Michael Czerny S.J. of the English Canadian Province is missioned to the office of the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. This is the first in a series of weekly articles which Michael will write from Ash Wednesday until the inauguration of the new Pope. Michael will report personally with reflections on the ecclesial and spiritual drama as seen from within.

Within hours of the announcement, I was asked by a German magazine to convey the views of Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson on Pope Benedict’s resignation. The Zeit wanted especially to know if the announcement came as a surprise, what it means, and whether the Cardinal thinks that it is time for a Pope from Africa. What follows is an expanded version of the hurried reply.

Yes, the decision was unexpected, yet resignation has always been a possibility. First to resign was probably Pope Pontian in the A.D. 230’s, followed by a disputed number of others up to Gregory XII in 1415, and now Benedict XVI.

Announced on the feast-day of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Holy Father numbered himself among the elderly and infirm marking the World Day of the Sick and seeking the special help of Our Mother Mary for himself and for the whole Church.

The last days of Pope John Paul II, courageously living out his sickness, were a great catechesis on the supreme value of human life from the very beginning until the very end. Today, Pope Benedict XVI has clearly made a carefully-reflected decision in response to his own unique, difficult and rapidly changing circumstances. This, too, is a great catechesis.

Here are some of his own words, addressed to Cardinals in Consistory on Monday morning, 11 February:

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.

For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on April 19, 2005, in such a way, that as from February 28, 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

In stepping down, our Holy Father has manifested the utmost honesty and unselfishness, his eyes fixed on the purpose of best serving the Church. “The Supreme Pontiff shows Supreme Humility” was an apt comment for someone who is avoiding the notion of Pope Emeritus by renouncing his office and becoming the Bishop Emeritus of Rome for the rest of his days.

To speculate about the nationality of the next Pope is not very useful; the choice is not made on representational or statistical grounds. Nor does it help to use ideological or political tags, like conservative / liberal / centrist or progressive / traditionalist; these shifting shades apply no more now than they did to Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified.

Instead, recognizing that the Church is of God, let us pray for the Conclave. May the Holy Spirit guide the Cardinal-electors. May the new Pope be well chosen to lead the Church the world over to fulfill the wishes of Jesus Christ its Founder. May the new Pope have the many gifts and talents needed to lead the Church and indeed all humanity during the years ahead. In the words of Father General Nicolas, “We continue to trust that the risen Lord is faithful to his promise to be with his Church always.”