Cardinal Angelo
Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, has said that he and his fellow
cardinals have received the news of Pope Benedict’s resignation “with a sense
of loss and almost disbelief,” and he assured the Holy Father that the
cardinals “are closer than ever to you.”
Below are Cardinal
Sodano’s words to the Holy Father, as released by Vatican Information
Services:
We have heard you with a sense of loss and
almost disbelief. In your words we see the great affection that you have always
had for God's Holy Church, for this Church that you have loved so much. Now,
let me say, on behalf of this apostolic cenacle―the College of Cardinals―on
behalf of your beloved collaborators, allow me to say that we are closer than
ever to you, as we have been during these almost eight luminous years of your
pontificate. On 19 April 2005, if I remember correctly, at the end of the
conclave I asked … 'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?'
And you did not hesitate, although moved with emotion, to answer that you
accepted, trusting in the Lord's grace and the maternal intercession of Mary,
Mother of the Church. Like Mary on that day she gave her 'yes', and your
luminous pontificate began, following in the wake of continuity, in that
continuity with your 265 predecessors in the Chair of Peter, over two thousand
years of history from the Apostle Peter, the humble Galilean fisherman, to the
great popes of the last century from St. Pius X to Blessed John Paul II.
Holy Father, before 28 February, the day
that, as you have said, you wish to place the word 'end' to your pontifical
service, conducted with so much love and so humbly, before 28 February, we will
be able to better express our feelings. So too will the many pastors and
faithful throughout the world, so too all those of good will together with the
authorities of many countries. … Also, still this month, we will have the joy
of listening to your voice as pastor: Ash Wednesday, Thursday with the clergy
of Rome, in the Sunday Angelus, and the Wednesday general audiences, we will
still have many occasions to hear your paternal voice. … Your mission, however,
will continue. You have said that you will always be near us with your witness
and your prayer. Of course, the stars always continue to shine and so will the
star of your pontificate always shine among us. We are near to you, Holy
Father, and we ask you to bless us.