CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A local chaplain who has met Pope Benedict several times tells Eyewitness News he was stunned to hear the news about his resignation.
Father Matthew Kauth is the chaplain at Charlotte Catholic High School.
He just returned over the weekend from a trip to Italy in which he was teaching deacons.
He said he found out the news on Monday from a priest in Italy. "He called me this morning and he said, 'The Holy Father is resigning,' and I said, 'That can't be true.'"
Kauth lived in Rome for four years and told Channel 9 he has to believe Pope Benedict is resigning for one very good reason. "This Holy Father, who is not only a great scholar but a very holy man, a very holy man, that he sees this as something that is good for the church," he said.
Pope Benedict has taken a conservative stance on several issues, including abortion, birth control and divorce. Eyewitness News asked Father Kauth if he thinks the new pope will do the same. He said the role of the pope is to protect what's been given to him.
Eyewitness News asked him, "So you're not expecting big changes?" He replied, "Well you can't! Revelation is revelation. It hasn't changed from the beginning and it's not going to change now."
Maynard then asked if Father Kauth had any thoughts on who the next pope could be.
He said, "Oh I keep those close to my chest. I do, of course I do."
He said there are definitely a few names being tossed around among the cardinals and other religious leaders right now.
Many believe it will be an Italian, since there are a good number of Italian cardinals who will be voting on the decision.