In a shocking address to the
cardinals at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI says he will step down from his
position on February 28th. The announcement stunning members of the church around
the world, including our area.
"It's a shock because it hasn't happened in hundreds of years
that a pope has resigned," said Michael Lammers, Aquinas High School campus minister. "But he's such a prayerful man, and he makes his
decisions out of prayer. And so when we're guided by prayer, you know I'm very
confident that he knows what he's doing."
This is the first time a pope has
resigned in nearly 600 years. Some church
leaders in our area were not as surprised.
"Several times, he has hinted
that if his health ever impeded him from being able to be effective as pope and
carry out his duties as pope then he would resign," said Father Pablo Magone of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Augusta.
But the 85-year-old pontiff's
timing to resign is even more shocking to church members. This Wednesday is Ash
Wednesday; a day that marks the start of the Lenten season; a vital period of
prayer and sacrifice in the Catholic faith.
"It's huge," Lammers said. "It's a time to prepare our minds;
just to get more in touch with the passion in death and what Christ did for
us."
Even though the pope governs
billions in the Catholic Church, church leaders say worshipers won't feel a
direct impact as lent begins.
"What keeps
the church going is no one particular human being, but it's Christ Himself
present among us," Father Magone said.
Today Pope Benedict
XVI called his choice to resign "a decision of great importance for the
life of the church." He says he will dedicate the rest of his life to
prayer.
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