Surprise Announcement By Pope Benedict XVI
The Wall Street Journal seemed the first this morning to report on the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Not even the Drudge Report got it up so quick. At least that's how I saw it through the blur of my wakeup period during the first cup of coffee. Now we are off to another round of reporting and speculation about who will succeed to the world's most powerful religious office.
In my lifetime I have seen six pontiffs die in office. Pope Benedict is the first in modern times to resign. So we now have a new twist in the story. Many will speculate as to why he chose to resign but the most logical reason is simply age and health. It seems that Joseph Ratzinger likely did not want the job but it fell to him by the circumstances at the time of John Paul II. Now, at age 85 his travel is limited and by all reports he cannot keep up with the demands of the papal office,and those demands are great.
The issues facing the Roman Catholic Church and the new pope are many. The continuing clergy sex abuse scandals are ongoing. Just recently Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles was relieved of all public duties by his successor. Mahoney was found negligent in his handling of wayward priests. The decline of religion and morality in the west, particularly Europe is another concern of the church. The list goes on but the point is a younger leader with the energy to effectively deal with these daily issues is what the organization needs. Pope Benedict obviously sees this and is stepping aside while he can influence the selection of his successor and provide counsel and guidance in the months ahead.
The coming weeks before the conclave to select the new pope will be fascinating to watch and will give us here at Beyond Today an opportunity to comment on the many aspects of this critical important event.
Update: March 13, 2013 - First Pope from Latin America. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina is chosen as the new Pope (the 266th Pope). He will take the name Pope Francis the First.
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Darris McNeely
Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Darris is the Associate Media Producer for the Church. He also is a resident faculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading and spending time with his grandchildren.
