From Pope Benedict's Encyclical Letter “Spe Salvi:”
“Anyone who reads and reflects on these statements [flaky modern philosophers] attentively will recognize that a disturbing step has been taken: up to that time, the recovery of what man had lost through the expulsion from Paradise was expected from faith in Jesus Christ: herein lay “redemption”. Now, this “redemption”, the restoration of the lost “Paradise” is no longer expected from faith, but from the newly discovered link between science and praxis. It is not that faith is simply denied; rather it is displaced onto another level—that of purely private and other-worldly affairs—and at the same time it becomes somehow irrelevant for the world. This programmatic vision has determined the trajectory of modern times and it also shapes the present-day crisis of faith which is essentially a crisis of Christian hope...it is clear that the recent spate of discoveries and inventions is just the beginning; through the interplay of science and praxis, totally new discoveries will follow, a totally new world will emerge, the kingdom of man.”
This is my favorite quotation from the Holy Father. For, in other words, in our sick contemporary existence: Money replaced God; luxuries replaced God; drugs replaced God; porn replaced God; and sadly such idiotic things as computers and cell-phones replaced God. We have new idols to fall down before. Happiness will only emerge through these false realities. I bought into this lie for almost a decade, and it nearly killed me. Now, the world is being slowly strangled. Through the Grace of God, I escaped and woke-up to see the True Love of Jesus Christ; who is the only Way to Love and Peace. Tragically, we live on a twisted Earth filled with the demonically comatose.
Thank you Papa for your years of Holy example and guidance. I pray that we listen to your warnings. I am so saddened to hear the news of your resignation, but I will find comfort that your constant and intimate relationship with Our Lord gives you insight into the future that we lack.