Pope Benedict XVI To Resign

Pope Bdnedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he would step down at the end of the month is stunning but not surprising for a man with experience running a critical sector of the Vatican hierarchy while his predecessor John Paul II lingered in extremis as absolute ruler of a spiritual empire of a billion living souls. The last years of John Paul II, still much admired since his death on April 2, 2005, were excruciating for the Curia, as the organization’s chief decision maker slowly but publicly withered away in the throes of what was believed to be Parkinson’s disease. Many of Benedict’s pronouncements over the past eight years or so — including a few made while he was yet Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — have led observers to believe he was considering resignation rather than allowing the Catholic Church to go through the ordeal again.

As cited by Thomas Reese in the National Catholic Reporter, Benedict had already emphatically concluded that a Pope may resign if, as the Pontiff said in Light of the World, his wide-ranging 2010 interview with the journalist Peter Seewald, “he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign.” But Benedict added, “One can resign at a peaceful moment or when one simply cannot go on. But one must not run away from danger and say someone else should do it.”

The resignation of a Pope is not unprecedented. Gregory XII resigned in 1415 in an act that would restore the unity of the Catholic Church, which had been fractured by schism for nearly 70 years. Gregory, who would live on for two more years, would see the election of his replacement in the orthodox line of succession to Saint Peter. Unless Pope Benedict XVI’s health deteriorates rapidly — he cited it as his reason for stepping down at the end of February — he too will see the election of his successor. And that is likely to do more than extend the Petrine tradition: Benedict XVI may actually have influence over — though not a vote — who the next Pontiff will be, furthering the chances of candidates who will continue his policies. If so, this resignation would not just have been for health reasons but will have important, if not historic, political implications. Benedict isn’t likely to be running away from anything.

The conclave that will elect the next Pope has yet to be assembled, but even if he isn’t present in the Sistine Chapel, Benedict’s living presence as the Emeritus Pontiff is bound to influence the vote. (He is past the age of eligibility of casting a vote.) This sort of informal influence has proved powerful in other cultures — particularly Japan and China, where “retired” shoguns and Emperors continued to make pivotal decisions. Thus, just by living, Joseph Ratzinger, by then the ex-Pope Benedict XVI with a title yet to be decided, will be able to champion his conservative theological and social policies and stack the decks so that a successor of like mind and spirit is enthroned.

That the Pope was physically weakening is no surprise to people who have watched his public appearances in St. Peter’s. He has been more halting in his steps, slightly slower and more difficult to make out in his speech. His brother Georg, also a cleric, said that doctors had advised the Pope to stop making transoceanic trips. As Cardinal Ratzinger, the Pope had headed up what was probably the most efficient bureaucracy in the Vatican; so he would have been the first to notice that things were slagging. Indeed, he may have realized from the start of his papacy that he had ascended as an aging Pope — and not the young athletic Pontiff that John Paul was when he astounded the world with his surprise election as the first Pope from Poland.

Indeed, the Pope has made his share of impolitic statements and overseen a number of scandals. To be fair, he inherited the long-running priestly molestation scandal that has damaged the church’s reputation deeply in many parts of the world, particularly the U.S. and Ireland. But the recent arrest and conviction of his manservant for passing on papal documents to a journalist (who eventually wrote a book about the less-than-savory inside workings of the Vatican) must have pained him. The convicted butler’s reason for the revelations that emerged from the so-called theft: he was afraid Benedict was not getting all the information he needed to know about the running of the church. The idea that such organizational disarray had come right into his personal office must have pained the Pope and, if it reflected a failure in physical ability, contributed to his perception that the time had come to leave the papacy in healthier hands.

