Pope Quits: Following God too much hard work...

[Osama bin Bambi]

FYI I'm tacking this one onto the similar thread in R&P. Just a sec...

[Scotsgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21412609

His resignation speech:

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 steer the boat 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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.

There is of course the chance that he might have Parkinson's or Alzheimer's and wants to get out before it gets to him, which is what the bit about the strength failing in him refers to.

Be interesting to see who gets the job:  When Benedict was elected, the editor of The Catholic Times did a long rant on the BBC about how the new Pope would soon rid the Church of all these wishy-washy liberal types, if some liberal gets the job then I'll sit back and watch with the ructions.  Popcorn anyone?

[mellenORL]

thanks - I searched first using Pope Benedict....didn't result the older thread

[Material Defender]

I'm hoping a strong handed Liberal gets elected to push through some reforms as well take a harder stance against the pedophile priests. It's just the conservative leadership is so bonkers that it feels entirely contradictory to its own theology.

[dpareja]

I'm curious about whether he gets to remain a cardinal and have a say in choosing his successor at the Conclave.

[Julian]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21412609Be interesting to see who gets the job:  When Benedict was elected, the editor of The Catholic Times did a long rant on the BBC about how the new Pope would soon rid the Church of all these wishy-washy liberal types, if some liberal gets the job then I'll sit back and watch with the ructions.  Popcorn anyone?

Kind of tough because he brought the next wave of prominent cardinals through, so most of the power mongers / front runners / prime candidates are even more conservative than he is... I think the way the voting works means that once a few of the conservative candidates have been knocked out of the running, they'll all get in behind the biggest bastard left.

[ThunderWulf]

It's about time. Should be interesting the hear what my more conservative family members and relatives have to say about this.

[Jack Mann]

To be fair, if he were doing any other job, no one would bat an eye at his retiring.  Guy's 85, after all.

Gonna agree with Julian, though.  It's hard to hold out much hope for his replacement.  We'll just have to see what sort of bastard we end up with this time.

[Scotsgit]

The thing is, they do actually need a more liberal Pope if they want to bring back the faithful that they've lost under Benedict and John Paul II.  Another Conservative will mean more leaving and while that might keep the pompous morons at The Catholic Times happy, when are they going to realise that they need someone in charge who's going to do something about the pederast priests, the endless tirades against Gays, etc, rather than another Conservative who'll be a clone of his two predecessors.

[Jack Mann]

Of course.  They need a pope who will deal with the controversies and help the Catholic Church become a more modern organization.  I just don't think they're smart enough to actually do so.  It would require them to admit that it's not the entire rest of the world that needs to change.

[Julian]

The thing is, they do actually need a more liberal Pope if they want to bring back the faithful that they've lost under Benedict and John Paul II.  Another Conservative will mean more leaving and while that might keep the pompous morons at The Catholic Times happy, when are they going to realise that they need someone in charge who's going to do something about the pederast priests, the endless tirades against Gays, etc, rather than another Conservative who'll be a clone of his two predecessors.

Not to mention they're literally killing their African congregation.

Not sure why they're trying to outcrazy the Evangelicals, it's not a race...

[Shano]

To those who wonder. Benedict 16 is over the age of 80 and cannot participate in the election of a new pope.

[Julian]

Dawkins on twitter:

I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex.

Well, he's probably half right....

[Distind]

A black pope. That would be quite a thing.

Well, it would make RSTDT busy for sure.

Yeah, calling it right now. If they elect a pope darker than khaki I'm axing RSTDT immediately. I can't deal with that shit anymore.

[Scotsgit]

Dawkins on twitter:

I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex.

Well, he's probably half right....

Bit unfair, lots of priests do good work and it's not always religious.  Look at the ones in Northern Ireland who've done their best to get the two communities to come together, or the ones who've ended up being killed by totalitarian regimes for standing up against them.  I wouldn't call that a wasted life.