VATICAN CORNER
Former Pope Benedict, who shocked the world when he resigned in 2013, turned 90 years old this last April 16, 2017. In a recent interview it was reported that he is remarkable well for his age, with only minor ailments from! Me to! Me. He is in good spirits, very clear in his head and still has a good sense of humor. What bothers him are his legs, so he uses a walker for help, and it provides him freedom of movement and autonomy. He has been living just a few hundred meters up the hill from Pope Francis in the Mater Ecclesiae, a monastery behind St. Peter’s Basilica. He is in self-chosen religious seclusion and meditation, in an order with a membership of one. Despite Benedict’s repeated explanations of the reason for his resignation, many Catholics and other Church-watchers suspect there is more to the story, and want to know. But as Benedict tells it, the decision was based on the state of his advanced age and failing health, and the timing was primarily so a new Pope would be in place to travel to World Youth Day later that year in Rio de Janeiro. In his memoirs he makes it very clear that external pressure or adversities would never have made him resign. He stated in his resignation letter “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.” He had witnessed Pope John Paul II struggle with health while Pope, and didn’t want a replay. After his long years of service and 8 difficult and divisive years as Pope, Benedict thought the Church needed someone stronger and healthier than himself. He considers his resignation “not an attempt to escape, but in fact another way of remaining faithful in my service,” quietly praying and sacrificing for the Church and the world. Every day he watches the news on Italian TV and reads the newspapers. He brings his worries to his prayers, hoping that his prayers will help to put things rights. He still wears the white papal vestments sans cape and sash. He is served by four consecrated laywomen and his priest-secretary. He has a piano and a library of books to keep him occupied. At Sunday Mass with the consecrated laywomen, his secretary, and sometimes a visitor or another priest, Benedict always comments on the Gospel with a homily made up on the spot. Many people wish to meet him, and he allows some brief private encounters, but many are sad when it is not possible. Pope Francis often tells him that he shouldn’t hide and invites him to important public liturgies. He is many times present, even when no one sees him, but often he is seen. He wants to be present as much as possible while remaining invisible. He always has fond words about Pope Francis and is delighted with the goodwill the world is showing him. Pope Francis is said to be happy about having a “wise” grandfather like Benedict that he can “seek advice” from. The Pope emeritus Benedict has no regrets, but he is in a cell of his own making, committed not to travel and pledged not to speak out against his successor. He watches, as one who spent a third of a century making the Church one of firm doctrine and strict prohibition, while now Pope Francis is slowly trying to change it into a more open, decentralized and flexible Church. He cannot be altogether happy about it.
Sources: theatlantic.com, Inside the Vatican, catholicnewsagency.com