The question, then, is who will be the next Pope. While Benedict has been assiduous, as had John Paul II, of expanding the global representation of the College of Cardinals, speculation has been rife in the Holy See that the Italian contingent, which had been almost the sole producers of Popes for centuries, wants the papacy back. They will have to deal with a host of conservative candidates from the rest of the world, particularly Latin America. (The last so-called great hope of liberal Catholics, the Jesuit Cardinal Carlo Martini died in August 2012.) The role of the Italians in the Curia, however, remains strong — at times perhaps stronger than any living Pope’s. Every conclave develops its own dynamic and the world must simply wait for the white smoke to emerge from the Sistine Chapel to try to figure out what has happened. But in this particular case, a living Pope — along with the Holy Spirit — will be guiding the proceedings as well as the first steps of the next ruler of the Roman Catholic Church.

“Find a purpose to serve, not a lifestyle to live.” ― Criss Jami

2013 GRAMMY!

2013 GALLERY:





























“Loving ourselves creates miracles in our lives.” - Louise Hay

Nigeria's Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup Of Nations!

ALL HAIL THE KING OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL.......














  


CONGRATULATION SUPER EAGLES......INDEED YOU SOAR!

“‎"Victory isn't defined by wins or losses. It is defined by effort. If you can truthfully say, 'I did the best I could, I gave everything I had,' then you're a winner.” ― Wolfgang Schadler

That says it all. When you say, 'Victory,' that says it all-Drew Brees 

Bill Gates, US-based Christians, Doctors Mourn Slain Health Workers!

SHOCK and disbelief succinctly captures the mood in the health sector over the Friday killing of some female health workers.

As Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, whose office supervises the fight against polio, described the slain vaccinators as heroes, US billionaire and Polio campaign donor in Nigeria, Mr. Bill Gates, Saturday expressed deep concern, describing the apparent terrorist attack as a tragedy, and “unacceptable.”

Pate, however, expressed the optimism that the incident would not affect the nation’s quest to eradicate polio in Nigeria.

The health workers were conducting polio vaccination in Kano when they were killed by gunmen.

Pate said: “On February 8, 2013, we received the shocking news of the fatal shooting of nine health workers during separate attacks in Nassarawa and Taurani LGAs of Kano State.

“Although this is part of a long standing cycle of violence that has engulfed states such as Borno, Yobe, Kaduna and Kano states in recent months, we are invariably left dumb-founded by this dastardly act of cowardice that has not spared the very people who have paid the ultimate price because of their commitment to humanity and the love of their profession.

“Our hearts go out to the families, friends and colleagues of these brave women killed today; we also commiserate with the families of those non-health workers, who also lost their lives.  Our nation mourns the demise of these nine women, who toiled night and day to ensure that our children receive vaccines that would protect them from diseases such as polio, measles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.”

He described the dead vaccinators as heroes who died during service to the nation.

Similarly, a statement issued Friday night on behalf of Mr. Gates, the US-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said of the Kano killing: “Our sympathy goes out to the victims and their families who were caught up in this morning’s terrible attack in Nigeria’s Kano State. “

According to the Foundation, “any attack on health workers anywhere is unacceptable. This tragic incident is an attack on the delivery of basic health services to the most vulnerable families.”

But the Gates Foundation said it would not be deterred in its campaign to help families in Northern Nigeria who need vaccination.

“We will continue to support the people of Nigeria, their traditional and religious leaders, and the Government, in their tireless efforts to create an environment where mothers and children can be safely reached with essential interventions by frontline health workers, such as vaccines to prevent polio, measles, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and hepatitis.”

Also, the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to speak out more stridently against the recurrent terrorist killings in northern Nigeria.

In a statement released by CANAN Secretariat over the weekend, the association said the fact that suspected Boko Haram terrorists are attacking health workers is only an outcome of the impunity they have enjoyed in their previous and consistent killings of Christians.

On its part, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) described the incident as reminiscence of Nigeria’s insecurity.

President of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said his members “are in shock” over the development.

He said: “The NMA totally deprecates this unfortunate villainous act of murder, especially coming at a time when Nigeria is struggling very hard to drop her gold medal in polio, being one of three remaining countries where polio is endemic. In 2012, Nigeria was reported to have 121 out of 222 polio cases in the world, way ahead of countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“It was therefore a great shock that the female health workers were murdered in the course of vaccinating Nigerian children against polio.

