Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month, Vatican says - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/11/world/europe/pope-benedict-resignation/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)

This is pretty crazy. It's been 600 years since this has happened. It will be interesting to find out exactly what caused this decision (Alzheimer's, dementia, or continued fall out from the various scandals).

I honestly didn't think it was possible for a pope to "resign" . . . Seriously, I thought that once you were chosen as pope, you were in that position for life--come hell or high water, like it or not. Has there really been a spike in the number of scandals on his watch? It's got to be for some other reason, but dang, this is just weird . . .

Sounds like he is not physically up to the demands


"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," the pope said, according to the Vatican.

Not everyone is willing to recognize when limitations may impede abilities. Good on him is all I can say.

He did look very weathered during Christmas eve mass

Sounds like he is not physically up to the demands

Not everyone is willing to recognize when limitations may impede abilities. Good on him is all I can say.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Yeah. I'm not sure the Church needs someone in command that is stuck in bed and otherwise fading away. It is just pretty much unprecedented though for the last 600 years that a Pope gives in to that. I'm not sure if it is a good thing or not overall. Will this open the door to more resigning before death? This could radically change how things operate.

Interesting to see how it relates to St. Malachy's prophecy.... (not saying it does or doesn't, but interesting to see nonetheless).

St. Malachy's prophecy?

I could check, and should, but I wonder how long the previous popes tended to live and if they typically dropped dead before becoming too weak to function. Plus, in the old days, they didn't do the globe trotting so many do, now.

ETA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ages_of_popes - stuff about the ages of popes at election and at death.

ETA: New Pope prospects - http://www.policymic.com/articles/25720/new-pope-2013-7-contenders-for-pope-benedict-xvi-s-replacement

An African Pope would be a good idea. He might have a more realistic than traditional view on condoms. It would go a long way to help stem the flood of various std's.

I am showing my ignorance here but is catholicism a major force in Africa where the AIDS epidemic is so high? I may be mistaken but I thought the cultural norms of multiple wives and concubines was a major contributing factor along with the bias against condom use and lack of power by women to demand better treatment.

I am showing my ignorance here but is catholicism a major force in Africa where the AIDS epidemic is so high? I may be mistaken but I thought the cultural norms of multiple wives and concubines was a major contributing factor along with the bias against condom use and lack of power by women to demand better treatment.

Distribution of World Catholic Population Continent 2000 - Beliefnet.com (http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Catholic/2005/04/Chart-World-Population-Of-Catholics.aspx)

Numbers are a bit old, but shouldn't change too much.

St. Malachy's prophecy?

I could check, and should, but I wonder how long the previous popes tended to live and if they typically dropped dead before becoming too weak to function. Plus, in the old days, they didn't do the globe trotting so many do, now.

ETA: List of ages of popes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ages_of_popes) - stuff about the ages of popes at election and at death.

ETA: New Pope prospects - New Pope 2013: 7 Contenders For Pope Benedict XVI's Replacement (http://www.policymic.com/articles/25720/new-pope-2013-7-contenders-for-pope-benedict-xvi-s-replacement)

There was a poem published in the 16th century and attributed to an 12th century saint (although it was probably written by the person who published, as that' now these things tend to go). It was basically 112 short lines in latin about each of the coming popes, and they're broad enough in a Nostradamusy sort of way that you can tie them to the people who ended up being the pope. According to it, Benedict's successor is supposed to be the last Pope, and will serve during Judgment Day.

Thanks. Hope he lives a long time!

Distribution of World Catholic Population Continent 2000 - Beliefnet.com (http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Catholic/2005/04/Chart-World-Population-Of-Catholics.aspx)

Numbers are a bit old, but shouldn't change too much.
That's a sobering chart.

85 sure isn't the next 55.