{"id":2280,"date":"2013-02-12T00:19:00","date_gmt":"2013-02-12T00:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/politicians-respond-to-popes-retirement-with-surprise-thanksgiving\/"},"modified":"2013-02-12T00:19:00","modified_gmt":"2013-02-12T00:19:00","slug":"politicians-react-to-popes-retirement-with-surprise-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2013\/02\/politicians-react-to-popes-retirement-with-surprise-thanksgiving\/","title":{"rendered":"Politicians react to Pope’s retirement with surprise, thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Feb 11, 2013 \/ 05:19 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Political leaders in the United States offered their prayers and respect upon learning of Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s decision to retire at the end of the month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\u201cOn behalf of Americans everywhere,\u201d said U.S. President Barack Obama in a Feb. 11 statement, \u201cMichelle and I wish to extend our appreciation and prayers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cMichelle and I warmly remember our meeting with the Holy Father in 2009, and I have appreciated our work together over these last four years,\u201d the president said.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe Church plays a critical role in the United States and the world,\u201d he added, \u201cand I wish the best to those who will soon gather to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s successor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPope Benedict announced his decision to retire on the morning of Feb. 11 in Rome. In an address in Latin to a group of Cardinals, the Pope stated that he would relinquish his role on Feb. 28 due to his declining strength and advancing age. He will be the first Pope to resign from his position in nearly 600 years.<\/p>\n

\tVice President Joe Biden, who is Catholic, voiced admiration for the Holy Father on Twitter, calling him \u201ca man of great integrity\u201d who is \u201clooking out for what he believes is the best interest of our church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tSecretary of State John Kerry, who is also Catholic, described the Pope as \u201ca man of action and principle, working to promote human rights and dignity in places around the globe where they are too often denied.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe wish Pope Benedict great peace and health and we will keep him in our prayers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tSpeaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) also offered \u201cprayers and gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe Holy Father's decision displays extraordinary humility and love for the Church, two things that have been the hallmarks of his service,\u201d Boehner said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cAmericans were inspired by his visit to the United States in 2008, and by his quiet, steady leadership of the Church in uncertain times,\u201d he continued. \u201cPeople of all nations have been blessed by the sacrifices he has made to sow the seeds of hope, justice, and compassion throughout the world in the name of Our Lord and Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tOther Catholic lawmakers released similar statements. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) praised the Pope\u2019s decision, saying that it \u201cdisplayed the qualities of an excellent leader and a true man of God.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI wish him well in the future,\u201d Rubio said, \u201cand, as a Catholic, I thank him for his service to God and the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI also look with optimism toward the future of the Catholic Church as it prepares to welcome a new leader and as it continues to spread God\u2019s message of faith, hope and love to all the corners of the world,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\tCongressman and former vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) echoed the surprise and prayers of his colleagues, while stating that the Holy Father\u2019s decision is \u201canother sign of his humility and good sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tRyan recounted the Pope\u2019s defense of human life and dignity, advocacy for \u201cthe poor, the powerless, the unborn, the sick, and the elderly,\u201d and work towards peace and interreligious cooperation.<\/p>\n

\tHe also pointed to Pope Benedict\u2019s \u201cbrilliant intellect,\u201d referring to the Holy Father\u2019s books, homilies and writings as \u201cnew treasures of the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cHis pontificate has been a blessing to the world,\u201d Ryan said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Washington D.C., Feb 11, 2013 \/ 05:19 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Political leaders in the United States offered their prayers and respect upon learning of Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to retire at the end of the month. <\/p>\n

\t“On behalf of Ameri…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nPoliticians react to Pope's retirement with surprise, thanksgiving<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Washington D.C., Feb 11, 2013 \/ 05:19 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Political leaders in the United States offered their prayers and respect upon learning of Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to retire at the end of the month.  “On behalf of Ameri...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2013\/02\/politicians-react-to-popes-retirement-with-surprise-thanksgiving\/\" \/>\n<meta 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