Vatican
City, 11 February 2013 (VIS) - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the
College of Cardinals, on hearing the news of the Pope's resignation
from the Petrine ministry, expressed his nearness, and that of all
the cardinals, to Benedict XVI.
"We
have heard you," he said, "with a sense of loss and almost
disbelief. In your words we see the great affection that you have
always had for God's Holy Church, for this Church that you have loved
so much. Now, let me say, on behalf of this apostolic cenacle?the
College of Cardinals?on behalf of your beloved collaborators, allow
me to say that we are closer than ever to you, as we have been during
these almost eight luminous years of your pontificate. On 19 April
2005, if I remember correctly, at the end of the conclave I asked ?
'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?' And you
did not hesitate, although moved with emotion, to answer that you
accepted, trusting in the Lord's grace and the maternal intercession
of Mary, Mother of the Church. Like Mary on that day she gave her
'yes', and your luminous pontificate began, following in the wake of
continuity, in that continuity with your 265 predecessors in the
Chair of Peter, over two thousand years of history from the Apostle
Peter, the humble Galilean fisherman, to the great popes of the last
century from St. Pius X to Blessed John Paul II."
"Holy
Father, before 28 February, the day that, as you have said, you wish
to place the word 'end' to your pontifical service, conducted with so
much love and so humbly, before 28 February, we will be able to
better express our feelings. So too will the many pastors and
faithful throughout the world, so too all those of good will together
with the authorities of many countries. ? Also, still this month, we
will have the joy of listening to your voice as pastor: Ash
Wednesday, Thursday with the clergy of Rome, in the Sunday Angelus,
and the Wednesday general audiences, we will still have many
occasions to hear your paternal voice. ? Your mission, however, will
continue. You have said that you will always be near us with your
witness and your prayer. Of course, the stars always continue to
shine and so will the star of your pontificate always shine among us.
We are near to you, Holy Father, and we ask you to bless us."
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