Why Pope Benedict XVI resigned... the real story?

My Italian friends have been asking.

Linda's cousin Sam thinks there's 'more to it!'  I told them to call Lino if they didn't believe me.

I think it is what it is.  The Holy Father is resigning, retiring.  He explained why and I believe him and admire his courage in doing so.

I love conspiracy theories though.

Remember when there was talk of Monsignor Ganswein no longer acting as the Pope's secretary?  That he would be leaving?  Here's what I think about that:  The Holy Father was probably looking for a good position/new job for Ganswein - to sort of set him up in a decent position after the retirement.  And some little Z-cleric working in the office overheard something and speculated that Georg was leaving - never considering that it was the Pope who would be leaving! 

The standard conspiracy theory seems to me to be that the Holy Father is seriously ill and doesn't want anyone to know.  That seems logical.  He wants to spare the Church having to watch another pope's agony.  I still think it is what it is - if there was more drama, Benedict would have said so.

The Warning!

This isn't exactly a conspiracy theory, but the abrupt resignation certainly seems to put the damper on the Garabandal messages - and I expect there are other prophecies that get flushed out with this pope's resignation. Just imagine however, if the coming asteroid would trigger The Warning which would correspond with an 'event in the Church' ... the 'event' being the resignation of the pope?!!!

I know!

The two pillars.

I always thought Benedict was probably the pope of the prophecy of John Bosco as well as the pope of the Fatima Third Secret.  I think I read too much into those - our own devotion and expectations always color our interpretations of such things.  The Church has already interpreted the Third Secret, proving our private embellishments have little to no bearing on what may have been predicted.  Then there are the prophecies of Malachy...  "Predictions are subject to change" should probably be printed on all private revelation dust jackets.

Likewise, titles and legacy may be better left to history to determine.  "The Pope of Christian Unity" - is one example which may have been slightly premature.  Not that Pope Benedict's efforts haven't been heroic - and he certainly has accomplished much more than any other pope in that regard.

The pope won't be fleeing Rome.

I forgot which prophecy predicted that the Pope will flee Rome during the tribulation, but I propose this is why Benedict will remain at the Vatican, albeit residing in a monastery there:  To squash any interpretation that he had to leave Rome ...  I see it as a possible 'one-up' on that conspiracy theory.  Although I seriously doubt anyone at the Vatican takes these crackpot theories into consideration.

Great expectations.

Human nature seeks stability.  The resignation of a pope shakes us up.  We cling to human traditions, as today's Gospel demonstrates - in this case, most of us cling to the tradition a pope is not supposed to resign.  Some may even mistake it for dogma.  Christ teaches us otherwise, surprising us and renewing us - even though we do not want to have our routine and preconceptions on how things should be upset or challenged.  I think we like conspiracy theories because they allow us to try and make sense of the twists and turns in our belief system and institutions which we find otherwise incomprehensible.

God is good.  The Holy Spirit always reminds us that our stability here on earth is in Christ and His Church.


Song choice for this post here.

What?

H/T to Mons. GG