AP: 031fe0b7-e542-4f66-a5ca-6ff4fdfd0973
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message during a meeting of Vatican cardinals, at the Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)

Seattle Catholics weigh in on Pope Benedict XVI's decision to retire

BY Chris Sullivan  on February 11, 2013 @ 8:37 am (Updated: 1:18 pm - 2/11/13 )

Pope Benedict's decision to resign at the end of this month shocked most local Catholics, but a lot of them understand his thinking.

A man walking into St. James Cathedral in Seattle for the 8:15 a.m. Mass said it makes sense if the pope no longer thinks he can do the job.

"I can see where he would like to lay the burden down," said the man who is approaching 80 years old. "I marvel at all he does." He joked, "He was here for eight years, and that's good enough. I mean we only let our presidents hang around for eight years."

Seattle's Archbishop says "something" told him to turn on the news very early this morning. That's how he got word that Pope Benedict XVI would retire.

Peter Sartain told reporters Monday that he met the pope several times and found him humble and unassuming.

"Those who knew him well, far, far better than I, had told me very often that their impression, having known him well, is exactly the same as mine."

Father Stephen Sundborg, the President of Seattle University, says he thought, "Wow that's significant news," when he saw the announcement on the Catholic university's message board Monday morning.

"It comes as quite a surprise to me," he said.

Father Sundborg said if any pope was going to choose this path it would be Pope Benedict.

"He's a person who gives deep consideration for what is the best thing for the Catholic Church," Sundborg said. "If he comes to the conclusion that it would be better that someone else be pope because of his own weakening capacity, he's going to make a good judgement about that."

Pope Benedict is a great theologian who was wary of the spotlight, according to Father Sundborg.

"People say he's kind of a shy person, somewhat of a retiring person," Sundborg said. "I don't think he would want to be out there trying to hang on to the very last time of his life trying to be pope."

Archbishop Sartain expects continuity and no dramatic changes in the church when a new pope is selected.

"I don't think we're going to see any huge change, any huge break, we'll have a new shepherd and that shepherd will be continuing along the lines that we have experienced in recent years," said Sartain.

Sartain says he saw fatigue in the pope but nothing more serious, healthwise. He respects what he calls Benedict's "very personal and spiritual" decision to retire.

Local Catholics are now left to wonder who will replace Pope Benedict. Many believe the next pope will come from Latin America or Africa.

Find more:
Papacy makes first move of its kind in 600 years
Photos: Looking back at the Priesthood of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (5)


  • Add A Comment

  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    We are witnessing the beginnings of the end of the Catholic Church here in America!
    February 11, 2013 9:52 am
    The Church will shift it's "influence" to third world countries where ignorance, superstition and poverty are fertile breeding grounds for The Church's "message" of absurd rituals, ridiculous superstitions and meaningless dogma. The Catholic church is an apostate abomination; a stench in the nostrils of God. Its doctrines are anti- or extra-biblical and its modus operandi is corruption and greed. Judgment Day will not be pleasant for its leaders!
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  • snikkers wrote...
    judgement day
    February 11, 2013 10:04 am
    Tyrone, while I can't argue with your assessment of things I must say I chuckle at your comment about judgement day; as if yours or mine will go easy.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    inshallah
    February 11, 2013 11:24 am
    spot on Tyrone & AJ...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Inshallah?
    February 11, 2013 2:09 pm
    Nice. As if there's no insane dogma involved in The Religion "Here Comes the Boom!" of Peace. Our martyrs are killed because of their faith. Yours seem to have to take innocent people with them as they kill themselves. I'll take the Catholics swinging the incense thingy and spraying holy water over a lovely vest stitched with explosives and festooned with ball bearings and nails any day of the week and twice on Sundays. The Catholics have coffee and donuts Sunday. As-salam alaykum, bro. I'll stay out of your blast radius if you don't mind.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }