Retired Pope Benedict XVI has defended the celibacy of
Catholic Priests after his successor, Pope Francis hinted on relaxing the ban on
married men serving as priests.
Pope Benedict in a book titled “From the Depths of Our
Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy and the Crisis of the Catholic Church" which
he co-authored with fellow conservative, Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah who
heads the Vatican’s liturgy office and has been a quiet critic of Francis, said
he could not remain silent on the issue because the centuries-old tradition
within the Church has "great significance" because it allows priests
to focus on their duties.
Sticking to his theological form, Benedict’s chapter is
dense with biblical references and he explains in scholarly terms what he says
is the “necessary” foundation for the celibate priesthood that dates from the
times of the apostles.
He wrote;
“The priesthood of
Jesus Christ causes us to enter into a life that consists of becoming one with
him and renouncing all that belongs only to us.
“For priests, this is the foundation of the necessity of
celibacy but also of liturgical prayer, meditation on the Word of God and the
renunciation of material goods.
“Since serving the
Lord likewise requires the total gift of a man, it does not seem possible to
carry on the two vocations simultaneously. Thus, the ability to renounce
marriage so as to place oneself totally at the Lord’s disposition became a
criterion for priestly ministry.”
The retired Pope also
acknowledged that the Catholic priesthood has been “wounded by the revelation
of so many scandals, disconcerted by the constant questioning of their
consecrated celibacy.”
In the book dedicated
to priests of the world, the two authors however urged them to persevere as
they also admonished Catholic faithfuls to hold firm and support them in their
celibate ministry.
They wrote;
“It is urgent and
necessary for everyone—bishops, priests and lay people—to stop letting
themselves be intimidated by the wrong-headed pleas, the theatrical
productions, the diabolical lies and the fashionable errors that try to put
down priestly celibacy.
“It is urgent and necessary for everyone—bishops, priests
and lay people—to take a fresh look with the eyes of faith at the Church and at
priestly celibacy which protects her mystery.”
Benedict’s intervention has been considered as
extraordinary, given that he promised to remain “hidden from the world” when he
retired in 2013 after becoming the first pontiff to resign in almost 600 years.
Some Vatican commentators have also expressed their surprise
over Benedict's intervention. Massimo Faggioli, a historian and theologian at
Villanova University tweeted;
"Benedict XVI is
really not breaking his silence because he (and his entourage) never felt bound
to that promise. But this is a serious breach"
Joshua McElwee, a journalist for the National Catholic
Reporter described Pope Benedict's comment as incredible. He tweeted;
The book which is still being published, has already
reignited speculation about the nature of the relationship between Francis and
Benedict.
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