Resignation of Pope shocking to Catholics
The not previously expected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has made the announcement a shock to the more than 1.2 billion Catholics all over the world.It is not the kind of thing that happens very often in the Catholic Church. The last Pope to resign was Pope Gregory the XII in 1415.
That’s unlike the Baptist minister, who moves every time the critics outnumber the supporters.
As one old Baptist minister said: “It’s not hard to move when the Lord is pulling and the people are pushing.”
It is almost “more than he can shake a bishop at.”
Close observers have said the Pope was simply exhausted from the heavy load he carries.
Truth is, when Mimi asked why I thought he resigned, I replied. “He was too pooped to Pope.”
A later announcement on what the Pope plans to do with his time brought the inspiring word that he plans to “give himself to prayer.”
There is no greater gift to give oneself than to prayer. The deepest wishes of the heart find expression in prayer. As someone said, “A good man’s prayers can climb from the deepest dungeon of life to heaven’s heights and bring a blessing down.”
