By Cal State Long Beach students said they were taken aback after hearing the news of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation announcement – just in time for Lent.
Benedict resigned on Monday, according to a statement released by the Vatican and shared with cardinals. In the statement, Benedict cited advanced age as a reason for his resignation.
Vatican Spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi said in a press conference that the pope’s resignation will not go into effect until Feb. 28. Lombardi said Benedict will hold a final audience on Feb. 27 in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Lombardi also said that Benedict had a pacemaker, and its batteries were replaced three months ago. He also reiterated that Benedict’s resignation was not due to poor health but instead to frailty from advanced age.
Benedict will be the first pope to step down from his position in six centuries, according to Vatican history references. He is the first to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, 598 years ago.
Elected as the 265th pope, Benedict succeeded Pope John Paul II following Paul’s death in 2005.
During his time as pope, Benedict dealt with the sex abuse scandal surrounding the Catholic Church and offered numerous public apologies for the Vatican’s lack of action regarding the priests who abused congregants, according to the Los Angeles Times. He is the first pope to meet with victims of sexual abuse in person.
According to religious studies professor F. Stanley Jones, Benedict has received more education and is more academically aware than previous popes. Several past popes who did not resign became senile, Jones said.
“In my opinion, it is a good decision for him to step down,” he said, explaining that Benedict’s resignation could set an example for future popes.
CSULB freshman biology major Max Gonzalez said he was surprised by the decision.
“I think he’s had a tough time and that the scandal took a lot out of him,” Gonzalez said. “But I think it’s a good thing because it shows a sense of humility.”
Freshman mechanical engineering major Herbert Can said he didn’t even know that a papal resignation was allowed.
“I was shocked because I didn’t know it was possible,” Can said.
Jossimar Porfirio, a freshman electrical engineering major, said he believes this was Benedict’s decision and that it may set a precedent for popes of the future.
“I think popes may think of resigning now, whether because of age or health reasons,” Porfirio said.
However, not all students thought of Benedict’s resignation as big news.
“Why do we need one man to tell us what to do in church?” senior criminal justice major Victor Marquez said.
Marquez said he believes that if people want to study religion or faith, then they should read the Bible.
Miguel Olivares, a freshman engineering major, said he thought that Benedict’s time was short, but he’s ready to see who will be next.
“Hope for a better pope,” Olivares said.
Stanley Yee contributed to this report.
