The Pope Has Resigned

The Pope has resigned.

On February 28, 2013 Joseph Ratzinger will cease to reign as Pope Benedict the 16th. He will be 85 years old and is the first Pope to resign in office since Pope Gregory the 12th in 1415.

Strange that the man seen by some as God's representative on Earth has resigned due to failing health. A courageous move that shows humility but to think that a Pope can and would resign is just a little mind blowing.

Once Benedict has left office the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will have to wait for the Catholic Cardinals to meet in Rome and for a new Pope to be elected from their midst, this process should be completed by Easter. So for the next few weeks at least we will be inundated with news stories about certain candidates, their pasts and policies and suitability. Already the jokes and jibes are beginning to flow and there is a lot more to come.

This is a serious time for Catholics and it should be serious time for Protestants as well.  The choice of a new Pope is as crucial as who wins the US Presidential elections. In politics it is not just America who has to live with the policies of Barack Obama the whole world is effected by the decisions he makes. If his policies drive down the US share market Western Europe, Japan, China, South Korea the Middle East, Australia, everyone else is effected because our economies all linked.That's why people who are not US citizens should pray when America goes to the polls! A bad US President is bad for everyone!

In the same way a new Pope can make a difference to the way the Catholic world relates to the Protestants. It is important that Protestants pray that the right man to become the leader of the Catholic world. The world needs a Pope who can lead the Catholic church in wisdom and righteousness, in truth and humility, in healing and honesty with respect and dignity. The world needs a Pope who reflects the character of Jesus.

Whilst Protestants do not recognize the Pope's infallibility or  his leadership over them we do recognize that a bad Pope could make a big difference to how the church works and functions together in communities all around the globe.

That's why now is a good time to pray for the Catholic church!