Homily: February 11 - The retirement of Pope Benedict XVI

As many of you have heard, this morning Pope Benedict XVI, announced that due to health, he is resigning the Petrine ministry.  I would like to read to you this morning his letter of resignation which he presented this morning in a consistory of the Cardinals of the Catholic Church.

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 steer the boat 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.

The option of a pope to resign is explicitly written into the Code of Canon Law. It says a pope may step down, but stipulates that the decision must be made freely and “duly manifested”, which the Holy Father has done.  This has not happened in over 600 years, but has occurred four other times in Church history.   The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, will now begin to make preparations for a conclave to elect a new pope in March.  Our duty of course remains, to fast and pray for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Please stand as we offer our prayers for the Church and for the world.

For Benedict XVI, that as the Holy Father concludes his ministry as Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff  of the Church, the Lord may bless him with peace and reward him for labors.  We pray to the Lord.

For the Cardinals of the Church, that they may be deeply attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they prepare for the next papal election.   We pray to the Lord.

That as the Christian faithful prepares to enter into the purifying season of lent, the Church will be blessed through our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  We pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick…

For all those who have died…