Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday admitted “stormy waters” during
his papacy as he gave his farewell speech in St Peter’s Square before tens of
thousands of pilgrims on the eve of his momentous resignation.
his papacy as he gave his farewell speech in St Peter’s Square before tens of
thousands of pilgrims on the eve of his momentous resignation.
A smiling Benedict looked relaxed as his white “popemobile” bore
him through the famous plaza where more than 150,000 people had gathered under
a bright, cloudless sky for his historic sendoff.
him through the famous plaza where more than 150,000 people had gathered under
a bright, cloudless sky for his historic sendoff.
A woman clutching a rosary wiped away tears as the octogenarian
Benedict passed. One of the hundreds of cardinals and bishops in their red and
purple-sashed robes could also be seen tearing up.
Benedict passed. One of the hundreds of cardinals and bishops in their red and
purple-sashed robes could also be seen tearing up.
Some in the throng held up huge banners with messages such as
“Benedict, we’ll miss you!” and “The pope is the heart of this city!” or waved
the Vatican’s yellow and white flag at the pontiff’s last public event.
“Benedict, we’ll miss you!” and “The pope is the heart of this city!” or waved
the Vatican’s yellow and white flag at the pontiff’s last public event.
A hush fell over the sea of pilgrims as the pope began speaking.
Benedict drew an analogy between his reign and a miracle
recounted in the Bible when Jesus Christ calmed the waters as he was sailing on
a fishing boat with his disciples including St Peter — who is believed by Christians
to be the first pope.
recounted in the Bible when Jesus Christ calmed the waters as he was sailing on
a fishing boat with his disciples including St Peter — who is believed by Christians
to be the first pope.
“The Lord gave us days of sun and of light breeze, days in which
the fishing was good. There were also moments when there were stormy waters and
headwinds,” the pope said in an apparent reference to the multiple scandals that
have plagued his reign.
the fishing was good. There were also moments when there were stormy waters and
headwinds,” the pope said in an apparent reference to the multiple scandals that
have plagued his reign.
“But I always knew that God was in that boat and I always knew
that the boat of the Church is not mine, is not ours, but is his and he will
not let it sink,” the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics told the
cheering crowd.
that the boat of the Church is not mine, is not ours, but is his and he will
not let it sink,” the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics told the
cheering crowd.
Benedict also said his decision to resign — which makes him the
first pope to do so since the Middle Ages — had not been an easy one but had
been taken for the good of the Church.
first pope to do so since the Middle Ages — had not been an easy one but had
been taken for the good of the Church.
“I took this step in full awareness of its gravity and novelty
but with profound serenity of spirit,” he said, adding: “I will continue to
accompany the Church with prayer and reflection.”
but with profound serenity of spirit,” he said, adding: “I will continue to
accompany the Church with prayer and reflection.”
“The Lord gave us days
of sun and of light breeze, days in which the fishing was good. There were also
moments when there were stormy waters and headwinds.But I always knew that God
was in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, is
not ours, but is his and he will not let it sink.”
of sun and of light breeze, days in which the fishing was good. There were also
moments when there were stormy waters and headwinds.But I always knew that God
was in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, is
not ours, but is his and he will not let it sink.”
—Pope Benedict XVl in
his last speech 27 February, 2013
his last speech 27 February, 2013
The frail 85-year-old stunned the world with his abrupt decision
to end an eight-year reign dogged by scandal and Vatican infighting, declaring
he was too weak to keep up with the modern world.
to end an eight-year reign dogged by scandal and Vatican infighting, declaring
he was too weak to keep up with the modern world.
The scourge of paedophile priests and cover-ups by their
superiors cast a dark shadow over Benedict’s papacy, combined with a
longstanding money-laundering scandal at the Vatican bank, which exposed infighting
among Benedict’s closest allies.
superiors cast a dark shadow over Benedict’s papacy, combined with a
longstanding money-laundering scandal at the Vatican bank, which exposed infighting
among Benedict’s closest allies.
What observers said may have been the last straw was the scandal
that came to be known as “Vatileaks”, in which his trusted butler leaked secret
papal memos revealing intrigues between rival groups of cardinals.
that came to be known as “Vatileaks”, in which his trusted butler leaked secret
papal memos revealing intrigues between rival groups of cardinals.
But Wednesday’s crowds did not dwell on the scandals.
