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Cardinal Donald Wuerl reacts to Pope Benedict XVI's decision

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    Archbishop of Washington on 'Special Report'

  • Duration 7:33
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Thoughts now on this development and what it means for the Catholic Church from the archbishop of Washington his eminence cardinal Donald war.

Cardinal thank you for being here it's a pleasure to be with you thank you.

You were shocked by this I think it's fair to say a lot of people wore.

What was your reaction.

You're right it was a shock to to hear this news that the holy father.

Has chosen to resign.

As you know this is the first time in modern history that this has happened and I don't think anyone was prepared to hear this two day.

In a way though it's speaks to the greatness of this total.

He has the humility.

To size up the situation today -- his -- ability to handle.

The demands from the office and then the -- simply to say.

It's better to beat someone with more energy today.

Today that -- the C.

He is more than ever Ministry's press it's.

And for our holy father to be as he engaged.

Him.

The life of the church today as he has been up to this moment that he is his great gift.

It -- a -- take a big purse and just say.

I don't think I have the strength to continue to do this.

My first thought when I heard this after it was a shock was.

What do what I humble.

And wonderful man whose obedience.

You know if you look at the statement.

And he he says he examined it in his conscience and he came to that.

That point where he thought that his strengths was not there.

And that didn't strength of mind and body to do the job that he thinks needs to be done.

For the church someone else should do it it's just that.

It's historic.

In that it's been 600 plus years.

Since the Pope has done that.

And I think Quinn he said he doesn't have the energy that he was talking about the physical stamina.

Today he hacks could be in so many different places not just can roam around the world but there's more to it.

I think in this holy father recognizes.

-- we live in the age of instantaneous communication.

We needed an age where social communications dominate.

Call we really want to another.

And I think he's saying.

That he is ability just to be able to do all that -- -- -- the way he feels it should be time.

His ability as when he -- it's purely a question of physical and do you see this is an opportunity for the church.

I think it's a wonderful opportunity for us to take a look at first of all what did he is that has driven his ministry.

And where we need to go attack.

This holy father has called the church to look at her spiritual ministry.

How -- -- -- -- gospel of Jesus Christ how to -- -- Bring it to the world today that is so caught up yeah and so driven by other forces.

And he has said all these years he's been -- The two can match.

All of the reasons.

-- doesn't drive so much of secular life.

That and a belief in god are compatible.

You just have to be they cannot.

To take all of this in your own personal life and put it together and that's what he has said I think that's going to be part of the challenge will be for the future.

-- Catholic Church is obviously had things that officials said it could have been handled a lot differently from the top.

That's part of an institution that is both the divine and human.

-- fall in the pattern of our incarnate word.

God and man the church has a cool spiritual -- side.

And -- it's caught up it's all wrapped up in us human beings and human beings -- as we are regularly make mistakes.

But an institution -- 2000 years old.

What counts he's the continuity of the truth and we keep writing the wrong.

And when there's a failure.

We correct the failures and move on.

I think this holy father has been one of the -- the heroes of that to say the church needs constantly have to be making herself.

As credible as possible in the world that -- to the church.

Some spiritual guidance and you have one point two billion Catholics around the world tour holding their -- to see sometime before Easter this conclave -- Happen in Rome.

In which a new Pope -- is chosen.

And it seems like it will be such.

An amazing process you'll be there I look forward through this experience it's a brand new experience for me to actually be.

A voting member of a conflict.

But on the other hand.

The church has been going through this for centuries.

Most Catholics while intrigued by the process aren't going to be directly impacted.

How life goes on in the parishes that's where -- -- mask that's were received sacraments that's -- rear of the gospel.

And so life will continue on with this certain careers into it.

The intriguing part is okay what we're -- now look like at the top.

What we'll -- chief shepherd.

Quite -- Levy and what will be his emphasis.

The Vatican is saying that's Pope Benedict will not take part in the conclave.

-- when you go to Rome and kissing Pope Benedict.

And it's after February 28.

What do you think you call Bruce is what this is the great challenges some -- talented -- -- faced this before.

It would be very hard for me to think of Benedict the sixteenth as anything but.

Our holy father.

I love him I respect the office.

Even though he doesn't hold that office.

They're always gonna be identified for me in in him and obviously I transfer my allegiance not to his successor.

But it is going to be a bit of -- time at the heart if he had his successor walked into the room with the same time.

Final thing carnal world you see this is an opportunity.

And you see this as a -- Signal of this man and what he.

Wanted to do for the church.

I think he's great legacy.

Will be that he had -- Hoover -- who again today.

Concentrate.

Our spiritual mission.

The work of the church is a spiritual.

Korean people -- encounter with Christ with his gospel that people.

Every single person on this planet is capable of our relationship with god -- life giving relationship with.

That's going to be his legacy.

The challenge will be to continue the preached that and his predecessor.

Did that and his successor.

-- do that each -- their own personality but the message is always the same.

You're honest please check back in with us very very happy -- thank you very very -- with them.

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