Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-03-28]: Pope Francis washed the feet of prisoners in a youth detention centre near Rome. [source: BBC News] No matter if you are an atheist or a Protestant or an Orthodox. This act is a nice reminder that we could all use: we are all equal in the eyes of the Cosmos. Think not of your fellow human as a lesser man and you will gain something "superior"...
Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-03-16]: The new Pope began his tenure coming out on the balcony and asking the faithful crowd to bless him, instead of the opposite which happened until now. He continued with some very correct messages. [source: BBC News] He talked about his vision for a "poor church for the poor". He said even the obvious that so many Catholics have forgotten: that "Christ is the leader of the Church, not the Pope". Perhaps he who bares the name of that young man from Assisi who became synonymous with poverty and peace, will give a new air to a weary Vatican. It remains to be seen in the course of the years to come. Sometimes seeking Poverty is the way to become wealthy…
Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-02-11]: The Pope announced his resignation in Latin. Not just written Latin. He also SPOKE Latin in the meeting with the Cardinals. [source: Yahoo! News] This is one of the main aspects of Religion Philosophy: upholding ancient wisdom and bringing it in today for all of us “modern” people to see. In the era of “be modern or die” we should really pay attention to such efforts.Fratres carissimi
Non solum propter tres canonizationes ad hoc Consistorium vos convocavi, sed etiam ut vobis decisionem magni momenti pro Ecclesiae vitae communicem. Conscientia mea iterum atque iterum coram Deo explorata ad cognitionem certam perveni vires meas ingravescente aetate non iam aptas esse ad munus Petrinum aeque administrandum.
Bene conscius sum hoc munus secundum suam essentiam spiritualem non solum agendo et loquendo exsequi debere, sed non minus patiendo et orando. Attamen in mundo nostri temporis rapidis mutationibus subiecto et quaestionibus magni ponderis pro vita fidei perturbato ad navem Sancti Petri gubernandam et ad annuntiandum Evangelium etiam vigor quidam corporis et animae necessarius est, qui ultimis mensibus in me modo tali minuitur, ut incapacitatem meam ad ministerium mihi commissum bene administrandum agnoscere debeam. Quapropter bene conscius ponderis huius actus plena libertate declaro me ministerio Episcopi Romae, Successoris Sancti Petri, mihi per manus Cardinalium die 19 aprilis MMV commissum renuntiare ita ut a die 28 februarii MMXIII, hora 29, sedes Romae, sedes Sancti Petri vacet et Conclave ad eligendum novum Summum Pontificem ab his quibus competit convocandum esse.
Fratres carissimi, ex toto corde gratias ago vobis pro omni amore et labore, quo mecum pondus ministerii mei portastis et veniam peto pro omnibus defectibus meis. Nunc autem Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam curae Summi eius Pastoris, Domini nostri Iesu Christi confidimus sanctamque eius Matrem Mariam imploramus, ut patribus Cardinalibus in eligendo novo Summo Pontifice materna sua bonitate assistat. Quod ad me attinet etiam in futuro vita orationi dedicata Sanctae Ecclesiae Dei toto ex corde servire velim.
Ex Aedibus Vaticanis, die 10 mensis februarii MMXIII
