Papal Abdication Roundup

Getting tired of the secular media's pathetic attempts to understand what the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI means?

"Pope Benedict's resignation shows immense spiritual freedom. Rare is the person who can, and will, relinquish such power voluntarily. It is an example of what St. Ignatius Loyola meant by being "disponible," available, free of any disordered attachments, in order to be able to follow the will of God. Pope John Paul II was free enough to carry on in the midst of a difficult illness, and in the face of having to show to the public his obvious infirmities; Pope Benedict is free enough to accept his inability to carry on as he believes God would want him to. Spiritual freedom is on display today."
- Fr James Martin SJ - via Facebook


A round up of various interesting and thought provoking articles:

• For up to date information keep an eye on Vatican Radio's website and Rome Reports
• L'Observatore Romano editorial on the news - "It is God's future"
• iBenedictines reflect on what the papal abdication means in the context of Ash Wednesday.
• Fr Dwight Longnecker has a piece on the planning for the papal retirement at the Washington Post.
• He writes as well over at Patheos and rather than linking to the individual bloggers etc I would suggest you head over to the Catholic Channel under the stewardship of Elizabeth Scalia and have a read of many varied but excellent reflections although I would highlight one piece from The Anchoress about the abdication called Prayer and Penance: Did Twitter hasten Benedict's retirement
• A reasoned opinion piece from Ross Douthat at the New York Times
• Fr James Martin SJ has a piece in the New York Times as well
• Of course the prima donna of English speaking Vaticanista's John L Allen has been a busy scribe who actually happened to be in Rome when all this happened!
• The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams shares his reflections on papal abdication with Vatican Radio
• News.va - The unexpected announcement that rang out in the Consistory Hall
• Peggy Noonan writes on the issue over at the Wall Street Journal
• Various writers over at First Things have been reflecting from across the Christian spectrum on the abdication here and here .
• Cardinal Dolan's reaction within hours of hearing the news via MSNBC
• A reflection on the preaching of Benedict XVI - A shell and a bear
• George Weigel on Benedict