He says that at his age he no longer has the physical or mental strength to do his Popish duties. He'll step down at the end of the month and go back to being plain old Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, which I'm sure will be awkward for everyone concerned.
I don't see why everyone's so shocked, he's 85 and not in the greatest of health. Probably just wants to spent the rest of his days relaxing and reflecting rather than working non-stop and having a busy schedule. He is only human after all.
Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money.
They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with.
Some men just want to watch the world burn.
I'm not Catholic (CofE) but, despite all the bad things he's said, he still seems like a decent guy.
I really hope they pick the guy who is more tolerant and wanted to forge bonds with Islam. The other top 10 contenders all seems to have notable issues with contraception and frankly given how bad the Aids epidemic is, (1 in 12 gay men in London have HIV) and developing countries have it even worse, it's incredibly reckless and irresponsible.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
The front runner (9/4) looks a bit prejudiced, but there's one (Canada or Italy or something) that sounds fairly reasonable. He's not a frontrunner, but he is in the top-10.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
So, this made me laugh. He announced this yesterday, and last night lightening struck the vatican....
That made me laugh too!
I think it's brave, but shocking for everyone because he's the first in 600 years to step down or something!
I really don't have many feelings either way though - apart from my cousin who goes on holiday to Rome on his last day.. they're guna have fun!
There will always be a happy ending. If its not happy then its not yet the end.
I had heard rumors in religious media that the Pope was deteriorating mentally and they he may not have even always been aware of the content of things people were asking him to sign.
He was an old-fashioned, narrow-minded prick, but his actions demand respect. I'm happy for him for having the strong will it would take to make this decision on his own and I'm glad the spot is open for someone who hopefully is a little more open-minded.
Abandon hope, ye pitiful ones. Embrace defiance and relent another day.
He's falling apart physically. Pacemaker. Can hardly move. Doesn't walk or stand during services any more.
It would be better if they picked younger candidates, but they don't. He was elected at 78, in 2005. Frankly, it's not surprising he's not lasted long.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
mmm? Why do I wonder if there's more to it? John Paul 2 was even frailer and he kept going right to the end and I don't think a pope would come to this decision on his own. So much of the work is done in the background by his aids and the eccesiastical council and so on. I wonder did his background and the things he did or perhaps more pertinantly didn't do have something to do with this? Isn't there some kind of court case going on in the U.S. involving the papacy or something. Don't know much about it but I'm going to try and find out. I am R.C. but was never happy with this guy. Gut reaction from the start. Just my thoughts. Maybe he is just genuinly ill.
Rather hilariously read earlier that this must mean the Pope is giving up the Vatican for lent. You know, keeping in with religious tradition and all that...
Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world awaits in darkness for the light that is you.
thank **** he has stepped down. He was a bigotted evil old man and I am proud to say that when he came to the UK and came to London I was there protesting against him.
"Never be a spectator of unfairness or studpidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence." Christopher Hitchens
'When words fail, music speaks'
I am transsexual and homoromantic and proud to be.
Oh gee, I didn't realize that to be appointed for life only meant that you only had to do it as long as you felt able to. I didn't realize that you were allowed to subvert gods will.
The last time a guy resigned was 600 years ago. And being catholic apparently isn't as important to being pope as being a man is.
One of my high school teachers had the biggest crush EVER on him. And then he had to go and become pope which just made it worse. I've read the stuff the guy's written. He was a horrible person. But, at least he was the Buchanan (he was the do-nothingest president EVER) of Popes.
I always thought he looked vaguely satanic. I was hoping he was the Antichrist. I suspect it's more that mental decline has made it impossible for him to do the job; maybe he has a form of dementia or something? Apparently he's off to a monastery to spend his last days in spiritual contemplation - good luck to him I say. Regardless of who the next pope is, I doubt very much he will be a reforming, open-minded individual. I just don't think those qualities are compatible with Catholicism.
And the illusion of love is the only promise of defence, and even that will crumble.
