Tag: Josef Ratzinger
Papa Ratzinger’s resignation blow
Ratzinger’s resignation really is unparalleled. So what gives?
By Gary Scarrabelotti | Scarra Blog | February 15, 2013
Ever since his interview on the state of the Church with Italian journalist Vittorio Messori, published in 1985 under the title “The Ratzinger Report”, I have been an admirer of Joseph Ratzinger.
When he was elected Pope on 19 April 2005, I reckoned it was a great day for the Church. I still think so. But news of his resignation as Bishop of Rome and Vicar of St Peter makes me more sad than if the news had been of his death.
There are many things to admire about Pope Benedict XVI, the clarity and profundity of his thought, writing and speech, in particular. In this he surpassed his otherwise astonishing predecessor, Karol Wojtyla, John Paul II. Equally impressive was Benedict’s readiness to speak openly of things that today are mentioned rarely in “the public square”.
