nurktwin 2,143 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 — the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning. He emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope — the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide — requires "both strength of mind and body." "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," he told the cardinals. "I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only by 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 St. Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary — strengths 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 last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants. Benedict called his choice "a decision of great importance for the life of the church." The move sets the stage for the Vatican to hold a conclave to elect a new pope by mid-March, since the traditional mourning time that would follow the death of a pope doesn't have to be observed. There are several papal contenders in the wings, but no obvious front-runner — the same situation when Benedict was elected pontiff in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Softanimal 7 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 Yeah, just heard it on the radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SingsInFrench 262 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 I don't understand why they choose such old Popes to begin with. It doesn't seem right to expect so much from someone so old. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nurktwin 2,143 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 ^ I guess it's cuz older is supposedly wiser. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomFest 576 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 The previous Pope was in his 50's when selected. But the Pope resigning? It's the most unheard of thing I've ever heard of. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SingsInFrench 262 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 ^John Paul was in his 50s? I always remember him as old. Probably like my teachers, even the younger ones, seemed old when I was a kid. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pawie 6 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 Better to resign with your mind still intact, than die a pope with cardinals making and have made decisions for you while you were fading.... Not saying this is what happened in the past, but the thought is there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wild1forever 152 Report post Posted February 11, 2013 When I first saw the title of this thread, I thought it was a joke. :icon_redface: As a Catholic, I don't think Pope Benedict has been all that great, especially compared to John Paul II. I'll be curious to see who is picked to succeed him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agirl 0 Report post Posted February 12, 2013 Good! I hope they come up with a younger man that lives in this century! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick 156 Report post Posted February 12, 2013 Where can I apply? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nurktwin 2,143 Report post Posted February 12, 2013 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wild1forever 152 Report post Posted February 12, 2013 ^ :icon_laugh: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick 156 Report post Posted February 12, 2013 ^Il Rockin' Papa!! George Ringo I. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amber 70 Report post Posted February 13, 2013 I felt so bad for the last one when they paraded him around when he was so obviously in bad health. I commend this one for saying "enough". We all deserve the right to retire and relax a little. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomFest 576 Report post Posted February 13, 2013 John-Paul, George, and Ringo.... :003: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wild1forever 152 Report post Posted February 15, 2013 ^OMG, that photo is HILARIOUS!!!:043: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
