Pope's resignation could lead to non-European leadership

As the shepherd of over one billion Roman Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to abdicate triggered a shockwave both inside and outside the Church.The pope declared on Monday, Feb 11, “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” according to his declaration by CNN. The pope plans to resign at 8:00 p.m. Vatican time on February 28.“[I am] a little bit surprised,” said Greg Kremer, who serves as the director of Adult Faith Formation at the Athens Catholic Community. He said the pope did not have a heart attack or other emergency health problem, but his health has been failing and his mobility has been severely limited. Kremer said this lack of mobility makes it hard for the pope to fulfill his responsibility: to be present to the people throughout the world, to visit them and build up their faith.He also said the time was right for him to retire.“The church is at a more stable position now. He is not passing on problems to anyone,” Kremer said. During Benedict’s eight year reign, the Catholic Church was plagued by child sexual abuse scandals while facing challenges from the media. Kremer said the pope considered it “bad to run away from challenges” and currently was “not leaving problems for someone to solve.”The pope was elected as the 265th Sovereign of the Vatican City State and leader of the Catholic Church by the Cardinals at Vatican on April 19, 2005. His eight-year reign witnessed the child abuse scandals of priests and the sharp decline of church attendance in the western world, especially in Europe.“[Pope Benedict XVI is] life-giving for the church,” Kremer said, and confirmed that his reign was successful.He said some would consider the pope to be stern, but he was a “loving, grandfather like figure.” Kremer said that he was “thankful and respectful” of the pope, who took on the job in his late 70s: “In his letters to the Church, he writes of love and justice and calls the people to have a personal relation with Jesus.”Pope Benedict XVI’s service will be completed at the end of this month when the College of Cardinals elects a new pope. The process would take about three weeks normally. Speculations about the candidates and predictions of an African pope are rampant.“I pray that the right person to succeed Pope Benedict XVI will be selected by the Holy Spirit working through the College of Cardinals,” Kremer said. “[The election is] not like politics where you might root for a candidate for selfish reasons.”Throughout history, the popes are mainly from Italy and the candidates come from Europe more than the other continents.“There have been many surprises throughout history [in the election], especially the last two selections,” Kremer said.The population of Catholics in Africa grows rapidly, calling for more speculation of an African pope.“The representation from Africa and non-European countries is growing in the College of Cardinals,” Kremer said. “[But whether an African pope would become a reality] depends on where the Holy Spirit is leading us and how the Spirit acts.”