Saddened by the Pope’s resignation

When I heard the news that Pope Benedict XVI was going to resign, I felt sad. I have not experienced a pope ever resigning in my lifetime and could not reconcile the rational behind his decision. Well, now that he has resigned with a heartwarming and endearing spiritual message, I guess it’s time to move on and accept the change. As Lao Tsu once said, “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

Here’s a bit of information I gathered about a pope’s resignation. It’s always good to understand how things work. A papal resignation happens when the reigning pope of the Roman Catholic Church voluntarily steps down from his position. Convention has it, that the reign of the pope is from election to death. This is why a papal resignation is an uncommon event.

It has been 600 years or more since a pope resigned. The last pope who resigned was Pope Gregory XII in 1415. He stepped down to end the “Great Western Schism”, the worst institutional crisis in the church’s history. During this time it was said that there were not only three popes but three colleges of cardinals competing for allegiance. Pope Gregory’s resignation was considered heroic because it helped the Church heal at a critical moment.

According to Christopher M. Bellito, chair and associate professor of history at Kean University in Union, New Jersey and author of 101 Questions and Answers on Popes and the Papacy, Pope Benedict XVI will go down in history in the line of scholar popes more interested in high-end theology than modern evangelism. He seemed smaller compared to John Paul II. He was looked upon as an introvert. Come to think of it, we rarely heard about him compared to Pope John Paul II. He kept mum on issues of priests involved in sexual abuse cases and the related problems of bishops who protected predators, not to mention the seeming over involvement of the Church in political matters. I think these were and still are the major issues he was unable to resolve.

Why did Pope Benedict XVI resign? This is a top kept secret that the Vatican will never divulge. They will always say it had something to do with the pope’s health, but I doubt it. Belonging to an older generation, he probably realized that he can no longer do the job and preserve the sanctity of the Church especially in this modern day and age.

The religious landscape that we have now for the country is that of a Church who has been throwing its weight around trying to influence government policies and other political issues. It seems that our Church leaders no longer live what they preach. Sermons have become political, too political sometimes that it becomes an irritant to a churchgoer who wants to pray and spend time with the Lord. Activism pervades the air of an erstwhile Holy Sanctuary meant to provide shelter and hope for the people of God.

What happened to the Catholic Church? What happened to the Catholic citizens? My grandfather, Benito Soliven a devout Catholic once wrote about the Catholic Church and Catholic Citizens. I want to share his thoughts with you:

Throughout the centuries, the Catholic Church has stood for all that is noble, good and true in the mind and heart of mankind. Despite the accumulated errors and calumnies of her detractors and enemies who impute to her, unwittingly or deliberately, the misdeeds and blunders of individuals and even the imperfections of man, the Church stands out as a stabilizing, enlightening and saving influence in human society, even considered from a purely realistic point of view.

What are the effects of the teachings of the Catholic Church on the individual as a citizen and a member of society? The Catholic who is true to his principles and his Creed, loves God, and obeys His commandments. He loves and serves his fellowmen. He is a good citizen and a patriot. He is progressive and seeks truth and knowledge. He is courageous with that strength born of righteousness and virtue. He is a power for good in the community.

The Catholic believes in the existence of God, His infinite goodness, wisdom and power, who rewards the good with everlasting happiness, and imposes upon the wicked eternal punishment. The Catholic will do all the good that he can, all that is worthy and just; will view the true purpose of life on earth; the eternal glory of God, compliance with duty, service one’s fellowmen, and the salvation of one’s soul.

With the foregoing as the major premise of existence, the Catholic should love his neighbor and serves his fellowmen. He must be just to everyone, friend or foe; defend the weak and the oppressed; chivalrous to womanhood and considerate to old age; perform, whenever possible, acts of kindness and mercy; and a useful member of the community in which he lives.

Therefore, the Catholic is a good citizen. He knows that all authority emanates from God, and that duly constituted governments must be respected as long as they do not conflict with the divine mandates, and the fundamental rights of man. This is especially true in a democracy, where the powers of government are largely derived from the consent of the governed, in conformity with the natural law and the law of reason.

And finally the Catholic is courageous. He has the courage of his convictions, and does not yield to the forces of evil. There is among the legends of knighthood, the story of Sir Galahad. Among the famous Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur, he surpassed all in the purity of his soul, and the nobleness of his acts. He was brave and strong because in the words of the poet, his heart was pure.

The days of knights and shining armor, with lance and sword, are gone. But there is a knighthood no less noble than theirs: the knighthood of Catholic men. They do not have to engage in spectacular combats with might and main, but their battles of a moral order in everyday life, for all that Christianity stands for, are no less glorious than the greatest ever fought and won when knighthood was in flower!

The Catholic Church needs healing. It has gone astray. I hope that the cardinals choose a good, vibrant, and just man to be the next pope, one who can conquer the changes and meet the challenges of the times.