Human Face of Petrine Ministry 

 

Pope Benedict XVI on Monday 11^th February 2012 announced a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. The Pope stated, “after having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.  … For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me … on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant.”

 

It is unheard that a Pope resigns. Is this act possible and canonical? The Canon Law provides for the possibility of a Pope to renounce his office. In this case, since there is no higher authority, his renunciation does not have to be accepted by anyone but need only to be expressed freely.

 

Followed by the Papal announcement, various theologians have expressed their viewpoints, both positive as well as negative such as:

 

1.     Pope Benedict XVI has truly been a Holy Father to the family of God, the Catholic Church. His decision to resign is a beautiful saintly act, Christ-like act of humility and love for the Church. This is the act of one who thinks not about himself but only about the will of God and the good of God’s people.

2.     This act is potentially great significance, and it may be that his resignation will be his greatest contribution to ecclesiology. His frank admission about his strength of mind and body needed for the Petrine ministry explains the humanness of the pope and hence of the Church.

3.     The papal decision is understood to be a wonderful example of personal discernment. Not every man who is pope will retire as Benedict XVI just did. It is part of God's plan for him. It is discovered over time, in prayer and many times through the circumstances of life.

4.     The resignation is theologically founded, because it puts an end not to the power of orders, but only to the power of jurisdiction.

5.     The action takes on an impact “not simply innovative, but revolutionary”.

6.     Many have contrasted Benedict's decision, with Blessed John Paul II's decision to soldier on to the end despite the disease. Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul faced circumstances that were alike in some ways. But these were two different men who heard God calling them to act in two quite different ways.

7.     From the historical point of view the resignation of the Pope “appears to be in absolute discontinuity with the tradition and praxis of the Church.” Resignation in the history is to be considered as exceptional cases.

8.     It seems that Pope Paul VI gave some thought to resigning, but he wouldn’t because “he cannot come down from his cross.” Similar words were applied to Pope John Paul II as the church watched him fade away: “You don’t come down from the cross.”

9.     The cross is the status of every Christian and “rebelling against one's status, rejecting a grace received, would appear to be for a Christian a grave offense against the virtues.”

10.  Resigning means losing the universal name of Peter and going back to the private being of Simon.

11.  Pope Benedict XVI should not resign, but should withdraw such a supreme decision. Not the resignation, but its withdrawal becomes an act of supernatural courage.

12.  A martyr pope brings more souls to heaven than a hundred resigned popes.

 

What will Benedict XVI be remembered for in the long run? The tremendous emphasis he has placed on new evangelization, his courageous stands against things like women's ordination and same-sex marriage that set him firmly in opposition to, his equally courageous defense of the Second Vatican Council as a council of both continuity and reform, etc. He has written Jesus of Nazareth, an important three-volume work on how to read the Gospels. He has written encyclical letters on the virtues of love and hope and important works on the Word of God and the Eucharist. He has delivered a series of catechesis on the apostles and the teachings of St. Paul; on the Fathers and doctors of the Church; on the theologians and religious founders and reformers of the medieval Church; and on the teaching and witness of prayer found in the Old and New Testaments. Above all, it is also possible that he'll be best remembered as the pope who resigned.

 

No doubt, Pope Benedict XVI is a great spiritual leader of our times. His resignation is perceived as demonstration of his high spirituality, deep humility, fine theology and great teaching. He will be remembered as one of the Church’s great teachers of the faith. Pope Benedict is one of the wisest persons in our world today. Just witnessing his ministry, reading his writings, is a beautiful lesson for all of us in how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. His clarity of thought on religious and secular matters is appreciated by all. He was unafraid and courageous to speak the truth in matters of faith and morals. He is very realistic to accept his physical weakness due to insurmountable efforts throughout the past years in various capacities. With his resignation he convincingly proclaims that the Church is Christ's. He considers his office of the Vicar of Christ is a ministry in the Church entrusted to a humble and simple human being. The ministry in the Church is important and it has to continue rather than the person. Petrine ministry is to confirm the Church in faith, and so, naturally, for continuing this ministry, another suitable person will have to be elected.