Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD and Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican (Photo: Diocese of Beaumont 2012)Bishop Curtis Guillory has issued a statement on the resignation of Pope Benedict.
The Diocese of Beaumont issued the following news release Monday afternoon:
Official Statement by Bishop Guillory on Pope Benedict's resignation
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is a scholar and our pastor. His leadership these eight years was characterized by his love of the Catholic faith and being united with God in his ministry to the Catholic faithful worldwide. He has always been a humble man who cares deeply for the Catholic Church. His ministry was not driven by self-interest but by his love of God. It was after much prayer and reflection that Pope Benedict came to the conclusion that he did not have the stamina to continue to care for the Church as he should and wanted to make sure the Church had someone in leadership who could do that. In his own statement, Pope Benedict said that he knows that strength of mind and body are necessary to proclaim the Gospel as he should and that his strength of body is diminishing. Last March, I was in Rome for the ad limina visit. When I met with Pope Benedict in the morning, he seemed strong, but in the afternoon meeting you could see he was frail."
We saw in Pope Benedict's ministry his faith in our Lord and his living out the Gospel message. As he led us, he truly lived as a witness to the faith, guiding the Catholic faithful worldwide, using the 2,000 years of traditions of our faith but also being part of the 21st century in ministering to all. He wanted everyone to have a personal encounter with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I thank God for the blessings we have received through the ministry of Pope Benedict. Our prayers are with him in this Year of Faith and always as he transitions at the end of the month. This morning he said he wants to "serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer."
I am confident that the Holy Spirit will guide the Conclave of Cardinals next month at the Vatican as they pray and select the next pope, and I will keep them in my prayers as well.
Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD
Diocese of Beaumont
