Pope's Resignation 'An Act of Humility,' Monsignor Says
Pope Benedict XVI has announced he is relinquishing power at the end of the month.
The announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign for health reasons effective Feb. 28 "was both a surprise and not a surprise," Msgr. James Mahoney of Corpus Christi Church said. "It was a surprise because we are not used to a pope resigning. But it was not a surprise because he clearly has been getting more frail," Mahoney said Monday. Pope Benedict's decision to step down makes him the first pontiff in nearly 600 years to resign. When the College of Cardinals elects a new pope in conclave, the election is usually for life. "The demands of the papacy take a huge toll. In my opinion, this was a great act of humility on the part of Pope Benedict. He cared more about the good of the Church than he did about himself. That is a …
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