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 19 April 2005. 

With these sober and canonical words did Pope Benedict XVI resign as Pope on 12 February 2013. 

Only days ago, I commented to a friend that the Church will be seeking a new Pope in the next 5 years or so.  I never thought that I would have to wait only 5 days. 

There's something moving and stirring about the Pope's resignation. 

The Pope makes a choice in full freedom.  As humans, no matter where life may take us, we have to eventually make a choice, in full freedom.  That is not an easy or obvious task.  So often we are swayed this way and that way by our fears, by others' opinions, by the fickleness of public opinion. So often we make a choice in less than full freedom.  But, make choices we must. 

To be a mature person is to make a free choice, to decide on a path, to take this road and not that road, to marry this person and not that person.  Every choice is a form of death.  Yes to one thing necessarily means no to another thing.  Choosing between good and evil is easy – for the most part.  Choosing between two goods – well, that's another matter all together. 

A particular Pope is not indispensible.  I am not indispensible.  Neither are you.  The flow of life and love, of death and hate will continue on despite us.  It's as if time is oblivious to our existence. Live or die, the sun will still rise.  Here or gone, the moon will still shine brightly in the heavens. 

I find that so freeing.  It is gives a lift to my day, a gentleness to my life.  Que sera, sera, as the song goes.  That doesn't deprive us of getting on with life.  Far from it.  We have work to do and places to go.  But, with all our activity and movement to and fro, it's nice to know that we are not the be all or the end all of things.  We can relax and enjoy life. 

Only a humble man could do what the Pope did.  I can think of a few politicians, presidents and prime ministers who could learn a lesson or two from Benedict.  Despite what you may think, the worse sin in the Church has nothing to do with sex.  It's pride – pure and simple.  And what leads to pride but good old honor, riches and glory.  Remember the temptations of Jesus.  The Devil knows his way among men and women.  I'll give you all this, all the kingdoms of the world, all the power and glory of time, all the adulations of followers, the Devil says – if only you will worship me.  Remember poor old Adam and Eve in that lovely garden. The serpent knew a thing or two.  You will become like God.  You will have full knowledge.  Forget the drudgery of human life.  Well, you know the end of the story.

Benedict will leave what is certainly one of the most public positions on earth to spend the rest of his life in a cloistered community within the walls of Vatican City.  Talk about downsizing.   The Pope has shown us that there's a time for everything as the wise Book of Ecclesiastes is wont to say.  There is indeed a time for everything, a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, …

Yes, there is indeed a time for everything, a time to be Pope, a time not to be Pope.