After nearly eight
tumultuous years at the head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics,
Benedict XVI has made the almost unprecedented decision to stand down.
That resignation, which
takes effect at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET), opens up the prospect of
unforeseen opportunities and challenges for the Roman Catholic Church.
As Benedict closes the
door behind him, many are wondering whether a new pontiff will choose to
lead the church in a different direction -- and can lift it out of the
mire of scandal that has bogged down this pope's time in office.
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Even as Benedict's final
week began, Vatican officials were trying to swat down unsavory claims
by Italian publications of an episode involving gay priests, male
prostitutes and blackmail. Then the news broke that Benedict had moved
up the resignation of a Scottish archbishop linked over the weekend by a
British newspaper to inappropriate relationships with priests.
Last year, leaks of
secret documents from the pope's private apartment -- which revealed
claims of corruption within the Vatican -- prompted a high-profile trial
of his butler and a behind-doors investigation by three cardinals.
Their report, its contents known so far only to Benedict, will be handed
to his successor to deal with, the Vatican said.
At the same time, the church faces continued anger about what many see as its failure to deal with child sex abuse by priests.
So, when Benedict
announced on February 11 that he would step down, becoming the first
pontiff to leave the job alive in 598 years, there was inevitable
speculation that his move was in some way linked to the brewing
scandals.
The danger for the
Vatican is that the furor risks overshadowing what others see as
Benedict's real legacy to the church: his teaching and writings,
including three papal encyclicals.
Proof of the Vatican's
irritation came with a stinging statement Saturday complaining of
"unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories," even
suggesting the media is trying to influence the election of the next
pope.
The constant buffeting
by scandal will doubtless also have taken a toll on an 85-year-old man
whose interests lie in scholarly study and prayer rather than damage
control.
Benedict suggested as
much at his final general audience Wednesday, when in front of cheering
crowds in St. Peter's Square he spoke of steering the church through
sometimes choppy waters.
There had been "many days of sunshine," he said, but also "times when the water was rough ... and the Lord seemed to sleep."
Putting scandal aside,
the pope's last day in office has been carefully mapped out by Vatican
aides who've had to make up the rules over the past two weeks.
Key moments in pope's resignation
Pope: 'The Lord seemed to be sleeping'
Catholic population in numbers
Catholic population in percentages
In contrast to the
public focus of his final general audience and meetings with foreign
dignitaries Wednesday, Benedict will spend Thursday in a quieter way.
He will meet with those cardinals who've already made their way to Rome to take part in the election of a new pontiff.
Then, just before 5 p.m.
local time, senior Vatican officials and a detachment of the Swiss
Guards, who by tradition protect the pope, will gather to bid him
farewell as his helicopter takes off from Vatican City bound for the
summer papal residence, Castel Gandolfo.
Once at Castel Gandolfo,
where he will spend the next few weeks before moving to a small
monastery within the Vatican grounds, Benedict will make one last public
appearance on the balcony.
Having greeted those gathered below, he will step back inside and begin his life of seclusion.
At 8 p.m., the Swiss
Guards will ceremonially leave the residence's gate -- and the process
of transition to a new pope will begin.
The Vatican has said it
wants to have the next pontiff in place in time for the week of services
leading up to Easter Sunday on March 31.
In his final public
address in St. Peter's Square, the pope called for a renewal of faith,
and for the prayers of Catholics around the world both for him and his
successor.
His departure leaves the church facing many questions, not least who will take the reins.
But Benedict suggested
that its future, "at a time when many speak of its decline," lies in
seeing it as a community of many people united in a love of Christ,
rather than as an organization.
In what may be the last word on his @Pontifex
Twitter account, the pope said Wednesday: "If only everyone could
experience the joy of being Christian, being loved by God who gave his
Son for us!"
CULLED FROM www.cnn.com
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