Author Topic: From his own mouth (Read 1352 times)

parentsfortruth · « **on:** February 26, 2014, 09:19:51 AM »

http://www.breitbart.com/system/wire/c4cebe45-0bf3-4f23-800d-571a08e7ba46

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI on Wednesday rejected as "simply absurd" the notions that his resignation might not be valid and that the Vatican hierarchy was now divided between loyalty to him and to Pope Francis.

"There is no doubt at all on the validity of my renunciation," Benedict said in an unprecedented letter published in the La Stampa daily, after it had written to him with questions about when he stepped down in 2013.

"The only condition for validity is that the decision be taken in full freedom. Speculation over an invalid renunciation is simply absurd," said Benedict XVI, whose Latin title is now "pontifex emeritus".

Benedict became the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign in February last year, when he said he could no longer carry on because of his declining health.

He now lives in a former monastery inside Vatican grounds and made a rare public appearance this month at a ceremony in St Peter's Basilica for the appointment of new cardinals by his successor, Pope Francis.

Born in Germany as Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict has continued wearing his papal white cassock, which has caused some confusion, but he addressed this question as simply a "practical" issue.

"Keeping the white cassock and the name Benedict are simply practical. At the time of the renunciation, there were no other cassocks available," he said.

"I wear my white cassock in a way that is distinct from that of the pope. Again, there is speculation here that has no foundation whatsoever," he added.

Benedict also said he had "a great identity of views and heartfelt friendship" with Francis and would devote himself to supporting the papacy through prayer.

Buddy buddy with Franny the Fraudster. All is well(?)!

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2014, 09:48:41 AM »

No one actually believes that the "pope emeritus" was "forced" to resign, do they?

Man of the West · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2014, 12:57:47 PM »

One might think that even if these men (that being Benedict and Francis) were no longer interested in promoting the traditional Catholic faith, they would still, in the interest of being seen as the sane and responsible leaders of a worldwide congregation, do something to curtail these incessant boondoggles which fracture and embarrass their movement and bring confusion to their believers.

One might think that...but one would be wrong. "Sane and responsible" are adjectives that have never applied to the Conciliar Church. The Second Vatican Council itself was nothing if not insane, even from a merely administrative point of view. It has never seemed to dawn on the Conciliar Popes that their clownish behavior might cause serious people to lose respect for them. That goes a fortiori for Francis and JPII, but even John XXIII and Paul VI were notorious word-mincers and operatic interlopers in the affairs of their day.

Benedict's resignation was certainly irresponsible if not forced. What rational motivation could he have for the creation of such chaos? If he has a motive, he has not been forthcoming about it. This leads me to believe that the whole Conciliar Church is doing its best to hide, among other things, that it is an administrative nightmare full of intrigue and sordidness.

Although, Francis has announced his plan to bring transparency to the Vatican Bank. Perhaps this is what old Nixon would call a "modified limited hangout."

Graham · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2014, 01:36:22 PM »

I wonder what Fr. Kramer will say about this?

TKGS · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2014, 01:40:52 PM »

Quote from: Graham

I wonder what Fr. Kramer will say about this?

Probably that he was force to deny that he was forced to retire. :scratchchin:

fast777 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2014, 01:46:36 PM »

I read somewhere a deal was made in 2005 and Benedict was made Pope and would reign till 2013,then resigning to Pope Francis. At the time Ratzinger was the same age as Bergolio was in 2013 at the start of his Papacy. Pope Francis in 2021 will have reigned 8 years.

"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... 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 barque 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me." Pope Benedict XVI

"Well, it turns out the emeritus pope is doing just fine, thank you. Yes, he is nearly 87, slightly stooped and walking with a cane. But his overall health is pretty good and his spirits — and his wit, say friends who see him — are as strong as ever.

“His memory is fresh and his eyes are very bright and joyous,” the Rev. Stephan Otto Horn, head of a close-knit circle of Benedict’s former theology students, said after meeting Benedict in June.

Indeed, Benedict receives a regular stream of visitors in a retrofitted Vatican monastery where he passes the days praying but also reading, playing the piano, and corresponding with old friends and intellectual foes, like the Swiss theologian Hans Kung."

“We are all seeing the impact of Pope Francis on the world, not only on the faithful in the church, but on the world; it is a huge impact, and this impact was also facilitated by Pope Benedict in his resignation,” Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, Benedict’s closest aide and a leading promoter of his boss’ legacy, said this month. “He opened up a possibility that until then was not there.”

In this view, Francis is really building Benedict’s church, as one commentator wrote, and Benedict in fact deserved Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” every bit as much as Francis, said another.

So what does Benedict himself make of all the maneuvering?

He is probably rather amused. Those who know him say that his penchant for sarcasm is as sharp as ever, and if he doesn’t agree with everything Francis is doing — Gaenswein himself admitted to some exasperation with the new pope’s populist ways — Benedict has told friends that “theologically he is very much in the same line with Pope Francis.”

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/02/25/analysis-surprising-afterlife-pope-benedict-xvi/

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2014, 10:11:05 AM »

Quote from: TKGS

Quote from: Graham
I wonder what Fr. Kramer will say about this?

Probably that he was force to deny that he was forced to retire. :scratchchin:

crossbro · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2014, 12:28:18 PM »

I am thinking of resigning too:

Crossbro Jr., Catholic Emeritus. :detective:

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2014, 03:55:38 PM »

Quote from: TKGS

Quote from: Graham
I wonder what Fr. Kramer will say about this?

Probably that he was [forced] to deny that he was forced to retire. :scratchchin:

TKGS, I think you were forced to post this message. :whistleblower:

[I was forced to say that.......... HAHAHAHAHA]

.