Holy Father. He asked for our prayers at the beginning of his pontificate, “…Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves…”
There were times when any sincere Catholic would wonder what was going on in the midst of so much dissent and hostility even in his own house? Those words “…fear of wolves…” are strong words…
We pray for our Holy Father Benedict XVI who will continue to suffer having had to make such a serious decision answerable to God, as he goes on to lead a life of communion with God in prayer and sacrifice. I amconfident he will offer his life of prayer and suffering for our holy Mother the Church.
We love you and pray for you Most Holy Father.
Pope Benedict XVI was a shining successor to Blessed John Paul II. Let us pray that HIS successor will, by the grace of God, continue to successfully defend the Faith against the never-ending onslaughts of the Enemy. It is remarkable that after 400 years of Italian popes, we have had first a Polish, and then a German Vicar of God. Will our next Holy Father be black or Hispanic? From Africa or Latin America? God’s will be done.
Pope Benedict probably sees that the best answer to today’s sorry state is a life of prayer.
We appreciate Pope Benedict’s saving the Church during his term as pope.
God bless Pope Benedict XVI with good health and long life.
The thought of the Holy Father being anything other than ‘discrete’, as is stated in paragraph 8, is too disturbing to contemplate.
That he is also ‘discreet’ is nothing less than his flock has thankfully been given to expect.
As to blaming this great Holy Father for the abuse crisis, Id’ like to add:
The ignorance of many people here to blame ALL pedophilia on the Catholic Church shows how badly brainwashed the public is by the media. The fact is very very few Catholic priests ever abuse children and most are ultra kind, intelligent and generous,, we sure call on them when we’re dying!>.. and the fact is MOST pedophiles are on every corner in the streets of the entire world,, most are married men. THat is a fact… why blame priests?,, covering up for someone near you?.. and the fact is, pedophiles exist among all religions, atheists and all of humanity,, and you all know it…and the fact is, most of these Church cases are not about children but with adolescents… a gay cover-up or what?>.. and again!. nowadays , just say anything against ‘gay life’.. and you get stung.. but that’s what this largely was, bad behaviour by gay men hitting seminaries and the priesthood.. the facts also bear this out.. not a Catholic thing at all, ,, Catholic teaching condemn, officiallly, homosexual acts and pedophilia,, so get it straight!,, and look around your own neighborhoods.. if you look to priest ONLY, you just may miss uncle, or daddy, or pastor or rabbi so and so doing similar dirty tricks. .. and check your mind, how it is influenced by the media.. studies bear that out too, that NOrth Americans believe almost ALL of what they hear, the biases of the media and more. It’s time for ALL of us to give ourselves a head check.. don’t cop out and blame it ALL on Catholic priests.. .. you might want to check out the millions upon millions of dollars of services Catholic priests do every year, billions over the years…..be fair! be honest, people!,, it’ s not a Catholic Church thing! Finally, the Yuppies brought in the sex revolution and degeneration of the family, they can clean it up,, this stuff is their fodder!... why they so fast to point fingers?... some ‘projection ’ going on!
to Celine de Silva, and all the fretful and anxious: Remember the admonition of St. Padre Pio: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”
The prayers of this humble and faithful servant as he retires to the monastic life will sanctify the Church! God bless Pope Benedict XVI!!!!
Thank You Holy Father for your leadership. Thank you for giving us the year of Faith. We need that Faith to go on. You have done a great job. We are grateful for your leadership. The Catholic Church was blessed to have you. We will pray for you. May God Bless you.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
God bless you as you enter the next phase of your life.
Thank you Holy Father for your teachings and your books, which are a true inspiration on the Life of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Holy books that we read and reread, always finding new ways to live our faith. God bless you and keep you,we ask your prayers for a better world and God Bless you Always Holy Father.
Joseph has been a very good Pope, and a very good man. I greatly respect him, and was entirely happy with his papacy.
What would happen if the conclave could not reach an agreement on his successor? Has such a thing ever happened before in the history of the Church?
I am still very dissapointed in the Holy Father’s decision to resign. The Church is losing a great treasure. He was leading the Church in the right direction. His Encyclicals and all his binding decisions remain. Maybe his Successor will seek his advice in the future. That is something good as the Holy Father is a Great Theologian, a man of prayer and holiness, who loves Truth to perfection. Its good to hear that he will still live in Vatican City praying and studying. May God grant us another great Pope to lead the Church. As the Church is now finaly recovering from the damage done to the Church by the misinterpretations of Vatican Council ll. Let us recomend Pope Benedict XVl to the Motherly Intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
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