[If you’re here for the Papal Conclave Study Resources, you can find it here and here.]
I was out doing errands yesterday and tuning in to Sacred Heart radio every time I was back in the car. The last 10 minutes of my drive home, I turned it back on and heard the pealing of the bells. I figured it was the end of the day in Rome, and the sun was setting on Papa Bene’s last day as Pope Benedict XVI. Through the tears I managed to call the kids at home and told them to go to EWTN to watch his departure. I cried several times yesterday, and I’m crying again (but hopefully not for long).
At our online pro-life forum, I posted this on Shrove Tuesday:
I respect the Pope’s decision, I’m sure he prayed and discerned and agonized about it a good long while, but I still get the feeling of being abandoned, like when a father turns his back on his children. The pictures of him walking away from his chair aren’t helping. I am grateful for the eight years, though I would have wanted more… but I cannot begrudge him this. And I do believe his health is compromised, so like a daughter I want him to get his rest and be able to live his last days away from the limelight.
sigh. sniff.
I do trust in the Holy Spirit, and in God’s will, and I look forward to our next Pontiff with some degree of cautious excitement, but it will take a while to get back to feeling normal about all this. 🙂
So I thought that I’d gather some “mementoes” here to remember our dear Papa.
Bells in April 2005 announcing the new Pope’s election.a shot from Papa Bene’s first day as Pope (credit Scott Hahn’s FB page)
andthesethygifts.com 
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