The Pope Leaves theVaticanand Enters Retirement Byron Lloyd
Pope Benedict XVI resigned on the morning of February 28, 2013 due to his old age and poor health which shocked and stunned the 1.2 billion Catholic followers. The Pope said he was too old, frail, and tired to continue leading the Catholic faith. Pope Benedict XVI was the first Pope to resign since 1415.
On February 27 the Pope gave his final audience to 150,000 people in St. Peter’s Square,Rome.
“He’s helped me though scholarship in becoming a better friend of Jesus Christ. An American priest fromPortland,Oregonthat attended the final audience said, “I’m going to miss him a lot; I’ve especially enjoyed my time with him.”
Many who came to the final audience came to give thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for all he has done and the impacts he has made on their lives. Others came because of the global historic moment of Benedict’s resignation. All in all most of the 1.2 billion Catholic followers will miss Benedict and give thanks for all he has done.
Most people have come to terms and accepted the Pope’s decision and some think that there’s more to the Pope’s resignation than meets the eye.
Italian publications such as Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata which translates to National Agency Associated Print said that the Pope was not resigning because of his old age, but because of the increasing amount of sex scandals and the blackmails of gay priests by prostitutes inRome.
“There is no proof and these allegations only serve to create a climate of diversion that helps no one.” said Cardinal Velasio de Paulis, one of the men who will assist in electing the new Pope. “It’s all guess work and imagination.”
While no one outside theVaticanhas seen the 300-page detailed document about the alleged blackmail, it’s not an improbable claim. There has been a problem with priests and their sexual relations with children in the past. The Pope had to resign Cardinal Keith O’Brien because of the accused sexual relations O’Brien had.
“I do not wish media attention on me – but rather on Pope Benedict and his successor,” said O’Brien when he was interviewed.
Regardless of the reason or conspiracies about Pope Benedict’s historic resignation, he has left the Cathedral and his successor has yet to be claimed.
Pope Benedict issued an order to find his successor within 15 days rather than 20 days which mandated church rules. There will be a new Pope in between February 28 and March 20. The College of Cardinals will set a date for a conclave, the process by which the Cardinals elect a new pope, will probably be between the 8th or 10th of March. They will go through ballots every day until a new pope is hired. Everyday that black smoke is seen at theVatican, it will mean there has not been an elected pope yet; however if there is white smoke seen, it will mean that a new Pope has been selected.
After his retirement, Benedict is expected to go into seclusion at the pope’s summer residence inRomethen eventually continue to live the rest of his life in a monastery inVatican City,Rome. Benedict, however, will have no influence or participation in finding the new successor or the management in the church. Benedict wishes to be called, “his Holiness” or “Pope Emeritus.”