Let us offer our prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary for our dear Pope Benedict XVI and for the new Pope.

Dear Friends

As we are approaching the last moments of the pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and after his very moving last audience of Wednesday 27 at Saint Peter's Square, I am pleased to send you this editorial of our March magazine and to tell you that we are united with you in offering our prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary for him and for the new Pope.

Deacon Arthur, EP

“For the Good of the Church”

Undoubtedly, the reign of Benedict XVI has been characterized, from a human viewpoint, by a discreet and unassuming attitude, aptly expressed in the opening words of his pontificate: “the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.”

This Papacy of almost eight years has also been marked by the reflective, logical and coherent temperament of Joseph Ratzinger, always inclined to a serene and profound analysis of events, without sidestepping the most complex problems of the contemporary reality. This trait, united—since his tenure as a professor in the University of Tübingen—with admirable theological knowledge and humanistic culture, garnered him renown as one of the leading intellectuals of our age.

However, above these undeniable human qualities, joined to a spirit ever turned toward the supernatural, hovers something higher and more decisive—the assistance of the Holy Spirit, which is poured out abundantly upon the Successor of Peter.

All of these circumstances are fundamental in interpreting Benedict XVI’s resignation from the Papacy and can in no way be neglected in its analysis, under pain of giving way to frivolous, unjust or fictitious commentary.

Additionally, the reasons for this act are not hidden. They were clearly expressed in the February 11 Public Consistory and repeated on subsequent occasions. Benedict XVI explained in the General Audience of February 13 that he resigned, “for the good of the Church.”

Were there other motives that Benedict XVI considered prudent not to reveal? Did some concrete concern regarding the future direction that his pontificate might take influence this decision? In our opinion, an attempt to answer these questions would be rash, since our considerations today may not correspond to the reality of facts.

It behoves us, then, to emphatically express steadfast love for the Successor of Peter and, like him, to think solely of the good of the Church. These were surely the sentiments of the faithful who welcomed his words in the abovementioned General Audience, and during the Holy Mass of the same day, with a prolonged and enthusiastic ovation. The same reaction was expressed by the priests of the Diocese of Rome when they were received by the Pope on the following day, in the Paul VI Hall.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is 55:9), says the Lord through the voice of the prophet. At the present juncture, the Vicar of Christ could well make these words his own.

The fact is that beyond the action of men, we must contemplate the future of the Church with total confidence. She is “the tree of God that lives for ever and bears within her eternity and the true inheritance: eternal life” (Lectio Divina at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, 8/2/2013). ²