In Gratitude for Pope Benedict XVI

 By now, we’ve certainly heard the news that Pope Benedict is resigning his ministry as successor of Peter and head of the Roman Catholic Church as of February 28, 2013. Benedict, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, is the 265th Pope, and began his papacy on April 19, 2005. Given that no Pope has resigned in six hundred years, this caught the Church – and the world at large – by surprise. Following his resignation, he intends to dedicate himself to a life of prayer and study in a monastery in Rome. We are grateful to God for Pope Benedict XVI through whose instrumentality the Church was wisely governed and led after the heart of Christ. May God bless him with choicest blessings and grant him good health.