The announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's impending retirement has filled me with sadness. While I am quite certain that the Holy Spirit is completely in charge of this situation, my weak human heart is hurting. Papa Benedict is My Pope. I learned to see Our Lord through his eyes, to read scripture with his voice in my ear.
I'm going to go and order every one of Pope Benedict/Cardinal Ratzinger's books (the ones I don't already have). That reading list will last for years! And I pray that he will write many more books before he takes his place with the Saints.
Since I don't really have anything wise to say, I refer you to these folks for wisdom:
The text of the Holy Father's Message
Scott Hahn
The Anchoress
Vivificat
My friend Russ at Crossed the Tiber here and here .
