I feel this action of the Pope should not be taken 'as usual’; after all, this has not happened in the years of our great great great grandparents, how much more our lives. Those who would deal with such things, beginning from the cardinals down to the laity would also have to refer through long history gone.
The ultimate exhaustion of perpetual rule: when the Pope resigns.
The demystification of positions and the ultimate affirmation of human communion: the Pope resigns.
An escape from the deadly attack of secularism or a painful decision for d good of d church?
Those who glory in hierarchism, authoritarianism and beaureucracy, learn from the Pope and let go!
Oba ko le pe meji l'aafin', a’sipa owe, we gonna have 2 Popes at the Vatican. Na wa o. Impossibilities are happening in these our days.
Real faith does not reflect as such in much talks and holy writings, but in action. Benedict xvi exemplified this in the summary of his homilies about the ongoing year of faith and the conclusion of his encyclical on faith through his resignation. That is faith.
We can only walk through a gesture as great as this through faith. I can see a parallel between this gesture and the crucifixion of Christ, which up till now is a cause for the rising and falling of many. It is a reality that this action would give credence to the arguments of those who would want to escape from the obligation of marriage, those who through laziness would give weakness of mind and body as an excuse for not seeing a project through, or, leaving out the grace of God and succumbing to our emotional sentiments and idiosyncratic decisions .
On the other hand, the Pope's gesture could be taken as a great act of humility and this would rather influence those who would not let go of power to do so. It is an action which inspires us to take a bold and courageous leap of faith and act on issues which calls for progress without succumbing to outdated norms which have little relevance towards the life we live today, it helps in gestures which demystifies positions, destroys bureaucracy and makes us see our common human struggles as God's handmaids. The final stronghold of power could have been destroyed by this action, we are all a society of sinners.
So, you see, this action has the potential of having both positive and negative influence on people, and Christ himself has no excuse for that, He only says 'blessed is he who is not scandalized by me'. In America, the democratic installation of a black man has inspired many to rise beyond racial and tribalistic prejudices. Even in our own circle, the resignation of our dear Bishop, Babatunde Adelakun has inspired others to do thesame. Letting go is the greatest gesture of faith that I know of.
