Friday Frivolity: Sittin’ Here
Since I got to speak about my favourite Pope today… What has Pope Benedict been doing recently?
Tag: Pope Benedict
Which Pope said that?
I’m really pleased that the media is receptive to Pope Francis, but I am still a bit mystified as to their level of enthusiasm. Pope Francis is certainly more charismatic then Pope Benedict, but he was a shy introverted academic so that’s hardly a surprise! These Popes can’t simply be reduced to soundbites and appearances.
Anyway, if you think you know the last three Popes, I’d invite you to take this quiz form the New York Times where you have to match the quotation to the right Pope…
Shocking Things The Pope Believes
I really should just not read secular coverage of Catholic events, it’s just too annoying. Fortunately, Meg Hunter-Kilmer over at Held By His Pieced Hands has some sanity in her new article entitled 5 Shocking Things Pope Francis Believes:
“How to become Pope” aka “My Master Plan”
I’m sneaking in a non-Desert Fathers related post because I’m sure most Catholics are going to be increasingly pestered with more questions as to how a Pope is elected. So, if you want to sound smart you can either read about it over at Shameless Popery, or watch this snazzy video:
Pope Benedict Resigns!
We live in rare times. Pope Benedict has just announced that he will be stepping down as Pope on February 28th. In the 2,000 year history of the Church there have only been three other Popes who have done this. Here is the text of his announcement to the Cardinals:
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 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 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.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI
Pope Posting
One of the reasons I began this blog was in response to repeated Papal exhortations for Catholics to engage the digital world. There were other reasons why I started which I have mentioned before, but that was definitely one of them.
At the end of last month, Pope Benedict issued a document for World Communications Day. I have posted the document in its entirety below, underlining the parts which I thought were really important.
I think it should be required reading for all Catholics who have a Facebook account…
Deus Caritas Est
A few weeks ago I recorded the Second Vatican Counsel document which concerns the Eastern Rite Churches, Orientalium Ecclesiarum. This weekend I completed recording Pope Benedict’s first encyclical God Is Love (“Deus Caritas Est”) onto MP3.
Introduction (Download)
Part I (Download)
Part II (Download)