Anglican leaders praise ‘great theologian’ as Pope resigns – Statements from the Archbishops of Armagh, Dublin, Canterbury, and York and the Primus of Scotland
Statement by The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland –
‘I share with people throughout the world a real surprise at the news of the decision of Pope Benedict XVI to relinquish office at the end of this month. At the same time, we must all – of whatever Christian tradition – wish him well and pray every blessing of God for him in the future that awaits him beyond his tenure of the See of Rome. We should in addition express a warm gratitude for the example of total dedication, humility and service that Pope Benedict displayed throughout his ministry. A scholar of great intelligence and learning, he was also a deeply self–effacing and spiritual human being. His clear devotion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ shines out in his prolific literary heritage to us.
‘Having just returned from an annual ecumenical meeting of bishops in Rome that I have attended for the past ten years, one brief incident springs immediately to mind. A couple of days ago, the bishops – gathered in Rome from all over the world by the Sant’ Egidio Community – watched a DVD of the Pope on a recent visit to an old peoples’ home run by the Community in that city. Pope Benedict at one point said to the old people, quietly and with no theatrical intent, ‘I am here not only as your Bishop, but as an old man in the company of other old people’. This comment now seems somehow prophetic.
‘In saluting the Pope for his humility and sanctified practicality in making this decision, we again thank him for his faithfulness to God’s calling and wish for him every blessing of the God whom he has served so consistently through his life.’
Statement by the Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson –
‘In informing the world of his forthcoming resignation Pope Benedict XVI has committed himself to continuing to serve God in the church through a life of prayer. He has also drawn attention to the combined strength of body and mind required for carrying out the office of Pope.
‘Pope Benedict has greatly influenced the world in general, and the Christian world in particular, by his scholarship generously shared in a prodigious literary output. He has of late taken the central figure of Jesus in the life of the church and the world as his theme. I wish Pope Benedict everything that is best in his forthcoming retirement and also wisdom to those who will elect his successor in the See of Peter.’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has released the following message on the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
It was with a heavy heart but complete understanding that we learned this morning of Pope Benedict’s declaration of his decision to lay down the burden of ministry as Bishop of Rome, an office which he has held with great dignity, insight and courage. As I prepare to take up office I speak not only for myself, and my predecessors as Archbishop, but for Anglicans around the world, in giving thanks to God for a priestly life utterly dedicated, in word and deed, in prayer and in costly service, to following Christ. He has laid before us something of the meaning of the Petrine ministry of building up the people of God to full maturity.
In his visit to the United Kingdom, Pope Benedict showed us all something of what the vocation of the See of Rome can mean in practice – a witness to the universal scope of the gospel and a messenger of hope at a time when Christian faith is being called into question. In his teaching and writing he has brought a remarkable and creative theological mind to bear on the issues of the day. We who belong to other Christian families gladly acknowledge the importance of this witness and join with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in thanking God for the inspiration and challenge of Pope Benedict’s ministry.
We pray that God will bless him profoundly in retirement with health and peace of mind and heart, and we entrust to the Holy Spirit those who have a responsibility to elect his successor.
The Archbishop of York has released the following statement regarding the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
“With the news that Pope Benedict XVI will resign at the end of February, the Christian world will miss a great theologian with great spiritual depth.
“We should remember Pope Benedict communicated the revelation of God in a characteristic way as a true successor of St Peter. He was unafraid to proclaim the Gospel and challenge a culture that is so self-referential, managing to lift our eyes to God’s glory.
“Let us all lift our eyes to the glory of God, embracing his love and care for this world.”
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrew’s, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church –
“Christians of all traditions will have heard of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI with regret. He has been a distinguished holder of his office, widely respected for his scholarship and his spirituality. Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain was a significant event during his term of office and I was privileged to meet him. His speeches showed his willingness to engage with the issues of faith in a complex and secular society. The challenge of leading a historic faith institution in a time of rapid change is very great. Pope Benedict has made a difficult personal decision which shows the mark of a humble servant of Jesus Christ. We wish him a peaceful and holy retirement.”