Suburban Catholics support Pope’s decision, pray for the future
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Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message Monday during a meeting of Vatican cardinals at the Vatican. Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 — the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. Associated Press/L’Osservatore Romano |
Surprised more than sad, many suburban Catholics expressed admiration and understanding for Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign, and now look toward the church's future with a little uncertainty but mostly hope.
The 85-year-old pontiff shocked the world Monday morning by announcing he would step down as leader of the Roman Catholic Church because he no longer had the mental and physical strength to carry out his duties. It was the first time in nearly 600 years a pope has resigned, as the position is considered a lifelong commitment.
Catholics in the suburbs
Ÿ More than 3.3 million Catholics live in the Chicago area. There are about 2.3 million within the Chicago Archdiocese (which includes Cook and Lake counties), 457,000 in the Rockford Archdiocese (an 11-county area that includes Kane and McHenry counties) and roughly 604,000 in the Joliet Archdiocese (a 7-county area that includes DuPage and Kendall counties).
Ÿ Catholic population as a percentage of the population in Cook and Lake counties: 39 percent
Ÿ Northern Illinois is home to 581 parishes (356 in the Chicago Archdiocese, 105 in Rockford Archdiocese, and 120 in Joliet Archdiocese).
Ÿ In Cook and Lake counties, 49 percent of Catholics (1.13 million) are white, 42 percent (969,000) are Hispanic, 3 percent (66,000) are black, 5 percent (126,000) are Asian/other, and 1 percent (12,000) is multiracial.
Source: Archdiocese of Chicago, Rockford and Joliet
Bishop David J. Malloy, of the Diocese of Rockford, said the announcement came out of the blue, and he heard about it the way most suburban Catholics did — on the news Monday morning.
"It must have been a tremendous sacrifice for the Holy Father. I'm grateful for everything he's done for us," said Bishop Malloy, whose diocese covers an 11-county region including Kane and McHenry counties. "There is so much now going on in the world, that the speed of communication and leadership and governance ... it was necessary, at least in his case, to take the step that he did."
With millions of Catholics living in the Chicago area, surprise rippled through the community. Many expressed concern for the pontiff's physical health, but also optimism for what the future holds for the church.
"I was surprised, but my other thought was, 'Good for him,'" said Father Bill Zavaski, of St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights. "I think the guy's smart. I really do. It's such a demanding job. The demands on Holy Week (which begins March 24) are incredible for the pope."
Many Catholics remember the final, frail years of Pope John Paul's life and find it admirable and unselfish for Pope Benedict to step aside before his health deteriorates further.
"It takes an awful lot of strength and humility to announce that we don't have the strength and someone else needs to do the job. It's not a sign of failure in any way, shape or form," said Clare Titus, business manager of the school at St. Margaret Mary Church in Algonquin.
Father Dan Whiteside, from St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove, said he hasn't heard of anyone being upset with the pope's decision.
"If anything, I've heard more people comment that it makes more sense, and that it's actually healthy for the church," he said. "I've got to think that he might be wanting to set the precedent. That it's OK to do this. For some reason, there's a feeling that there will be continuity."
Cardinal Francis George recognized the "great courage" of Pope Benedict's decision.
"Pope Benedict XVI has, in all circumstances, placed the will of God for the good of the Church before every other consideration," Cardinal George said in a statement.
Just as with any governing group, a change in leadership creates some uncertainty, wondering if and what will change. Some suburban Catholics weren't worried about possible implications of a new pope.
"With every change, there are things you lose that you like. There are things that you get that you don't like. And there are things that you never imagined that are even better. That's just part of it," Titus said.
Father Bill Zavaski, who plans to retire at the end of the year, trusts the church's leadership to pick the right successor.
"We all live with uncertainty. That's something we have to live with on a regular basis," Zavaski said. "(Pope Benedict) is an incredible writer. Maybe in his last years, he could spend his time praying and reflecting and writing."
Bishop Daniel Conlon of the Joliet Archdiocese also looks forward with confidence.
"Because the Church was founded by Christ and lives by the Holy Spirit, we have no reason to worry about the future," he said in a statement. "Our task, as members of the Body of Christ, is to seek the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit for the cardinals and to pray for a peaceful future for Pope Benedict."
Pope Benedict plans to step down Feb. 28, and it's expected that a new pope will be elected at the Vatican by the end of March. Local Catholics should not view this process as something that only happens in Rome, Bishop Malloy said.
"That's the last step," he said. "We need to be a part of it here and now, and we ask, in all of our parishes and all of our homes ... that there is a spiritual unity that's going on, and we pray each day about this. Let's make this to be a moment of intense prayer as a successor to Peter (the Apostle) is going to be chosen."
