Levittown Catholic Community Surprised by Pope’s Resignation

The Levittown Catholic community along with the rest of the world awoke Monday morning to the surprising news of Pope Benedict XVI announcing he would step down at the end of February.  

The announcement came in Rome from the ailing pontiff, who has been in deteriorating health, and indicated he is too sick to carry on his duties. It will be the first time in 600 years that a sitting Pope has abdicated the Throne of St. Peter.  

Father Christopher Costigan of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Levittown said he understands Benedict’s decision.

Follow Levittown Patch on Facebook.

“It was surprising and I think it speaks to his humility to do it unannounced on a Monday morning instead of making a big spectacle,” Costigan said.

"With his age, the job proved to be more difficult now than in the past," he said. “I think now with everything moving so fast, he doesn’t want to leave the church in a bad position."  

Benedict's resignation sets the stage for the conclave, a secret meeting in Rome of all church Cardinals under 80 years old to decide his successor.  

The word "conclave" means, literally, "with a key." Symbolically, the College of Cardinals can not leave the conclave without deciding on a new leader of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics.  

Costigan said the next Pope should be someone true to the church and faith.  

“Benedict was a teacher pope, someone who taught by example,” he said. “It should someone to continue to stand up for the church in difficult times.”

Joe Dowd contributed to this report.

Please weigh in with your opinions in the comment section.