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| (Photo: Agencia Brasil) |
The Washington Post
reported not too long ago that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI joined Pope Francis "at a historic cardinal ceremony."
This event was "an unprecedented blending of papacies past, present and future," partly because cardinals are the ones to elect new pontiffs.
Nevertheless, the question remains: Why would a retired pope, one who had been expected to lead a monastic sheltered life, be actively present at this key ceremony?
Although Benedict's participation could be construed as "a blessing of sorts for
the 19 men Francis had chosen to join the elite College of Cardinals," there may be more to it than that.
During a recent interview with the Italian daily Corriere
della Sera, Pope Francis offered the following explanation: He considers his predecessor to be "a wise grandfather" who is not just a "statue in a museum."
Pope Francis then elaborated upon this grandfather metaphor by stating: "I thought about grandparents who with their wisdom, their advice, strengthen families and don't deserve to end up in an old folks home."
Resources
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi-joins-pope-francis-at-a-historic-cardinal-ceremony/2014/02/22/80406b6e-9bfd-11e3-ad71-e03637a299c0_story.html
http://wwrn.org/articles/41896/?place=vatican
Copyright March 7, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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