Here is my post on February 11, 2013. TAC was one of the first Catholic sources in the US to announce the news:
There is a report just in that Pope Benedict is resigning on February 28.
This would be the fifth time that a Pope has abdicated in the history of the Papacy, the most recent being Pope Gregory XII in 1415. Further details as they come in.
Update:Â Here is the statement of the Pope:
 From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
The conclave to elect a new Pope is scheduled for March.
Go here to view the comments. Anyone have a sense of foreboding at the time? I confess that I did not although I was curious as to why the resignation was occurring. I assumed that more info would be forthcoming. Half a decade later and we are still waiting. The Church should be much more transparent than that.
what a bad decision that turned out to be.
I think it must have been blackmail.
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Pope Emeritus mentioned strength of mind and body, of which he believed he was inadequate to fill the ministry. God bless him, however his departure is unusual. Was not St.Pope JP II an inspiration to Benedict? An example?
I have great difficulty believing in the simple exit… retirement. Force out?
Foreboding. Yes. It wasn’t a Sun burst over Saint Peters Basilica that late afternoon.
Let me expand on that. Good people do stupid things, and there is no person (except Mary and Jesus) who has not done something incredibly stupid. Even sinful. I think it very possible that Pope B may have done something stupid, perhaps sinful (maybe even very sinful) that he went to confession for. God, of course, forgave him (just like God forgave Saul, and then Saul went on to become St. Paul).
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The current Court of Public Opinion, however, is not so forgiving. Maybe someone found out–or knew all along– and Pope B felt the need to resign and was hoping for another young, JPII type to be elected. Perhaps B felt he was simply too elderly to fight the good fight and a younger man would better connect with the flock, and so he gambled. Perhaps he, and we, lost that one.
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On the other hand, the vileness that is coming out of the Church is pretty clear to see, and perhaps that is simply part of God’s cleaning process. We’ve got quite a ways to go. This will likely take years, if not decades.
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I do not know if that is true. But if in the future, something along those lines is learned to be true, I would not be surprised.
I like to think that he recognizes what a destructive mistake that decision was.
His decision wasn’t a destructive mistake. That of the College of Cardinals was.
It was reasonably foreseeable that the progressive forces which backed Bergoglio in 2005 would take another run at it in 2013. It was their last chance, really. Benedict gambled they wouldn’t win. He was wrong and the whole Church is paying the price.
The final word is Christ’s.
The severity and length of this chastisement is only known by Him. He wants our prayers quadrupled and our hearts pure. Our confidence in Him is OUR strength and completely relying on Him will serve two causes. First. Humility. Our willingness to turn the our sorrows into Joy stem from our complete trust that He is in control. No Lavender Mafia or Peron centered pontificate will bust this ship.
Two. Our relationship with Holy Mary our Mother will benefit our souls during any storm as long as we don’t abandon her #1 weapon against heresies. Our daily rosaries.
Making up the heel of Her who crushes the head of the Serpent is an honor. Don’t miss out on the opportunity by cursing the darkness.. okay?!
In the end, Her Immaculate Heart will Triumph!