Bishop Michael Pfeifer Comments on Pope Benedict XVI's Resignation
By: Bishop Michael Pfeifer
Updated: February 11, 2013
"Like the whole world, especially the leaders of our Roman Catholic
Church, I was surprised, but not totally, by the sudden decision of
Pope Benedict XVI to offer his resignation as Supreme Pontiff of the
Roman Catholic Church. While it was rather sudden
and not expected at this moment, I had suspected over the past year that
one day soon Pope Benedict XVI, because of advancing age and health
issues, would relinquish the Petrine ministry, as Pope, for our Catholic
Church. I was with Pope Benedict XVI twice
in the past year and a half, and I could see how difficult it was for
him to carry out his universal ministry for the worldwide Church. In
March 2012, along with the other Bishops of Texas, I spent several days
in Rome and had the opportunity for a personal
visit with Pope Benedict XVI, and we all could see that his strength was
failing. During that visit, he gave me a special pectoral cross that I
wear each day and treasure immensely.
"Pope Benedict XVI, as he has indicated in his statement of
resignation, does this for what he considers to be the best for our
Catholic Church at this time. I know this is a very difficult decision
for him, as he wants to continue a very demanding ministry,
unlike that of any other office in the world.
"Pope Benedict XVI, who accepted the election of the Cardinals to
head the Papacy already at an age when he could have retired, gave his
entire heart and strength as long as he could to lead our Catholic
Church during the past eight years.
"Pope Benedict XVI brought the tender heart of a pastor, the
incisive mind of a scholar and the confidence of a soul united with his
God in all that he did. His resignation is but another sign of his great
care for the Church. We are sad that he will
be resigning, but grateful for his eight years of selfless leadership as
successor of St. Peter.
"While elected at an age past retirement, Pope Benedict XVI, as a
newly-elected Pope, set out to meet his people -and they were of all
faiths - all over the world. He visited the religiously threatened -
Jews, Muslims and Christians in the war-torn Middle
East, the desperately poor in Africa, and the world's youth gathered to
meet him in Australia, Germany, and Spain. I was with him at two of
those huge World Youth gatherings--in Australia and in Spain.
"He delighted our beloved United States of America when he visited
Washington and New York in 2008. I had the privilege of being with him
during that visit to Washington, and especially when he visited the
White House when he and President Bush together
addressed thousands of people on the South Lawn of the White House.
"As a spiritual leader he led the Catholic community in prayer at
Nationals Park, Yankee Stadium, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. He spoke
for the world's poor when he visited them and wrote of equality among
nations in his peace messages and encyclicals.
"I thank God that I had the privilege as a Bishop of the Roman
Catholic Church to serve God's people under his leadership, and I recall
my visits with him even before he became Pope Benedict XVI, when he was
known as Cardinal Ratzinger. As he lives out
this surely hard-made decision, but what he considers to be the will of
God and the best for the Church he has guided, I thank him for his
outstanding, gracious, and enlightened leadership that he has provided
for the Catholic Church and the whole world. As
I have done every day, I will continue to pray for him, and invite all
of our people to pray for him.
"This is a unique moment in the life of the Catholic Church, as we
have not experienced a change in the Papacy through resignation, but
rather those that have come about because of the death of a Pope in
office. I invite all of our people during this
time of transition, and as we prepare for the conclave of Cardinals to
elect a new Pope, to more than ever pray for the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. May Jesus, who is the main Shepherd of our Church and all of
us, continue to guide us, and may His precious
Mother, Mary, continue to intercede for us."
-- Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, Bishop of San Angelo
