A Day Later: What the World is Saying about BXVI

As was certain to happen, main stream media and more or less all news outlets throughout the world are reflecting on Pope Benedict's resignation in one of a couple ways: there is a scandal coming that we don't know about, the Vatican is hiding something about his health from us, or this is somehow analogous to a political move by someone within the Church somewhere. Without fail, an article not on EWTN or another faithful Catholic news source will either question the reasoning (something along the lines of "he was too traditional to every do something radical") or assume they know something that is coming about the history of Pope Benedict. Then, without skipping a beat, they jump to the conversation about how the election of the new Pope will be very important for where the Church moves in the future, with talk of some more "liberal" candidates who might change some Church teaching (of course, they say, nothing big like women priests, but at least they're going to allow condoms in Africa).

First, we need to get something straight-Pope Benedict was not forced out of his Papacy by some new information or some scandal. The man is a humble 85 year old who realized that in the modern age medicine will keep men alive longer, but not necessarily allow them the necessary strength to be the head of Christ's Church on earth. His announcement yesterday was humble acceptance of God's will, not something he was coerced into.

Next, when it comes to electing a new Pope, this isn't some political issue where the cardinals will battle based on issues. Any suggestions of this sort should stop. The cardinals don't listen to debates between candidates and try and choose who is the most competent. No one declares candidacy, and no cardinal would listen if they did. The only Person the college of cardinals listens to is the person of Jesus, alive and well in our midst, speaking to the cardinals in the Holy Spirit. This is a decision of prayer, not a decision of politics.

Through 2,000 years the Church has endured through scandal, schism, crisis, and everything else the world has thrown its way. Jesus Christ left a Church to lead His flock on earth, and that Church isn't going to suddenly change due to the whims of people in modern times. Pope Benedict XVI was a wonderful pope, as was John Paul II before him, and yet in the grand scheme of things they are servants-this is Jesus' Church, and with Him as a leader it will not fail.

This video below is Cardinal Arinze, currently the Prefect Emeritus for the Congregation of Divine Worship, talking about the reaction of the cardinals, and then reflecting on the Papacy (a role he very well could fill in the coming weeks). He puts it the best-this is the Church of Christ, Christ who is the same yesterday today and tomorrow, and the Pope is simply the "servant of servants," the one called upon to serve Christ's Church here on Earth.

So we don't need to create political sects in the college of cardinals in our analysis, because they don't exist-we just need to pray and trust the Holy Spirit; He hasn't let us down yet, and I don't assume He will now.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, 

and you shall renew the face of the Earth.