“The murder of the female health workers is a further reminder of Nigeria’s abysmal state of insecurity, social dislocation and depravity. It also further exposes the high level of insecurity of healthcare workers in Nigeria, as well as the persisting misconceptions about polio vaccination.”

Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Ado JG Muhammad, said the country would not be deterred by the death of the health workers, stressing that nothing would stop the nation in ensuring the interruption of wild polio virus.

He paid tribute to health workers across the country for their dedication to the fight against polio.

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” ― Langston Hughes

7 Suicide Bombers Heading To Nasarawa State Arrested In Kaduna!

Nigeria:

Reports reaching us say soldiers apprehended seven suicide bombers in Kaura local government area of Kaduna State today.

A competent source told our Correspondent that the bombers were from Kano State and were heading to Nassarawa State.

According to the source, six of the bombers are male while the seventh is a female.

President Jonathan In London Clinic Over Intestinal Problems; Babangida’s Leg Disease Worsens!

President Jonathan and Wife

An intestinal problem has forced President Jonathan to cancel a planned surprise visit to the Super Eagles in South Africa, medical sources in London said today.
The Nigeria president, who is on a whirlwind three-nation trip to Egypt, the United Kingdom and France, had planned to surprise the Super Eagles in South Africa following their qualification for the final of the African Cup of Nations last Wednesday.

 London Clinic on Harley Street

However, in London Mr. Jonathan came down with an intestinal disorder referred to as Amoebic Colitis and he underwent testing at the London Clinic on Harley Street.  The clinic is highly favoured by Nigeria’s rich and powerful.
A medical source told newsmen that Mr. Jonathan's situation is not worrisome but that the persistent nature of the condition meant the president had to undergo some screenings.  It was not clear why he did not undertake the screenings in Abuja, where State House has an excellent clinic manned by a largely idle staff.

former Nigerian Military Head of State Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida

Meanwhile, former Nigerian military Head of state Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was also sighted at the InterContinental Hotel in London limping on one leg. Mr. Babangida was helped into a vehicle by two aides on his way to a hospital in the city.


                               

Continental Hotel London

                                      

It was not clear if President Jonathan previously knew of Babangida's stay at the same hotel but the two met briefly as Babangida struggled to get to his car.

Mr. Jonathan is expected to arrive in France on Monday, according to his itinerary, but it is unclear if his health issue will force a change.  Mr. Jonathan’s wife, Patience, last month returned to hospital in Germany following new health concerns.  
The president has detailed the Senate President, David Mark, to cheer on the Super Eagles to victory in their final match against Burkina Faso tomorrow.
A presidency source said the President plans a massive reception for the Super Eagles in Abuja on Tuesday night.
Following decades of irresponsible management of the Nigerian economy, including failure to develop the health sector, Nigeria’s leaders and their families routinely hurry off to the developed world to squander valuable foreign exchange even on minor health procedures.
Two years ago, Babangida’s wife died in a hospital in California.  Prior to that, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s wife died in a hospital in Spain.

Word for the Day: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” ― Mark Twain

South Korean doctors killed in Nigeria!

Three South Korean doctors have been killed in a pre-dawn attack in Nigeria's northeastern town of Potiskum, police say.

The motive of Sunday's attack was not immediately clear, but a security source said that preliminary reports suggested it was a robbery that resulted in the medics' deaths. Yobe State police commissioner Sanusi Rufai initially said the victims were Chinese. "Unknown attackers scaled over the fence of an apartment in Potiskum housing three Chinese doctors around 1am and slit their throats. No arrest has been made," he told the AFP news agency on Sunday. Residents said the dead were employees of the state ministry of health and had been living in the volatile city for one year. Nine health workers who were administering polio vaccinations were shot dead in the northern city of Kano on Friday. Kano, Nigeria's second largest city, has been regularly targeted by Boko Haram, an armed group which has condemned the use of Western medicine. The group is also active in Potiskum, where Sunday's killings happened, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killings. "It is still premature to point any accusing fingers but we have commenced investigation to unravel the killings," Rufai said.

culled from Al Jazeera

Word for the Day:  “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt