Today, we Catholics think about the role of popes in our faith. How did the papacy start? The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter commemorate Christ’s selecting Peter to sit in His place as the servant-authority of the Church. Sadly, in six days our current and much beloved Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, will retire from his Petrine ministry. I am grateful that Our Lord called Cardinal Ratzinger to the sit in the Chair of St. Peter and that this good and noble soul answered His call. Among the many reasons I will miss him will be his love for the liturgy and his appreciation for Catholic music and art.
We must also fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the cardinals who will select the next man to sit on Peter’s Chair. This is no easy nor light ministry, but rather one that should be accepted prayerful. Let us listen to Palestina’s beautiful composition Tu est Petrus and view some photographs of Pope Benedict XVI as our Holy Father. View here.
Holy Father, you are Peter!