CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — It was stunning! The announcement yesterday of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI effective Feb. 28 took many Catholics around the world by surprise.
Here at home, Kapampangan Catholics are reeling from the Pope’s announcement as members of the clergy urge people to pray hard for the Pope and the Church.
San Fernando Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, like many Catholics, was shocked and saddened by the news.
Apu Ceto, as he is fondly called by the Kapampangan faithful, said Pope Benedict XVI is “a great leader” and has the “courage and competence” to lead the Catholic Church especially at this time when the world is in turmoil.
He is adept in talking to non-Christians especially our Muslim brothers, the archbishop said of the Pope.
However, Apu Ceto said the Pope’s resignation could be “for the greater good of the Church” as he urge Catholics to pray hard. He said he is confident that the Catholic hierarchy, will not be affected by the sudden resignation of the Pope. There is an institution that will continue with the machinery of the Church, he explained.
The College of cardinals will elect a new Pope.
He said he is confident that the Catholic Church will survive whatever crisis the Pope’s resignation has brought as he quoted from the Bible: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Fr. Ignacio Carlos, parish priest of the Our Lady of Divine Grace Parish in Mabalacat City, was also shocked and saddened by the Pope’s sudden resignation.
Fr. Carlos said he was watching television when breaking news came in that the Pope has just announced his resignation effective at month’s end.
“He is doing a good job. I was really taken by surprise,” he said.
Fr. Carlos however saw a lesson that could be learned by our civil leaders from the Pope’s resignation.
“The Pope realized he could no longer fulfil his ministry because of deteriorating health and his advancing years, so he opted to quit. Others try to cling to their positions no matter what (kapit tuku la keng posisyun),” he said.
Sister Ruby from the Dominican order who receives guests at the Archbishop’s residence at the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary here, also shared the same sentiments. “I was shocked, she said.
Some Catholics are saying that the Pope’s resignation was prophesized by an Irish seer in March, 2011 with the words: “My poor Holy Vicar, Pope Benedict XVI, will be ousted from the Holy See in Rome.
Last year, My daughter, I told you of the plot within the corridors of the Vatican. A plan to destroy My Holy Vicar was devised in secret on 17th March, 2011, and this will come to fruition for it has been foretold.”
But Rev. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, has said that the Pope’s decision was reached after deep and profound prayer. He said the Pope resigned not because of “difficulties in the papacy” and the move had been a surprise, indicating that even his inner circle was unaware that he was about to quit. It was not impulsive, he added.
