LOS ANGELES — Cardinal Roger M. Mahony praised outgoing Pope Benedict XVI for his legacy of spreading Catholicism throughout the world and said he looks forward to traveling to Vatican City to help elect a successor.
Pope Benedict announced Monday during a Vatican consistory that he would be resigning at the end of the month. “My strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” he said.
Benedict said he would step down at 8 p.m. on Feb. 28. A conclave of cardinals will be held in March to elect a new pope in time for Easter.
He is the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign from the office.
In a statement issued Monday morning, Mahony said it was his privilege to participate in the April 2005 conclave to elect Benedict.
“I recall so clearly his words when he told the cardinals that he was choosing the name of Benedict because of his fondness for the prayerfulness and the Rule of St. Benedict, and also because Pope Benedict XV [1914—1920] served during a time of turmoil and wars across the world,” Mahony said.
“His homilies and addresses were so amazing because he was not speaking about Jesus Christ as a topic, but he was speaking about Jesus from a deep and intimate knowledge of Jesus himself,” according to Mahony’s statement. “Surely one of his great legacies will be a continuing emphasis on the need for all Catholics to exercise their role as evangelizers in the world. His focus upon the new evangelization will continue to enliven all disciples of Jesus.”
Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. They are sequestered in Vatican City and take an oath of secrecy.
Last month, after the release of thousands of pages of records about sexual abuse by priests, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez announced that he had relieved Mahony of all public duties. The move, spurred by what Gomez said was Mahony’s mishandling of the abuse cases, is unprecedented in the American Catholic Church.
Despite the public censure, Mahony is still allowed to help select a new Pope.
“I look forward to traveling to Rome soon to help thank Pope Benedict XVI for his gifted service to the Church, and to participate in the conclave to elect his successor.
Mahony has since apologized for his actions in the sexual-abuse cases.
Mahony also reminded Gomez: “I apologized for those mistakes, and committed myself to make certain that the archdiocese was safe for everyone. Unfortunately, I cannot return now to the 1980s and reverse actions and decisions made then. But when I retired as the active archbishop, I handed over to you an archdiocese that was second to none in protecting children and youth.”
12 Comments to “Cardinal Mahony to Help Elect New Pope”
February 11, 2013 at 1:24 PM
Cardinal Mahony needs to get a real job and stop trying to convince Catholics that it was ok for him to shuffle the prevs around from church to church.
February 11, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Seriously ?! Who is he going to vote? some perv like him? some who hides rapist files under the cross?
Really Mahoney? why dont you just shut up and disappear !!!
February 11, 2013 at 2:42 PM
What, ohh, he is doing it for a free trip…Freaking Perv…He is going to go elect another Pope to cover his bad doing…. Hope he lands in Jail for been such a perv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 11, 2013 at 2:46 PM
I can't believe that they're going to let him? Isn't his judgment skewed already after what he's done? How in the world can he make a righteous judgment? My God!! It's hard for juries to believe witnesses that have a tattered past to testify in a court of law because of their past, what makes him any different?
February 11, 2013 at 2:46 PM
I AM GLAD i'M NOT CATHOLIC!
February 11, 2013 at 3:15 PM
This scumbag should be banned from any type of church administration as he has shown he isn't responsible enough to make a decision.
February 11, 2013 at 3:21 PM
Mahony has been relieved from performing public duties, which means performing religious sacraments, baptisms, mass, confession, marriages. Sounds like the same actions taken against the molesting priets, as they were removed from the priethood and back to the lay world. Is that the next step for Mahony?
February 11, 2013 at 7:42 PM
Is anyone concerned Mahony may not comeback and face criminal charges?
February 11, 2013 at 7:51 PM
It's like asking a Wolf to watch the sheep. What a sleezy liar. He belong in jail not in Rome
February 18, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Died mahony u ain’t special stop wasting peoples money.free loader
February 18, 2013 at 7:43 PM
Why is he still free california law system to weak money talks.