Pope Benedict XVI will step down as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church on Feb. 28, and Masses will be celebrated for the pope and the cardinal who will be selected to replace him in Pottsville and Allentown this week.
On Thursday, Mass will be celebrated at 12:05 p.m. in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville to pray for Pope Benedict as he begins his retirement. At the conclusion of Mass, Eucharistic Adoration will be held until 2 p.m., when Midday Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours will be prayed for the Catholic Church as it enters a time when the See of St. Peter will be without a pope.
Pope Benedict made the surprise announcement on Feb. 11 that "I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of St. Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on April 19, 2005, in such a way, that as from Feb. 28, 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of St. Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is."
The pope stated that "my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."
The timing of the Mass and prayers at St. Patrick's on Thursday coincide with the hour that Pope Benedict will officially step down at 8 p.m. Rome time, which is 2 p.m. in Pottsville.
Monsignor Edward J. O'Connor, pastor, said the purpose is to have a special day of prayer.
"We have a Mass at 12:05 p.m. Monday through Friday during Lent, and since the Holy Father will be resigning as of 8 p.m. Rome time, which is 2 o'clock our time, we thought we could have a period of Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 2 o'clock and then do Midday Prayer as a way of thanking God for him and his pontificate, and praying for the new pope."
It has not been decided who will celebrate the Mass, but O'Connor will give the homily.
O'Connor gave his personal view on the eight years of Pope Benedict's time as the Successor of St. Peter.
"I think he gave us some wonderful years and some beautiful teachings, including several books that he wrote during that time," he said. "He was a great witness to the faith, including his travels to World Youth Day and around the world. He was a good and faithful servant to the Lord."
On Wednesday, a Mass in Thanksgiving for Pope Benedict XVI will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown at 7 p.m. with the Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, as celebrant.
The date was chosen since it will be the last full day of Pope Benedict's papacy.
In his statement on the pope's resignation, Barres said, "On behalf of the entire Diocese of Allentown, I offer our prayers to Pope Benedict XVI as he prepares for his well-deserved retirement."
The Wednesday evening Mass will be an opportunity for the people of the diocese to gather in prayer for the pope, said diocesan communications director Matt Kerr. The Mass will be open to the public.