Text of Pope Benedict XVI's Retirement Announcement

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Disney-Britton

Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican Dec. 24. RNS photo by Paul Haring/Catholic News Service

This morning, as I concluded my conversation with God about my 2013 Lenten sacrifice, I learned of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. It was painful news. While I have not agreed with him on every issue, I love my Holy Roman Catholic Church, and it appeals to my sense of order that one person can make final decisions on issues that divide the faithful. Today's announcement that I (we) will soon lose this "Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter" will have a powerful impact on my sense of sacrifice during this 2013 period of Lent. Pope Benedict has been a good leader, and a real champion for a resurgence in the call for artists to produce religious art. He has been a decent advocate for interfaith dialogue, and for these things I am forever grateful. Here’s the text of my pope’s announcement, delivered to his cardinals gathered today in Rome for the canonization of three new saints.

“Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. 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. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. 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 by the Cardinals 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 and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.  

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.” [Source: Religion News Service]