Diocese reacts to Pope's resignation
As news of Pope Benedict XVI’s announced resignation spread, the Intermountain Catholic asked various local Catholics their thoughts.
Madelene Trentman, Judge Memorial Catholic High School peer minister – “Pope Benedict XVI was different, because I just always remembered seeing Pope John Paul’s face and he always looked nice, and Pope Benedict was different, more stern. I think Pope John Paul was so great pope and that Pope Benedict kept up that good work.”
Stephen Hemmersmeier Judge Memorial Catholic High School peer minister – “I’m interested to see, with Pope Benedict stepping down because of his age and strength, if changes will come about in the Church and the cardinals will look at choosing a younger candidate for pope who will be able to serve his ministry and not become too weary with the role like Benedict is citing and if that will bring about even more changes in the Church.”
Luke Stager, Judge Memorial Catholic High School director of activities and campus minister – “It will be a little more interesting to see the election now that I’ve seen two different popes, to see the front runners. I also think that each pope brings different gifts to the table completing this mission of Christ, but as Paul says, ‘We are many parts, we have different spiritual gifts.’ What captures my imagination is thinking, what are the gifts that will now be brought to the table with the next pope?”
Dominican Father Dominic Briese, Judge Memorial Catholic High School chaplain and theology teacher – “I actually think that it is a very humble decision that is consistent with his life to put the Church first. It is very consistent with his view that the body of Christ is most important and very personal perspective. I think it is a marvelous witness to give to the common good. I am very grateful and very thankful that he has given his whole life to the church. He is a great scholar and a man of prayer.
Linda Burt, Catholic Woman’s League – “I was shocked and taken aback by his decision, but I trust that the Holy Father knows what’s in the best interests of the Catholic Church and he is doing what he feels is right for us. I wonder what the future holds for him and it kind of leaves us living in limbo until a new pope is elected.”
Holy Cross Sister Veronica Fajardo – “Some of the documents that Pope Benedict wrote about Social Justice have been a very important part of what we do [at Holy Cross Ministries]. We have used them a lot because they talk about the social teachings of the Catholic Church. This is something that I treasure greatly.”
José and Margarita Melendez parishioners of Our Sacred Heart Parish in Sal Lake City –“It’s a shock. He’s our leader, the representative of God in our world. I think that is a great act of humility from him because he is sick, he is a really old man, I think.”
Beatriz Godina, parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish – “He spoke with the truth about all the problems that all around the world right now. I understand him, becuase he might not be able to handle all this because of his age and health. There is going to be a big change in our Church. We have to pray hard.”
Father Omar Ontiveros, Pastor of Saint Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley – “The real faith involves making well discerned decisions, that are well thought out and prayed about. Sometimes these decisions are big and transcendental. We trust and have faith that Pope Benedict XVI considered his resignation for the good of the Church with a lot of care. I invite you to pray for him as well as to pray, fast and almsgiving in this Lent for the new conclave so the Holy Spirit guide the cardinals in the election of the new Pope.”
Deacon Christopher Gray, Diocese of Salt Lake City seminarian studying in Rome –Everyone I know is taking the news well. The people around me are genuinely fond of the Holy Father, a man who has been and continues to be worthy of our admiration, and respect his decision to unlink the health of the Church from his own. The air is one of support, and I think the overall tone of life here will move from looking back lovingly on the pontificate of Benedict toward looking forward with excitement to the future of the Petrine office. Personally, as a student of theology, the Holy Father's writings will continue to be a light for me after his pontificate and beyond, if only because he is one of the great theologians of the last decades. I have learned from him as I have from my professors in class; moreover, the opportunity to serve twice as his deacon has given me an invaluable insight into a fundamental fact of the priesthood: every minister of the altar, whether the pope or the most unaccomplished deacon is a servant of Christ for the sake of the all.
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