Tears, laughter and sadness were among some of the emotions in Vatican City during the fair well ceremony for the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. An anxious stream of cardinals patiently waited for hours in line to say goodbye to the first pontiff to resign in about 600 years.
Several hundred thousand witnessed history in the making as a meek and emotionally overtaken Pope delivered final words in St. Peter’s Square this week. Many waved flags while wiping away tears as the Pope gave explanation, gratitude and appreciation in several languages to the crowd during remarks.
During the emotional speech, the Pope exhibit feelings of despair that many face when the reality of not conquering the difficult “God given task” is evident. Benedict showed struggle with the abrasive side of disappointment when the feeling of repeated cries to the Lord go unheard.
“There were also moments in which the waters were agitated and the wind contrary,” he said. “The Lord seemed to be sleeping,” said the Pope.
Pope Benedict surrendered his position after his eight-year papacy as leader on Wednesday in front of a televised addressment to a loving crowd of waiting supporters in the Clementine Hall of Apostolic Palace. The 85 year-old Benedict bided his final address as Pope on Thursday and officially yielded the title that evening while promising this new position with the church will not have an effect on how the Pope plans to help the church.
“Before greeting you individually, I would like to tell you that I will continue to be close to you in prayer, especially in the coming days.”
Some catholic’s from the City of Detroit made the trip to Rome to hear the Pope’s final address and many supported in way of fasting and continued prayer to what has to be a difficult choice for the former Pope.
“I know that his holiness (Pope Benedict) is a wise man and the decision to step down couldn’t have been an easy one, this is this mans life work and working for the Lord is our life,” explained Helen of Detroit.
Many followers have formed a steady stream of open prayer at Detroit’s Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit. Many attended the special prayer service called the Eucharistic Holy Hour at Blessed Sacrament; it was coordinated by Detroit Catholic Archbishop, Allen Vigneron.
Dee of Southfield said in this circumstance there is only one thing to do that the whole world should follow, “I just want to devote my private time to prayer, we all should be praying during this difficult time, I just feel so overcome with the need to pray.”
As of today, Pope Benedict is no longer Pope and the monumental task of finding a replacement for the world’s more than one-billion Roman Catholics is underway.
It’s reported that the former Pope is resting at his summer home, Castel Gandolfo, where most Popes vacation. He will meet with more than a hundred deciding cardinals who will chose his successor sometime next month. His current title will be of Pope Emeritus.
About 115 Cardinals in Rome will cast votes for the next Pope. The former Pope has vowed his “unconditional reverence and obedience” in whomever fills his shoes as Pope. The cardinals plan to gather on Monday to plan a date that will launch the start of the conclave.
With little protest that the duties of Pope are extremely lofty the entire church has been under close scrutiny surrounding the enormous allegations of child sexual abuse involving priests and finger pointing of leaked documents unveiling corruption in the Vatican ranks.
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