Saintly signals

As the world is aghast at the idea that a healthy pope resigns in the midst of his tenure, I am reminded of what happened almost 700 years ago that is so similar in scope:

His countryman, Martin Luther, in the 15th century, stood at the entrance of his church and stated: “Here I stand, God help, I cannot go on.”

These words were the beginning of a complete change in the Catholic Church just as when Martin Luther King said: “I have a dream.”

We are at a juncture in the world’s religions, and the pope’s resignation may well signal this powerful change.

While I am neither Catholic nor Protestant, I feel that with his act of refusing to accept “transparency” or deceit, he is truly a saintly man, to be admired by all faiths.

Ruth B. Melchet

Raleigh