POPE TO ABDICATE

[Simfan34]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304

!!!!

This is bigger than Edward VIII- the last pope to resign was in 1415 and that was to end a schism!

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

really? But Thats Crazy!!!


I mean it seems like it was just yesterday that he was selected.

[Tender Branson]

Popes can step down ?

I learn something new every day ...

I thought they can only "step down" if they die.

[Mr. Morden]

Santorum for Pope!   

[Middle-aged Europe]

WTF?

Who's next? Elizabeth II?

[Simfan34]

I'm actually in a state of shock right now.

[Hash]

What the hell?

[Tender Branson]

Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28th. Below please find his announcement.

Full text of Pope's declaration

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/02/11/pope_benedict_xvi_announces_his_resignation_at_end_of_month/en1-663815

[GMantis]

He probably doesn't want to end up like his predecessor, who was almost completely incapacitated towards the end of his life.

[Simfan34]

He probably doesn't want to end up like his predecessor, who was almost completely incapacitated towards the end of his life.

Yes, but that's what they've all done. Gregory XII resigned to end a schism, Celestine V because the future Boniface VIII goaded him into retirement, and  Pope Benedict IX to make money. This is really WITHOUT precedent.

[Mr. Morden]

Last April, Business Insider did a story on the contenders to succeed Benedict, which seems very relevant now:

http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-man-who-will-be-the-next-pope-2012-4?op=1

Paddy Power gives odds on the next pope.  Leading contenders:

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/current-affairs/the-next-pope

Peter Turkson (Ghana), age 64: 9/4 odds
Marc Ouellet (Canada), age 68: 5/2 odds
Francis Arinze (Nigeria), age 80: 7/2 odds
Angelo Scola (Italy), age 71: 7/1 odds
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras), age 70: 10/1 odds

[Middle-aged Europe]

This time they should elect a woman IMO.

[Simfan34]

A Ghanaman for pope? All right!

[Keystone Phil]

Santorum for Pope!   

I do want an American...

[rejectamenta]

I hope the new Pope chooses a cool name, like Zephyrinus or Lando.

[afleitch]

As mentioned on another thread glad he's gone. Wary of who will follow, particularly if they are an African cardinal. The future of Christianity is in Africa for the Anglicans, Catholics and Pentecostal Christians. The brands of Christianity forged there are often populist, reactionary and deeply worrying from a western secular persepctive. The battle against gay marriage is almost lost in the west, but the battle to have gays executed in many nations in Africa has only begun.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

He probably doesn't want to end up like his predecessor, who was almost completely incapacitated towards the end of his life.

Yes, but that's what they've all done. Gregory XII resigned to end a schism, Celestine V because the future Boniface VIII goaded him into retirement, and  Pope Benedict IX to make money. This is really WITHOUT precedent.

So it's time to establish a new precedent.

[afleitch]

Congrats Phil.

[7,052,770]

Turkson looks like he'd probably be fine.  Ouellet and Arinze appear to be way too right-wing for me.

Of course, it's all speculation.  Benedict was nowhere near as right-wing as he was expected to be.

[Supersonic]

How exciting! Not to sound like a history geek, but I love it when I can say I saw something as rare as this! Quite fitting that we were talking about papal policy in my seminar this morning when this story broke.

[DC Al Fine]

Arch-conservative reactionary African for Pope!!!

Either that or Oullet since I'm Canadian.

[MaxQue]

Arch-conservative reactionary African for Pope!!!

Either that or Oullet since I'm Canadian.

Ouellet and an arch-conservative reactionary are pretty much the same thing.
He isn't popular at all in Quebec, except in my home area and even then, it's more because they hope him gaining fame to attract tourists.

[J. J.]

Stunning news to wake up to!

Celestine V was a saint and a mystic, but he realized he was not an administrator.

Benedict XVI is facing health problems and does not want to drift into incapacity.  I just gained a bit more respect for him.   

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Stunning news to wake up to!

Celestine V was a saint and a mystic, but he realized he was not an administrator.

Benedict XVI is facing health problems and does not want to drift into incapacity.  I just gained a bit more respect for him.   

Has anyone in Italy rang your phone yet, Coup Master? 

[Tender Branson]

I guess that means that our candidate - Christoph Schönborn - won't win:



I don't think they will elect another German-speaking Pope.