Argentina, F. Javier Arteaga. This morning, we were astonished to receive the news of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, as Bishop of Rome, renouncing his ministry, and thus the papacy. The world news did not cease to reproduce images of the seven years of pontificate and the repercussions that this news was creating. What is most important is to read what the Pope himself had informed the cardinals and bishops when he announced this decision.
The cause of his resignation is “due to his advanced age” and because “he no longer has the same strength to adequately carry out the Petrine ministry” and later he clarified that the present world is most demanding, subject to rapid changes that require strong and vigorous physical strength and spirit that he no longer has.
We should be in the midst of the World with a strong and renewed faith witnessing with vigor the Truth and the Love of Jesus
These words leave us a clear message: as disciples and missionaries of Christ, we should be in the midst of the world with a strong and renewed faith, witnessing to the Truth and the Love of Jesus with vigor. And when God thus disposes, we should humbly know when to resign and continue serving His Church from another place. This news has caused many to feel consternated and helpless.
Love, humility, sincerity
Over and above the understandable pain, we should highlight in Pope Benedict, the lucidity of his love for the Church, his humility in admitting his limitations, and the sincerity of his conscience before God when he took this transcendental decision for the Church and the World. Benedict XVI, in his wise, profound but at the same time simple way, has conducted us all these years in what is essentials in the Church, for which reason he called 2013, the Year of the Faith.
The truth in Love
In this sense, we can say that he had been the Pope for reason since he has promoted the dialogue between faith and reason and modern science; but also he is the Pope of the heart, and his first encyclical “Deus caritas est” dealt with the paths of love of God and of human beings. Benedict XVI has been a coherent and brave Pope since the beginning of his pontificate, especially in difficult moments of the life of the Church, where he searched the truth in love. With this same love, coherence of life and bravery, he ends his pontifical ministry.
I think of the words of Fr. Kentenich, “He who has a mission must comply with it although it requires one death leap to another,” illustrates very well the Pope’s prophetic decision. We thank the Lord for giving us a Father and a Shepherd of the Church who has been warm and firm, with great intelligence and profoundness, a very open Pope, concerned about peace, mercy and union in the lives of all people and all places during these eight years.
I invite you all to ask Our Lady for the Church, that she guides and accompanies us in this time of waiting and hope, and for the new Pope who will guide the bark of St. Peter on high seas towards new horizons.
From the Shrine, on the day of Our Lady of Lourdes, I send you greetings and blessings,
F. Jose Javier Arteaga
English translation: Kohnie Valderrama, Madrid, Spain
