The Pope has resigned!!

[The Annoyed Man]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304
11 February 2013 Last updated at 10:09 ET
Pope Benedict XVI in shock resignation

Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month after nearly eight years as the head of the Catholic Church, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.

The unexpected development - the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years - surprised governments, Vatican-watchers and even his closest aides.

The Vatican says it expects a new Pope to be elected before Easter.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope in 2005 after John Paul II's death.

The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the move has come as a shock - but adds that in theory there has never been anything stopping Pope Benedict or any of his predecessors from stepping aside.

Under the Catholic Church's governing code, Canon Law, the only conditions for the validity of such a resignation are that it be made freely and be properly published.

But resignation is extremely rare: the last Pope to step aside was Pope Gregory XII, who resigned in 1415 amid a schism within the Church.

Apparently, nobody saw this coming.

[clarionite]

I don't think Pope Benedict was expected to be a long lived Pope. My understanding is that after a very long lived, and well liked Pope such as JPII the tendency is to elect a Pope that is expected to be a short timer. It's hard for a Pope to follow someone like JPII. But I believe Pope Benedict has done extremely well. And I'm not even Catholic.

[OldCannon]

This is actually quite shocking. I'm wondering if he has something gravely bad with him and wants to make sure he is out of the picture before he becomes totally incapacitated.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I heard on the radio this morning that the last Pope to resign was in the 1400's. (BTW, I'm not Catholic either, so I have no dog in this hunt. I'm just making a comment on a historical fact.)

Chas.

[Diesel42]

Forgive me Lord, I can't resist....
God knew.

Apparently, nobody saw this coming.

[clarionite]

I heard on the radio this morning that the last Pope to resign was in the 1400's. (BTW, I'm not Catholic either, so I have no dog in this hunt. I'm just making a comment on a historical fact.)

Chas.

I've heard the same thing. But Pope Benedict has been different from the start. :)
He's pretty hip for an old white guy. Very tech saavy, has a nice sense of style (you should see his shades and shoes), and a really nice way of communicating.

I'm not Catholic, but my wife is. Several of my friends are. And one friend is very politically connected, in state (not this state), federal, and church politics. He sends me links from time to time with pictures of the unique stuff Benedict has done. He's really a remarkable man.

[Redneck_Buddha]

The search for a new Pope should have commenced on April 19, 2005, the day Benedict took office. If they are scrambling now, well, they've had nearly eight years and knew that he was going to be "transitional".

[Andrew]

I believe watching his friend and brother in Christ, JPII, decline in the flesh, if not the spirit, motivated his decision. A good man with strong convictions on the need for fundmental christian values in this world.

[LSUTiger]

What's a Pople?

Does the Pope's resignation have any bible prophecy or conspiracy theory implications? (not that I equate one with the other, just they are both open to interpretation and require much speculation).

[Andrew]

What's a Pople?

Does the Pope's resignation have any bible prophecy or conspiracy theory implications? (not that I equate one with the other, just they are both open to interpretation and require much speculation).

I don't think so. Although liberation theologians and Opus Dei might be happy that he's resigning. Assuring that the marxist driven elements within the Church will see no relief from his successor through his influence in the Episcopacy in general and the College of Cardinals in particular is probably at the top of his to-do list.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

That particular organization has protected and facilitated countless individuals, over the years, who have been responsible for conducting one of THE most heinous crimes imaginable against CHILDREN.

Using a position of trust to exploit children is straight up EVIL IMHO. However, knowing about it as a leader, and not prosecuting the offender, is even worse in my eyes.

I have NO patience with individuals that harm children, and fully believe those that abuse kids in a sexual nature should be hung by the neck until dead, be they priest, doctor, bricklayer alike.

[anygunanywhere]

What's a Pople?

Does the Pope's resignation have any bible prophecy or conspiracy theory implications? (not that I equate one with the other, just they are both open to interpretation and require much speculation).

I don't think so. Although liberation theologians and Opus Dei might be happy that he's resigning. Assuring that the marxist driven elements within the Church will see no relief from his successor through his influence in the Episcopacy in general and the College of Cardinals in particular is probably at the top of his to-do list.

Why would Opus Dei be happy he is retiring?

Anygunanywhere

[anygunanywhere]

The search for a new Pope should have commenced on April 19, 2005, the day Benedict took office. If they are scrambling now, well, they've had nearly eight years and knew that he was going to be "transitional".

The Holy Spirit has this handled nicely. No scrambling required.

Anygunanywhere

[rwg3]

That particular organization has protected and facilitated countless individuals, over the years, who have been responsible for conducting one of THE most heinous crimes imaginable against CHILDREN.

Using a position of trust to exploit children is straight up EVIL IMHO. However, knowing about it as a leader, and not prosecuting the offender, is even worse in my eyes.

I have NO patience with individuals that harm children, and fully believe those that abuse kids in a sexual nature should be hung by the neck until dead, be they priest, doctor, bricklayer alike.

+1

IMO It appears to be a smart political move with in the church political system. The cardinals all swear an oath of loyalty to the Pope when he is elected . When there is no Pope they are free to act and vote as their conscience dictates. By resigning before dying the current Pope can exert a fair amount of influence on the selection of his successor. The church has faced unprecedented criticism on a variety of issues and there is a political battle over maintaining a conservative bent or allowing a more liberal movement to occur. This Pope is of the conservative school and this helps insure the continuation of the conservative tradition.

[anygunanywhere]

That particular organization has protected and facilitated countless individuals, over the years, who have been responsible for conducting one of THE most heinous crimes imaginable against CHILDREN.

Using a position of trust to exploit children is straight up EVIL IMHO. However, knowing about it as a leader, and not prosecuting the offender, is even worse in my eyes.

I have NO patience with individuals that harm children, and fully believe those that abuse kids in a sexual nature should be hung by the neck until dead, be they priest, doctor, bricklayer alike.

Are you speaking specifically about the WHOLE Catholic Church? That is like saying that EVERY American is a socialist because of what the democrats are doing.

The sins of a few do not reflect the whole. This is stated many times here on this board in many things that we do. If you are condemning the whole Church for the sins of a few then let's all turn in our guns because a madman killed 20 children.

Read up on the facts about child abuse and you will see that it is not just the Catolic Church that has issues.

Protestant denominations have equal if not more abuse. If your children attend public school, by the time they are 18, one in ten will have been sexually abused.

If your wife sees a shrink there is a 4 in 10 shot that she has been approached fopr sex by her therapist.

Whether anyone here cares to learn the truth is up to them, but I ask that you not execute all Catholics because if yo udo, I am one of them. If you label me as a pedophile because of my choice of faith, we will have issues.

Anygunanywhere