Elena 
Before I get on with this week’s links, if you didn’t see Kate Gosselin change places with Kendra on Tuesday- you really missed a great show -and it gives me a lot more respect for both women. See it here.
The Pope’s last day is tomorrow!!! I thought it would be fun to look at some of the posts I have put up about our pope over the past few years.
Great quote by Pope Benedict on soccer!
Pope Defends the Family
How Pope Benedict’s Election had liberal nun Joan Chittister in an uproar. Here is her article at the time of his election.
Media reaction to Benedict’s election – we’ll probably see more of the same!
The Pope and the Mandatum
The Red Shoes
Some Papal Humor
The Pope’s white house visit in 2008
You can read the Pope’s final message at Joan’s Rome Blog. Here is an excerpt.
Allow me here to return once again to 19 April, 2005. The gravity of the decision lay precisely in the fact that, from that moment on, I was always and for always engaged by the Lord. Always—whoever assumes the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs always and entirely to everyone, to the whole Church. His life, so to speak, is totally deprived of its private dimension. I experienced, and I am experiencing it precisely now, that one receives life precisely when they give it. Before I said that many people who love the Lord also love St. Peter’s Successor and are fond of him; that the Pope truly has brothers and sisters, sons and daughters all over the world and that he feels safe in the embrace of their communion; because he no longer belongs to himself but he belongs to all and all belong to him.”
“’Always’ is also ‘forever’–there is no return to private life. My decision to renounce the active exercise of the ministry does not revoke this. I am not returning to private life, to a life of trips, meetings, receptions, conferences, etc. I am not abandoning the cross, but am remaining beside the Crucified Lord in a new way. I no longer bear the power of the office for the governance of the Church, but I remain in the service of prayer, within St. Peter’s paddock, so to speak. St. Benedict, whose name I bear as Pope, will be a great example to me in this. He has shown us the way for a life that, active or passive, belongs wholly to God’s work.”
“I also thank each and every one of you for the respect and understanding with which you have received this important decision. I will continue to accompany the Church’s journey through prayer and reflection, with the dedication to the Lord and His Bride that I have tried to live every day up to now and that I want to always live. I ask you to remember me to God, and above all to pray for the Cardinals who are called to such an important task, and for the new Successor of the Apostle Peter. Many the Lord accompany him with the light and strength of His Spirit.”
The pope just recently started tweeting on Twitter. I’m sure he’s seen a lot of ugliness directed towards the church and towards him personally. So join the super plan to Twitter Storm in appreciation of our beloved pontiff! #ThanksPontifex!!
Need news and info on the resignation and transition – see it here: Media Kit on Papal Transition
Finally, we will have a new pope soon, might as well have a little fun while we’re at it!!Pick the new pope!
Books by Benedict!
