BELMONT, N.C. — Students and faculty at Belmont Abbey College have watched the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI closely, and professors at the school say they will continue to use today’s events as teaching tools.
“I’ll be teaching my students to appreciate the history,” said Theology Professor David Williams.
On Wednesday, students in an introductory theology class at the Abbey got a chance to ask questions about the Pope’s resignation.
“Is there a time frame on when they’ll have a new Pope elected?” asked freshman Sam Grise.
“As you may have heard, the Conclave can go on for as many days as it takes to elect the Pope,” said theology professor Dr. Grattan Brown.
Williams says he believes the pictures we see of the Pope leaving Rome and heading by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo today, may be among some of the last we’ll see if Pope Benedict XVI.
"It will not be like an ex-President jetting around the world, speaking or getting involved in charitable acts of things like that,” said Williams.
Williams believes the Pope emeritus won’t want to interfere with the newly elected Pope. But he does believe Benedict will be in a class by himself, making history as the first Pope to resign in more than 600 years and defining the new role as a retiring Pontiff.
“They say the club of ex-presidents is the most exclusive in the world, but I think it just fell to second place,” he said.
