Vatican City, 8th April 2005 (CNA)
- In an article published in the Italian
daily Corriere della Sera, Vatican analyst
Luigi Acattoli pointed out that contrary to media
reports, Pope John Paul II never considered
resigning.
In 2000, Acattoli explains, the Pontiff
made important additions to the text he wrote for
his will just a few a months after his election
during the Spiritual Exercises of
1979. “As the Jubilee Year
progressed,” the Pope wrote, “day by day the 20th
century closes behind us and the 21st century
opens. According to the plans of Divine Providence
I was allowed to live in the difficult century
that is retreating into the past, and now, in the
year in which my life reaches 80 years
('octogesima adveniens'), it is time to ask
oneself if it is not the time to repeat with the
biblical Simeone 'nunc
dimittis'.”
According to Acattoli, the Pope “never gave
any serious thought to resigning; rather, in 2000
he prayed to God for help to understand how long
he should continue.”
In fact, the Nunc dimittis, which is
recited by the Church during Night Prayer—at the
end of the day—does not refer to resignation, but
rather to the moment of death: “Lord, now you let
your servant go in peace, your word has been
fulfilled…”
“And for Pope Wojtila, these words refer
not to the peace of retirement, but rather to
eternity,” Acattoli explained.
Acattoli notes the Pope was wondering
whether the time had come for God to call him to
Himself, and consequently it was meant to be a
reflection on the preparation for his death, which
would not take place until five years
later.
That explains why the additions made to the
will in 2000 conclude with: “As the end of my life
approaches I return with my memory to the
beginning…”
