The Pope resigns

The Pope Resigns

Americans who watch the news from abroad do not take for granted the transition of power from one administration to another, especially when that involves a change of parties. When, for instance President George W. Bush ceded his office to Barack Hussein Obama many people were amazed. Or they should have been, anyway. How could Mr. Bush and all his supporters hand over so much power to his opponent without bloodshed? And yet that is precisely what happened. There was no violence on that inauguration day, or during the election, or in the many months of the preceding campaign. There were quarrels, hard feelings and several law suits; but all parties respect the supreme rule of law, the United States Constitution, and the transition came off smoothly. When we consider that, throughout history, most kings, dictators and tyrants were murdered, we can be grateful for our democratic processes. But they're not to be taken for granted.

Many Centuries ago, the Catholic Church also worked out a way to transfer papal authority from one person to another. We waited till the pope died and then watched as the cardinals elected another. After the Great Western Schism, when there were three claimants to the throne, we have never tolerated a challenge to the papacy. The transitions have not always gone smoothly; but the Church learned such a bitter lesson during the Schism -- it resulted in the Protestant Reformation -- we resolved we would maintain unity at all costs.In the last few years, some church leaders realized that waiting for the Pope to die is no longer reasonable. Many people today live twenty and thirty years after their vigor has faded. And, with the advance of travel and communication technologies, the Papacy has far more authority than its medieval counterparts. A severely disabled Bishop of Rome would cost the church dearly.

We can be grateful that Pope Benedict XVI has made this historic decision. And we must pray that the Roman Catholic Church can preserve its unity through the transition of power to another prelate. Without knowing any more than what is said in the news, I suppose Pope Benedict has developed a schema for the transition. Hopefully, he and his advisers have anticipated the major problems.

Lessor concerns might include: What is the retired pope's title? Where will he live? Will he still be a cardinal? Will he name or suggest or silently prefer his successor? What if he doesn't like the conclave's choice? Can he come out of retirement?

Will the conclave suggest term limits for the next pope? Will they create a legal mechanism to depose an incapacitated pope?

Some people might decide they don't like the choice of the cardinals and claim allegiance to the still-living Cardinal Ratzinger. They could do that just to make trouble, or because they have a real grievance.

Until today, questions like these have been so unsettling the Church preferred not to risk change. Unlike the president of the United States the new pope will not have the world's largest military to maintain him in office. He will not be able to arrest or jail pretenders to his office. He will have only the faith of his world-wide congregation to support him.

Conspiracy theories will abound. I've already heard of one self-appointed prophetess who thinks Pope Benedict has been hounded out of office by evil forces within the Vatican.

This passage will be difficult enough without charlatan nonsense. Let us pray for our beloved Church, the Virgin Bride of Christ, with holy confidence. The Spirit of Jesus will guide us and keep us together until the Day of His Coming.