PENAMPANG: The recent announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI comes at a time when there is change in the way things are being done.
Although it is something that no one had expected, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, feels that Pope Benedict is looking at a new way of doing things in the new world order.
Dompok said this when asked to comment on Pope Benedict’s announcement of his resignation at the end of this month after nearly eight years as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The UPKO President, who was met after a press briefing about UPKO’s convention next week, said, the announcement came as a shock to a lot of people including himself because in living memory there had never been any resignation of a Pope.
“I understand the last resignation of a pope took place in 1415. I didn’t expect the resignation of a Pope within my lifetime. But it is happening, I suppose the Pope is looking at the new world order, a new way of doing things and he did say that he is not strong enough for the job physically, so I guess the Catholics have to respect that position,” Dompok said.
Pope Benedict XVI had been quoted as saying that he is too old to continue at the age of 85. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope in 2005 after John Paul II’s death and took the name of Pope Benedict XVI.
The Vatican says it expects a new Pope to be elected before Easter.
According to the Penampang member of parliament, this is a time in which people see changes in the way things are done.
“You didn’t think you would have a Black President in the US. I think it is in that sort of manner that we see things around the world undergoing changes, transformation in the way things are done. This is one of them.
“I am sure the Pope with all his experience and wisdom would have considered the step that he is taking,” Dompok said.