Pope's Resignation 'Shocks' Priest
Father Robert Hawkins at St. Luke parish in Barrington stunned by Pope Benedict XVI's decision to step down from the papacy.
Father Robert Hawkins was “shocked” and “taken aback” by the announcement on Monday by Pope Benedict XVI that he is resigning the papacy. “What made it a little more stunning was that Pope Paul II suffered from Parkinson’s until the end,” said Father Hawkins, the priest at St. Luke Parish in Barrington. But most Catholic clergy always considered Pope Benedict more of “an interim” Pope because of his age, he said. He was 77 when he ascended to that position eight years ago. The announcement was still rather stunning, Father Hawkins said. No one expected it. Pope Benedict is the first Pope in 600 years to step down – a decision seen widely as a courageous move. “I guess I’m still kind of getting used to the idea,” Father Hawkins said. “For …
