IN all the years of Roman Catholic Church history, three Popes have resigned their positions - Saint Clement I, Celestine V, and Gregory XII.
The last of these did so in 1415 some 600 years ago. Pope Benedict XVI choose the liturgical Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes on which to make his announcement, surely not a coincidence? Pope John Paul II declared February 11 ‘World Day of The Sick’ in 1992, and while it has been usually reserved in the Papal diary as a time to meet the sick in St Peter’s Basilica, it was removed from Benedict’s schedule this year.
Interestingly, Benedict’s resignation happens to be one on quite a list of worldwide changes taking place in church leadership.
The Archbishop of Canterbury handed in his resignation a few months ago. In Egypt a new pope was appointed in November as leader of Egypt’s Copts, replacing Shenouda III who had been leader of this ancient church for over 40 years. Just last Sunday the new Patriarch of Antioch and all the East was enthroned in Damascus, and only four years ago the Patriarch of Moscow and all the Rus was newly elected. In fact, the only long-time church leader still in position is the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I.
These changes in leadership in the world’s major denominations will, I believe, usher in a renewed emphasis on ecumenical developments and bring fresh challenges to this generation of Protestants whose Reformed faith will be challenged afresh. Nothing happens in isolation.
Of course Benedict’s conservative rule will have an impact on whoever is elected Pope of Rome. The Conclave of Cardinals will include those hand picked by him, and he will not have made any man a Cardinal in whom he did not have confidence.
When the white smoke is seen, Benedict will have played his part, having lit the taper!
Benedict has served as an interim Pope rather than a reforming Pope. He has bridged the gap between the charisma of his predecessor and the requirement to find a Pope who will appeal to a new generation of disillusioned youth. His steely response to the worldwide problem of abuse has done nothing to reignite the passion of the faithful.
The zealous affection to Mother Church that makes young men give up their lives to the Priesthood and young women to the Orders, has not been one of his achievements. He has been an intellectual Pope whose clever penmanship has side-stepped the issues faced by the ordinary men and women who used to fill the pews, in favour of further entrenching doctrines that keep the pew rapt to the priesthood. For all his cleverness, the church has not been revived, but I very much doubt that was Benedict’s aim. Instead, the next Pope will be free to woo and win by all means, as the unpopular work has been done. The horse was fitted for the course, unlike a whole lot of other horses this week!