The Catholic Bishop of Yei and Vice President of the Sudan-South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the Pope’s abdication is not the collapse of the Catholic Church because it is universal and the Chair of Peter can be taken by a new Pope.
Bishop Erkulano Lodu Tombe advised the Christians not to get surprise by the news about the abdication of Pope Benedict, Radio Easter reported.He said over 700 years people did not hear Pope leaving office but Pope Benedict is the third Pope leaving the chair of St. Peter that is why it is surprising the current generation.
Bishop Lodu also explained that when the Pope leaves the chair of Papacy he will continue as a Cardinal.
He told Christians not to worry much because cardinals will elect a new Pope and that the Catholic Church goes forward.
Bishop Lodu explained that the Pope stepped down to his age and health that do not allpw him to catch up with the global world.
The bishop made these statements while presiding over the Ash Wednesday celebration at Christ the King Cathedral in Yei.