Pope Benedict’s resignation is a priestly and exemplary act

The essence of Catholic priesthood revolves around the exemplary service of God and His Church mainly through preaching of the Gospel.

The news about Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation left many in shock! But I will say, as the Pope himself posited, that the seriousness (and may I add the consequences) of such an act, forbade him to announce to all and sundry. It had to be a purely revolutionary act rarely disclosed until executed!

The essence of Catholic priesthood revolves around the exemplary service of God and His Church mainly through preaching of the Gospel. It’s a sacrifice that requires the contenders to completely offer themselves to the service of others, disjointing themselves from worldly pleasures enjoyed by many.

Such is a sacrifice every true Catholic priest offers to God. Papacy is the highest position attained by a Catholic priest and requires great calibre and intelligence! It’s a vocation requisite of great honesty, humility, courage, patience, devotion plus stern health of body and mind. Unfortunately, with old age, the Pope now lacked adequate physical and mental strength!

True leadership ought to be guided first and foremost by the fear of God and an attitude that recognises that as a leader, one isn’t and can never be a monopoly of knowledge or only fountain of wisdom, that others are capable of doing more and better than them. Such is what Pope Benedict XVI has introduced us to! By divine will, we shall always prevail. The next Pope is welcome!

Patrick Katagata,
pkatagata@gmail.com