Pope Benedict to Resign 28 Feb

[Gusington]

It was probably a message for Windy on climate change.

[LongBlade]

The Lord warmeth and the Lord taketh the warmeth away.

[Longdan]

Start praying.  But I'll give you a hint.  It is not in Her job description.

[JasonPratt]

WHICHEVER CANDIDATE Y'ALL WERE JUST THINKING ABOUT--NOT HIM!!

[Longdan]

Colbert weighs in
http://ca.omg.yahoo.com/news/stephen-colbert-says-pope-cant-canadian-210028613.html

[LongBlade]

WHICHEVER CANDIDATE Y'ALL WERE JUST THINKING ABOUT--NOT HIM!!

Ha!

[Martok]

What I keep wondering is:  Why is he quitting so suddenly? 

From what I've read so far, it sounds like even the cardinals that were in the room when Benedict made the announcement had no idea what he was about to say, and were completely stunned by the news.  You'd think he would've given them at least a little advance notice.

He's old. He looks old. IMHO he's the first pope in six centuries to be wise enough to quit before he lost it completely. Good for him.

Oh I'm not criticizing.  Indeed, I'm glad he has the ability to recognize he could no longer do the job -- and the courage to actually step down while still of sound mind. 

I'm just puzzled that he apparently gave absolutely no prior warning to any of the cardinals before announcing his retirement.  Given that they only have a little over 6 weeks to choose a new pope -- a weighty decision, to be sure -- the electors would probably have appreciated even a day or two's advance notice to starting thinking/planning for the future. 

Maybe Benedict felt there was no way to keep the news quiet for even that long...? 

WHICHEVER CANDIDATE Y'ALL WERE JUST THINKING ABOUT--NOT HIM!!

Ha!

I'm confused.  Could one of y'all please explain the reference for those of us who don't get it? 

[JasonPratt]

hes missing out on the opportunity to be introduced at dinner parties as the Ex-pope, and that sounds quite cool as an ice breaker

More seriously along the same line, I was thinking last night that in his shoes I'd move with a small hermetic group to Iran or some other prominently troublesome Muslim country and set up a kitchen to feed the poor for the rest of my life, while abiding by their dhimmi rules against proactive evangelization. True, I'd probably get a rocket in the face within a week (or more problematically I might get kidnapped and tortured for information to use against my international allies, which would be the main reason not to try), but the gesture would be highly respected by Muslim teachers of goodwill, and would fit the Pope's interest (along with his predecessor JP2, and their spiritual mentors and inspirations such as Balthasar, Hryniewicz, and Gregory Nyssus) in ecumenical outreach and hope of universal reconciliation.

Naturally he'd have to leave behind instructions that if he gets a rocket in the face, that shouldn't be regarded as grounds for war (since otherwise his goals would be undermined). ;)

[bayonetbrant]

I'm just puzzled that he apparently gave absolutely no prior warning to any of the cardinals before announcing his retirement.  Given that they only have a little over 6 weeks to choose a new pope -- a weighty decision, to be sure -- the electors would probably have appreciated even a day or two's advance notice to starting thinking/planning for the future. 

my gut says that he was disappointed with some of the backroom politicking that happened before his (s)election, and figured if there was no warning, there was no time for shenanigans before his successor was chosen.

[undercovergeek]

I'm confused.  Could one of y'all please explain the reference for those of us who don't get it?

the lightening on page 3 - its god saying - which ever candidate you were thinking blah blah blah

keep up man!

[undercovergeek]

hes missing out on the opportunity to be introduced at dinner parties as the Ex-pope, and that sounds quite cool as an ice breaker

More seriously along the same line, I was thinking last night that in his shoes I'd move with a small hermetic group to Iran or some other prominently troublesome Muslim country and set up a kitchen to feed the poor for the rest of my life, while abiding by their dhimmi rules against proactive evangelization. True, I'd probably get a rocket in the face within a week (or more problematically I might get kidnapped and tortured for information to use against my international allies, which would be the main reason not to try), but the gesture would be highly respected by Muslim teachers of goodwill, and would fit the Pope's interest (along with his predecessor JP2, and their spiritual mentors and inspirations such as Balthasar, Hryniewicz, and Gregory Nyssus) in ecumenical outreach and hope of universal reconciliation.

Naturally he'd have to leave behind instructions that if he gets a rocket in the face, that shouldn't be regarded as grounds for war (since otherwise his goals would be undermined). ;)

peh, just move into a terrace house in a mainly catholic area of say Liverpool, and just be seen going to the shops in your slippers and PJs for the milk and papers

[airboy]

I'm just puzzled that he apparently gave absolutely no prior warning to any of the cardinals before announcing his retirement.  Given that they only have a little over 6 weeks to choose a new pope -- a weighty decision, to be sure -- the electors would probably have appreciated even a day or two's advance notice to starting thinking/planning for the future. 

my gut says that he was disappointed with some of the backroom politicking that happened before his (s)election, and figured if there was no warning, there was no time for shenanigans before his successor was chosen.

You have to view this through the eyes of a devout Catholic who is thinking about the Church calendar and his duties as the heir of St. Peter rather than contemporary politics.  I know this is hard to do, but the Church has been around for more than 2,000 years and its world view is very different from a secular view.

The new Pope would be installed before Easter.  This is very important to Christians.  The selection is usually pretty rapid.  The delays in selecting a new Pope are usually caused by the funeral schedule and the period of mourning after the death.

I also disagree that there was a lot of backroom politicking for Benedit's election.  It was an unusually rapid selection with very few rounds of balloting.  The choice of Benedit was a pretty easy one for the College of Cardinals. 

A selection period during Lent is also very appropriate spiritually if you actually are choosing a tme instead of filling the seat due to the death of the previous Pope.

[Longdan]

I still think he spotted a nun in the crowd and decided it was time for a career change.

[bayonetbrant]

I still think he spotted a nun in the crowd and decided it was time for a career change.

Dan - lets not take unnecessary shots at someone's faith.  I know you were once a Catholic, so you might see it as self-deprecating, but others might not know that about you and see it as you being disrespectful.

thanks

{mod hat off}

[Longdan]

Brant. Always trying to be the voice of sanity.  Sigh.  Somebody has to have principles I guess. Thank you.
Sorry to make offense.  I tend to think Catholics are pretty secure in the face of that kind
of ribbing.  I would appreciate it if you would publicly scold the next person who calls me an assh*le
or something similar.
Anyway as an ethnic Catholic I believe he is showing a good deal of grace and good judgement
to step down when he still has his cognizant abilities and can appoint a worthy successor.
Perhaps the Vatican needs to take a less European approach to its leadership.
The church has not seemed to be a big part of life in modern Europe, at least not where I go.