(PROVIDENCE, R.I.)-The Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, this morning shared the following statement relative to the resignation announcement of Pope Benedict XVI.
I was stunned by the news that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI will resign his office at the end of the month. He is a man of great wisdom and holiness and he has given everything – his heart and mind, his soul and strength – to the difficult task of leading the Church.
Our Holy Father’s resignation is, I believe, an act of great humility for he understands that the needs of the Church are greater than his own; that ultimately the well-being of the Church is in God’s hands, not the Pope’s.
I will pray in gratitude for Pope Benedict’s service and also that our Holy Father will now enjoy a time of rest and prayer that he so richly deserves.
In that spirit, I am also pleased to announce that there will be a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving for the Ministry of Pope Benedict XVI at this Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on Thursday, February 28th at 12:00 Noon, the final day of our Holy Father’s ministry.
May God bless Pope Benedict!
