Local priest shares thoughts on Pope

The closest of confidants, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger watched from the front row as Pope John Paul II, once a strapping athlete, steadily deteriorated in his later years.

John Paul, burdened by Parkinson's disease and crippling hip ailments, could no longer walk or talk at the time of his death in 2005 at the age of 84 — a picture of suffering that moved the faithful while presenting a disturbing vision of papal frailty.

The physical ordeal also left John Paul distracted from the challenges the church was facing, including the global priest sex abuse scandal.

Ratzinger, elected as Pope Benedict XVI, was at 78 the oldest pope in 300 years. With his resignation, it is clear that he has sought to spare the church another agonizing end — and, in the process, perhaps help the church keep pace with the realities of modern-day medicine.

Back in Maryville, Fr. Martin DeMeulenaere believes Benedict made the right decision.

"I admire the man for doing it," DeMeulenaere said. "It is a true act of humility and willingness to let someone else take over, and it was done for the good of the Catholic Church."

In the announcement, Benedict said his strength in recent months "has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."

In the church, bishops are forced to resign at the age of 75, and cardinals over 80 are barred from voting in a conclave to elect a new pope.

It's only popes who are expected to rule for life. Now, the first papal resignation in 600 years could help set a modern precedent ensuring that popes, like other leaders with crushing responsibilities, have the mental and physical vigor to carry out the job.

Paris Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois said Benedict "broke a taboo."

"He broke away from several centuries of practice," the cardinal said, "and expressed the view that it wasn't just legitimate but probably useful for a pope to renounce and withdraw from his duties.

"In any event, it's a liberating act for the future ... For the century to come I think that none of Benedict XVI's successors will feel morally obliged to remain until their death," the French prelate said.

Milan Cardinal Angelo Scola, considered a top candidate to succeed Benedict, endorsed that view.

"It is, as he said, for the good of the church," said Scola — although at age 71, he, too, would be an elderly pontiff if elected.

An examination of Benedict's thinking makes the decision less of a surprise.

Back in 2004, then Cardinal Ratzinger said he would not rule out term limits in the future. In an interview with an Italian religious affairs magazine, he said that with people living longer "one also could consider new norms."

Then, in a 2010 interview with German journalist Peter Sewald, Benedict took an unambiguous stand on whether a pope could resign.

"Yes. If a pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign," Benedict said.

The effects of Benedict's resignation will likely not be seen at the local level until a new Pope is elected. DeMeulenaere said that even then, changes will most likely reach no further than a frame of mind.

He pointed out that Benedict was considered a scholar and a theologian, his predecessor was more into social issues, and those ideals were reflected in the church.

"We are just going to continue to pray for wisdom and for the hearts of the Cardinals," DeMeulenaere said. "The spirit will prevail."