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POPE BENEDICT XVI has held his final public event before stepping down as pontiff, using his final general audience to further explain his reasons for deciding to step down.
Thousands turned out at St Peter’s Square in Rome to mark the 85-year-old pope’s final public event, before he retires to his summer residence outside Rome tomorrow and ends his pontificate at 7pm tomorrow evening.
The Wednesday morning general audience usually offers a platform for the pope to give lectures on the nature of Christianity – but today Benedict instead used the opportunity to elaborate on his reasons for his retirement.
Benedict said he did not have the “strength of mind or body” to continue leading the Catholic Church’s 1.2 billion followers.
“To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself,” he said, further recalling the doubts he had about his ability to rise to the role when he was appointed pontiff in April 2005.
“I have had moments of joy and light, but also moments that haven’t been easy … moments of turbulent seas and rough winds,” he added.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Benedict toured the square in the ‘Popemobile’, greeting well-wishers in what amounted to his final public appearance as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Most of the 115 cardinals who will vote in next month’s conclave, appointing a successor to Benedict, were present for the audience – which had an expected attendance of about 50,000, but an actual turnout of nearly double that much.
Tomorrow morning Benedict will hold a meeting with the cardinals, before flying to Castel Gandolfo – about 40 minutes away by road – to see out the last hours of his pontificate.
At 8pm Roman time (7pm Irish time) the doors of the residence will close, and the Swiss Guards protecting him will stand down – their job of protecting the head of the Catholic Church over for the time being.
Readers unable to view the Soundcloud file above can click here to listen to the audio.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,I offer a warm and affectionate greeting to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors who have joined me for this, my last General Audience.
Like Saint Paul, whose words we heard earlier, my heart is filled with thanksgiving to God who ever watches over his Church and her growth in faith and love, and I embrace all of you with joy and gratitude.
During this Year of Faith, we have been called to renew our joyful trust in the Lord’s presence in our lives and in the life of the Church. I am personally grateful for his unfailing love and guidance in the eight years since I accepted his call to serve as the Successor of Peter.
I am also deeply grateful for the understanding, support and prayers of so many of you, not only here in Rome, but also throughout the world.
The decision I have made, after much prayer, is the fruit of a serene trust in God’s will and a deep love of Christ’s Church. I will continue to accompany the Church with my prayers, and I ask each of you to pray for me and for the new Pope.
In union with Mary and all the saints, let us entrust ourselves in faith and hope to God, who continues to watch over our lives and to guide the journey of the Church and our world along the paths of history.
I commend all of you, with great affection, to his loving care, asking him to strengthen you in the hope which opens our hearts to the fullness of life that he alone can give.
To you and your families, I impart my blessing.
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Dirty b#stard should be chemically castrated and sentenced to a life time of hard labour.
Too good for him Ted…feed to hungry pigs I’d say..
Here we would have let him go while he appealed his conviction, which would have been half that of his actual one with 70% suspended. He would have also been released early for good behavior.
Life has to mean life for an evil beast like him. Whoever released him in ’92 after just 3 years for abducting and raping those other girls should be behind bars too.
Disgraceful that he has the nerve to seek an early release. Sicko
This type of individual is the worst of the worst. He needs to be kept under lock & key & studied in a bid to learn more about his kind. To allow him apply for parole makes a mockery of justice & insults the victims memories.
Guillotine the freak! Or at least his genitalia. I’m against capital punishment but firmly support the idea of a no nonsense approach when punishing those involved in sex crimes, especially against children. Rape Should be grounds for castration-zero tolerance.., period!
I’d be surprised if he’s not hunted for after release anyway. If I was the parent I’d go to hell and back to get him.
And what purpose would that serve?
Satisfaction
Go watch a Tarantino film you ape. Every time one of these stories appears you get the internet hardmen trying to outdo each other with stuff they would do to a sex offender. Funnily enough in real life the relatives of victims are markedly more restrained and dignified.
I don’t believe that we should destroy all paedophiles at birth like some others seem to do
But there are cases like this one, where it would be a sick joke to ever let them out of prison
How do you know that someone is going to be a paedophile at birth may I ask?
Give him the electronic bracelet.
Then run 50,000 volts through it.
In Brussels Airport with my young children in 1995, I picked up a double photo of the abducted girls asking travellers to look out in their own countries. A few weeks later Dutroux was arrested and the bodies were found. I often look at the photo and still feel a sense of upset knowing, when I picked it up, they were alive, suffering such an unthinkable ordeal and facing an horrific death, while my children are now living adult lives.
The sickest thing here is that this appeal was even entertained in the first place. They reject this appeal because he was not clear enough about where he would live?? How about they reject it because he’s an animal who should spend the rest of his life in a filthy hole? There is a lot wrong with a “justice” system that would even think about releasing such a person
Can’t understand the red thumbs here. This person should be exterminated like vermin
I disagree. I think death is an easy way out for someone like this. He should remain in prison for the rest of his days. A person like him doesn’t even deserve the option of rehabilitation.
If you read up on the case, you’ll see that Belgium is rotten. There’s plenty of politicians and police involved, in the worst sense.
Be warned, it’s not light reading.
According to Dutroux anyway, abut sure he wouldn’t be lying about that would he… The two surviving girls testified that they only ever saw Dutroux when they were imprisoned.
According to Dutroux anyway, but sure he wouldn’t be lying about that would he… The two surviving girls testified that they only ever saw Dutroux when they were imprisoned.
I’m talking about a paedophile ring. Those poor girls were kept in a basement, out of sight. Usually I like to have links to back up my comments, but I don’t want to go reading up on the case again, as it’s as shocking, depraved and depressing as stories get.
I don’t know why anyone would say, “ah sure we caught them two, let’s leave it at that!” They ALL need to be caught and locked up.
You obviously misunderstand me; what I’m saying is that despite the fact that Dutroux claimed there was this huge paedophile ring no evidence was ever found, Dutroux has always enjoyed his notoriety and the attention he got. Despite loads of media attention ( the Belgian Press referred to this alleged ring as The Pink Ballets )and and police investigation, no proof was found and no one was arrested
@Kevin
I know the exact link you’re referring to. I began reading this one weekend and I had to stop half way through simply because I have never come across anything so unbelievably shocking and disturbing in my life! Hollywood horrors pale in comparison to what was compiled in the report. I actually started to get depressed and very down while reading it.
One thing for sure is that Dutroux was just s foot soldier/procurer for a most perverse and downright evil bunch of people.
If it was my kids. Well…….has anyone seen Law Abiding Citizen?
Watched a documentary on this abomination and It suggested that some high level people were in involved in covering up his crimes for some time.
A Police officer didn’t search his house completely and “missed” the basement which was added and that held the poor Girls who this Monster has held captive.
People like Dutroux should never be released.
Some people can’t be reformed and will always be a risk to society.
If you got rid of his arms and legs he wouldn’t be a risk.
Let him rott in there
Such a grisly case, so sad
Cut his b@lls off
Released in1992 after only serving 3 years for abducting and raping 5 young girls?? What sort of warped system of justice let him walk out the door!!!
Such a grisly case, rip
Now then now then
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