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Bishop: I will ‘hold a special place in my heart for him’
archived from: 2013-02-15
by: William Cone, Editor

News conference addresses reaction to papal resignation

Bishop David Zubik, speaking at a news conference Feb. 11, emphasized Pope Benedict’s affection for the church as his reason for resigning the papacy.

“Obviously Pope Benedict has made a decision, based on his own assessment of his capabilities for the church, and I think we need to be able to accept his reasons as he, in fact, has shared those with us,” the bishop said at St. Paul Seminary in Crafton.

After reading the pope’s statement to the media, Bishop Zubik added that it “only increases my admiration for Pope Benedict. It’s very clear that Pope Benedict has a very deep love for the church. And as one reads through his statement you see that that’s the reason why he has decided to retire. The needs of the world in which we are today and the need to be able to encourage, invite and help people to come to be in contact more intimately with God is a major concern.”

The bishop said he was on his way to the seminary chapel for morning prayer and Mass when he heard on television a report that Pope Benedict had resigned. Later, Father Ron Lengwin, diocesan spokesman and vicar general, told him the report had been confirmed.

He said his last conversation with the pope was in October during a brief meeting following an audience in St. Peter’s Square. He was in Rome to lead a pilgrimage sponsored by the Pittsburgh Catholic.

The next day featured a papal Mass for the opening of the Year of Faith, 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II and the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization. Bishop Zubik said the Holy Father looked as if his body was wearing down.

“He had to have people on either side of him to take him from his chair to the altar, although what is very, very clear up to this time, his mind continues to remain very sharp,” he said.

The bishop said he will urge local Catholics to observe a spirit of prayer for the Holy Father and the papacy, and ask them to pray for the College of Cardinals that will elect a new pope in March.

“There will be an awful lot of speculation from many, many quarters of the world about who might be elected. I think what is most crucial about all of this is that we’re not dealing with a political reality here but one of great spiritual dimension,” he said.

Reaffirming his deep respect for Pope Benedict, Bishop Zubik said he feels a closeness to the Holy Father “because he was the one who sent me back to Pittsburgh. I am obviously so thrilled about this assignment, being back in Pittsburgh now for more than five years, but will always hold a special place in my heart for him.”

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