The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Joe Escalante ·
February 12, 2013 at 7:05am
Many Popes have to serve part of their papacy with some sort of dementia. This will be one of the few Popes in history not to have to do that. He will also have a strong influence over the selection of his successor, by sheer virtue of being alive and in the neighborhood. This is the way it should be done. Benedict XVI knows that. Brilliant decision. And dedicating the remainder of his life to prayer is also a service.
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Jun '10
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
It doesn't have to be dementia. If the problem is advanced congestive heart failure, for example, it saps your energy, and even mental exertion starts to be affected. It's what took FDR down, and people noticed at the end that FDR, in some cases, lost the energy to debate.
Apr '11
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Still it seems odd to me, but who am I to question the man?
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
But dementia is when the shadowy figures start to hover and claim to speak for the Pope "who can't exactly express himself in his current state."
"When the Holy Father meant to say was........"
That's what scares me, and probably B-XVI
Jun '10
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Just a curiosity: If my (non-Catholic) 100-yr-old mother lives through March, she will have lived through nine papal elections. Does she care? No, not really. :)
Oct '10
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Aren't you going to have shadowy figures saying "the real, I mean former, Holy Father is not pleased with..."? Not to mention the whole Putin/Medvedev thing...
Jun '10
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
When I first heard the news I was shocked, I thought I couldn't possibly be reading it right. Then I was worried: I assumed it meant Benedict was seriously ill, but reports all deny that. Then I was puzzled.
But now, after due reflection, I'm happy. For Joseph Ratzinger.
The man never wanted to be Pope in the first place, though he accepted the task without complaint. He had offered his resignation several times to John Paul II, who always refused and insisted he stay at CDF long after he wished to retire. He's a quiet, shy, professorial type and I can only imagine how taxing he must have found the constant public appearances required of the Pontiff. He's been serving at the Vatican for over 3 decades now.
I recall reading that his older brother Georg said he was saddened after learning that his brother was elected Pope, because he had been looking forward to spending their retirement years together and that would no longer be possible. Now perhaps his wish can come true after all.
Jan '11
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Joe Escalante
Brilliant decision. And dedicating the remainder of his life to prayer is also a service. · · .
Amen and Amen.
Jun '10
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Yes, Benedict is a great, great man. He's doing this for all the right reasons. And most important: he's giving precedent setting support for those popes in the future who feel they would like to step down.
And, Joe, you are so right about the people around the pope who get too much power that is not theirs. This is why FDR's team wanted him to run for that disastrous un-democratic run in 1944 -- there was no excuse for that. None.
I pray that he has many more years to live in health and happiness. May God bless him and may we all thank God for the many, many years of service he has given the world -- because make no mistake, this is an extraordinary soul who was devoted to giving full meaning to the word catholic.
Jan '11
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
I certainly see the benefits of the decision -- for the pope, the papacy, and the church -- and appreciate that breaking with tradition on this takes some guts... but isn't it a bit much to call it "brilliant"?
Edited on February 12, 2013 at 5:35pmRe: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Those are called angels.
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Divinely inspired is probably what it actually was. In fact "brilliant" is probably an insult to what it really was, which is something we probably can't define with our peanut sized brains.
Tom Meyer: I certainly see the benefits of the decision -- for the pope, the papacy, and the church -- and appreciate that breaking with tradition on this takes some guts... but isn't it a bit much to call it "brilliant"? · 48 minutes ago
Edited 47 minutes ago
Jan '11
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Huh?
I know you're being flippant here, but I thought you were being serious when you described Benedict's decision as "brilliant" and "genius." Stipulating that it was smart and for the best, I don't see how it deserves that description. Could you explain?
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Probably not. I believe he is a genius for many reasons. In the post, I articulated the reasons why I think his latest move is genius. Then I clarified by saying that is was possibly not genius, but divine. There's no flippancy. This is my opinion, that's what we do here. We express opinions.
Tom Meyer
Huh?
I know you're being flippant here, but I thought you were being serious when you described Benedict's decision as "brilliant" and "genius." Stipulating that it was smart and for the best, I don't see how it deserves that description. Could you explain? · 1 hour ago
Jan '11
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Okay, I'm sorry; I misread your second comment. I guess the papacy's discovery of voluntary abdication due to old age doesn't strike me the same way it does you.
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
You bring up a good point because it seems simple to an outsider but it is not. The fact that you think the issue boils down to "discovery of voluntary abdication due to old age" is telling.
Trying to understand Catholic Church from the outside is problematic. It is a mystical construct as much if not more than a physical / social one. It's like trying to understand Buddhism without a being a serious student of it.
Jun '12
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Thanks Mr Escalante, great post.
Most of all, for drawing out Melfoil!
Apr '11
Re: The Pope's Resignation (and Why He's a Genius)
Perfect post!