The Grace of a Graceful Exit by Chris White

I certainly have no credentials as a “Vatican Watcher” but have long been a student of both the papacy and the Vatican for many years.  I do this from the perspective of my Protestant faith but would also quickly point out that while I do not subscribe to Roman Catholic dogma, I do know what it is and am neither offended or angry about it.  I simply don’t believe it.  The reason I study the papacy is because to not do so is to ignore the history of my Christian faith.  Protestantism was a reform movement within the Roman Catholic church which began in the late Middle Ages, thus there is a historic connection that must not be neglected.  With this as prologue, I was certainly shocked with the rest of the world to hear of Benedict XVI’s decision to step down from the papacy this month.  As the news media has pointed out this hasn’t happened much in the history of the church, but it is not unprecedented and it is perfectly legitimate according to the canon law (the rules) of the Roman Catholic church insofar as it is not being done under duress in some way.  This is why in the pope’s resignation letter he clearly stated he was doing this with full understanding of the gravity of the decision and with full freedom.  What I personally admire in his decision is the humility and the unselfish leadership this displays.  It is an uncommon man who admits his human frailty publicly much less gently lays down the reins of power that have been given him for life.  In the ecclesiastic world, there is no higher office this side of heaven, that exerts the kind of influence that the papacy does.  Benedict XVI is an incredibly brilliant man and he has been a clear and consistent voice in an age of moral confusion and dehumanization.  He would be perfectly justified in wanting to continue to use that influence until his death.  But he wants what is best for his flock even at the cost of his own power.  Perhaps part of his decision is the memory of the last years of John Paul II.  While it was comforting to have his presence, and his very public suffering was an example in itself to the dignity and value of all human life in every stage, JP2 could hardly have been doing much leading in those final years and when no one’s minding the store in an operation that big, you know there had to be some who were taking advantage.  Whether that had anything to do with B16’s decision earlier this week is less important than the legacy he will leave behind.  Benedict XVI served well but also shows the world that the only indispensable leader in the church is Jesus Christ.  Indeed, He must increase and we must always decrease.  May we all learn from this very public figure the grace of a graceful exit.