“I have come in gratitude for everything he has done these past
eight years,” said Father Giulio, a 67-year-old priest from the Abruzzo region.
eight years,” said Father Giulio, a 67-year-old priest from the Abruzzo region.
“Resigning is a powerful message for every Christian. He resigned
without bitterness but instead in sweetness and serenity,” he said.
without bitterness but instead in sweetness and serenity,” he said.
Giuseppe Fan, a Vietnamese seminarian, stood on tiptoe on the
steps of one of the square’s fountains for a better view.
steps of one of the square’s fountains for a better view.
“I love the pope,” he told AFP. “I’m sad that he’s leaving, but he
has made a grand gesture of love for the Church.”
has made a grand gesture of love for the Church.”
A top Vatican prelate, Rino Fisichella, praised Benedict’s
speech as a “true hymn to the Church”.
speech as a “true hymn to the Church”.
The pope “has put all his faith in the hands of the spirit (in)
a great testimony of faith,” said Fisichella, who heads the Pontifical Council
for the New Evangelisation.
a great testimony of faith,” said Fisichella, who heads the Pontifical Council
for the New Evangelisation.
Benedict’s resignation is a break with Catholic tradition that
has worried conservatives but kindled the hopes of Catholics around the world
who want a successor who will breathe new life into the Church.
has worried conservatives but kindled the hopes of Catholics around the world
who want a successor who will breathe new life into the Church.
“In these last few
months, I have felt my strength diminish and I have asked God with insistency
in my prayers to illuminate me with his light and make me take the best
decision.I took this step in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with
profound serenity of spirit. Loving the Church also means having the courage to
make difficult, painful choices, always keeping the good of the Church in mind
and not ourselves.”
months, I have felt my strength diminish and I have asked God with insistency
in my prayers to illuminate me with his light and make me take the best
decision.I took this step in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with
profound serenity of spirit. Loving the Church also means having the courage to
make difficult, painful choices, always keeping the good of the Church in mind
and not ourselves.”
—Pope Benedict XVl
Sharon Clark, a tourist from the United States, told AFP: “I
admire Benedict, but I hope the next pope will have the strength to unite the
Church and help it grow again — and bring back a bit of morality.”
admire Benedict, but I hope the next pope will have the strength to unite the
Church and help it grow again — and bring back a bit of morality.”
While most appeared to accept the pope’s imminent departure, at
least one banner pleaded: “Benedict, change your mind!”
least one banner pleaded: “Benedict, change your mind!”
But Jan Graubner, archbishop of Olomouc, Czech Republic, said
that while he was sad to see the pope leave, “gratitude outweighs sadness
because I see that the Holy Father wants this. It’s his will.”
that while he was sad to see the pope leave, “gratitude outweighs sadness
because I see that the Holy Father wants this. It’s his will.”
Later Wednesday the pope followed up his farewell speech with
what the Vatican said would be one of his last Tweets: “If only everyone could
experience the joy of being Christian, being loved by God who gave his Son for
us!” the pope wrote.
what the Vatican said would be one of his last Tweets: “If only everyone could
experience the joy of being Christian, being loved by God who gave his Son for
us!” the pope wrote.
The Vatican has said Benedict will receive the title of “Roman
pontiff emeritus” and can still be addressed as “Your Holiness” and wear the
white papal cassock after he officially steps down at 1900 GMT on Thursday.
pontiff emeritus” and can still be addressed as “Your Holiness” and wear the
white papal cassock after he officially steps down at 1900 GMT on Thursday.
Rome has been gripped by speculation over who the leading
candidates might be to replace him — the so-called “papabili” — as cardinals
from around the world fly in ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope.
candidates might be to replace him — the so-called “papabili” — as cardinals
from around the world fly in ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope.
Rumours and counter-rumours in the Italian media suggest
cloak-and-dagger lobbying, prompting the Vatican to condemn what it has called
“unacceptable pressure” to influence the papal election.
cloak-and-dagger lobbying, prompting the Vatican to condemn what it has called
“unacceptable pressure” to influence the papal election.
Campaign groups have also lobbied the Vatican to exclude two
cardinals accused of covering up child sex abuse from the upcoming election
conclave.
cardinals accused of covering up child sex abuse from the upcoming election
conclave.
A total of 115 “cardinal electors” are scheduled to take part in
next month’s conclave to choose a successor to Benedict.
next month’s conclave to choose a successor to Benedict.
