AS Pope Benedict XVI prepares for his exit from the Apostolic Palace, 120 cardinals from around the world will begin saddling up for the trip to the Vatican City, for the conclave that will elect a new pope to the Roman Catholic Church. Among these will be the four cardinals from India: Cardinals George Alencherry from Ernakulam, Baselios Cleemis from Thiruvananthapuram, Oswald Gracias from Mumbai and Telesphore Toppo from Ranchi. The papal election is expected to take place in March. The cardinals who vote should be under 80 years.
The news caught everyone unawares, including the Indian cardinals. “It is with total surprise and sadness that I learnt about the resignation of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI this evening. This resignation has been confirmed by Father Federico Lombardi, Director, Vatican Press Office,” said Cardinal Oswald Gracias in an official statement. Cardinal Gracias is president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, and Secretary General of the Asian Bishops Conference. “The reason the Holy Father gives for his resignation reflects very clearly his love for the Church and his courage. Sensing that his health was failing he did not want the Church to be in any way disadvantaged because of his person and he had the courage to do what has not taken place in the last six hundred years,” he continues.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, said instructions about the forthcoming election would be communicated by the Vatican to the members of the conclave in the coming days. Mar Cleemis pointed out that a voluntary papal resignation is very rare. “Such a situation is never discussed nor has it taken place in recent times,” he said. The last pope to voluntarily resign was Pope Celestine V, in 1294, who only served a term of four months. Pope Benedict XV has been in office for nearly eight years.
Mar Cleemis said he shared a very personal relationship with the Pope. “As a student of theology, from 1992 to 1997 in Rome, I knew the Holy Father. Then, in my capacity as the bishop of Thiruvalla and later Archbishop and finally as the Major Archbishop of Catholics of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, I came in contact with him in a deeper sense. I still have a close relationship the Pope. He recently sent me a greeting card on January 1, my birthday,” he disclosed.
In Ranchi, Cardinal Telesphore Topos was initially reluctant to comment on the news until it was verified by the Vatican. Once that arrived, he said in a press statement that he would discuss the reasons for the Pope’s resignation with Cardinal Filoni from the Vatican, who was due to arrive in India for a Church programme. “Let February 28 come and then only we can decide what is to be done next,” he issued.
The rest of the Catholic Church in India received the news with mixed emotions of sadness and optimism. Fr JP Pinto, Rector at the College of Theology in Ranchi, welcomed Benedict XVI’s decision, saying he has set an example of humility and courage by deciding to step down. “If he has indeed decided to pave the way for the younger generation, his respect in the religious fraternity would increase manifold,” he said.
For Vicar General of the Pune diocese, Rev. Fr. Malcolm Sequeira, who was present at Vatican Square for the Pope’s installation in 2005, the eight years have passed too quickly. “He is a great leader and has led the Church very well. He was well read and a great thinker. We will surely miss him,” he said. Reacting to the Pope’s decision to step down, Father Sequeira said, “We need to respect it. He is an honest man who means what he says. We love him, and will miss him.”
On the other hand, the news came as a shock to Diago Almeida, president of the Catholic Association of Pune. “He was one of the few popes who apologised for the mistakes of the Church. That is his greatness,” he acknowledged.
Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune said he was saddened and astounded by the unexpected news. “The kind of spiritual leadership given by him – with courage and consistency – is what the world needs today. He is probably the greatest intellectual of our times. His theological and spiritual leadership will be greatly missed,” he said. Yet, Bishop Dabre said, he respected the Pope’s resolution. “To govern the Church in today’s time is a mighty job. I pray for him and also for God to continue to guide the church,” he said.
In Patna, SK Lawrence of the Alpsankhyak Isai Kalyan Samiti said that the verdict was being appreciated by most of the Catholics of the city. “It is His Grace’s greatness that he decided to call it a day as his health was interrupting his work. We think the decision is right and it is for the greater benefit of the community that the reigns be transferred to more able hands,” he said, adding, “Earlier, we have seen popes continue to work even if their physical condition did not permit them to do their work efficiently.”
From the time of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation on Feb 28, to the time the 266th pope is elected, the Catholic Church will be bereft of a leader. The election itself, which is to take place in the Sistine Chapel, may take anything from a few days, to weeks to reveal a name. After Pope John Paul II’s passing, it took the papal conclave only two days and four ballots to elect Joseph Ratzinger as the next pope.
Click here to read the original report on Timesofindia
