Pray for Pope Benedict

I encourage all to join me in praying for Pope Benedict.

And that not only because this is the last day of his pontificate, but also because, as The Anchoress notes, the man is tired at best.

There has been much speculation about the *real* reason he is resigning.  I will not bother to repeat said rumors.  I will say I haven’t yet heard the resignation blamed on the Sequester of Doom, but maybe Obama and the noos media just haven’t gotten around to that yet.

But perhaps we ought instead to take his resignation statement at face value:

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.

Yes, do pray for Pope Benedict.