Pope of Rome to Step Down
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/wo...ewanted=1&_r=0

I'm shocked at this. I really respect Pope Benedict for the absolutely huge amount of moral courage this must have taken for him to consider and announce. It'll be really interesting to see how the College of Cardinal reacts and who they will elect. This is really interesting because they have something like a month to pray and think over thier nomination for the See of Rome.

It is foolish to elect such an old person to the post to begin with. I think he did the right thing knowing he could no longer fulfill his duties.

The reason they've always had to elect someone so old is because he is infallible. You can't have a whole bunch of people who are infallible and (yes, this is what this means) can live forever walking around inserting their 2 cents. We mustn't let reality interfere.

But seriously, I haven't been a fan of this guy, but this may begin to turn my opinion. Stepping down before you become riddled with dementia, inability to walk or talk to the literally millions of people who want your time and attention, is absolutely the right thing to do. Now, how to deal with the corporeal being while he continues to live...

Here's my conspiracy theory to chew on... VERY shortly after he steps down he will die. The story will be told that he was much sicker than the world was lead to believe, but in fact he will have been offed because it's too difficult for the church to keep all the dogmatic balls in the air (so to speak), with 2 popes hanging around. But his replacement will still be a 75+ year old white guy from Europe. And it's been long enough, they'll probably allow an Italian to take back the crown.

ARGH!!! I really hope you're wrong about this. My hope and prayer is for a Pope from one of the African nations or from a Hispanic/Spanish-Speaking country. It's time...

I wasn't a fan of his from the get-go either. (HUGE JPII fan here) I am, however, warming up to the idea that he's trying to be more forward-thinking than the past.

I'm just annoyed by the fact that he came in, changed all the Mass prayers and then resigned...

PS - I meant to put that smiley after my last line...not as the subject line. I'm serious about my first two lines...

Actually there has been a lot of speculation that the next pope might be African or South American. There is also speculation about two potential north American Popes.

So long as the North American is of another decent other than "white guy"...I'll support it! Would love either the African or South American you've heard about.

I know you may be joking, but just to be clear since it's a common misconception/allegation: It is not Catholic teaching that the pope is infallible. Catholic teaching is that when the pope, acting ex cathedra ("from his chair" -- that is, in his capacity as as shepherd and supreme teacher of the Church), defines that a doctrine of faith or morals must be held by the whole Church, the Church may rely on that teaching as being free from error. While there is no definitive list of such ex cathedra declarations, they have been pretty rare.

I agree that the announcement shows a great deal of courage and humility. It will be interesting to see the role of a bishop emeritus of Rome. (Not buying in to any conspiracy theories.)

Well the Canadian is a Quebecois and the American is Cardinal Dolan.

I'm never going to remember "and with your spirit."

Similar to what other people have said, I've never been a fan, but this is probably the best choice. I'm excited to see what happens though. It would be interesting if there was an American Pope, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I get what you're going for, but I think it's a bit narrow. It reminds me of when we look at the Bid Day Pictures thread and say how "diverse" groups are when their chapters have two or three women of color. Diversity encompasses much more than that, and quite frankly a person of color in the papacy will not likely mean much change in inclusivity in the Church. It's one of many factors, and I wouldn't be a "one issue voter" on that one.

I don't think it will happen for a long long time, but it would be really interesting if an Eastern Rite Cardinal is elected. Granted the only Eastern Rite Cardinals are the Patriarchs, which I'm surprised that John Paul II didn't try to change.

The difference in the diversity you mention and diversity in the Catholic church is Catholics as a group are not Western European and haven't been for a very long time. Catholicism is biggest where education is smallest, and currently that's Africa.

And my understanding of the infallibility of the pope is that never in history before JPII did any pope EVER admit to being ill because the pope, being infallible, can't get sick. So he's fine, he's fine, he's fine, he's dead. I will gladly surrender that belief if I was told wrong. It is just one of very many things that made me throw religion in general and Catholicism in particular in the same pile with the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny.

But look at it this way - he gets to help pick his successor, which arguably no pope has really had control over in 600 years.

Actually, when he resigns, he will indeed still be a cardinal, but he's over 80, and therefore does not get to sit in the conclave and elect his successor. No cardinals over 80 get to vote.

I'm afraid you were told wrong. That sounds like the mixed-up idea of some overly pious (and superstitious) Catholic or of some virulently anti-Catholic Protestant. Either way, it's wrong. Infallible means trustworthy or without error.

Per Benedict XVI: "The Pope is not an oracle; he is infallible in very rare situations, as we know."

And per John XXIII: "I am only infallible if I speak infallibly but I shall never do that, so I am not infallible."

FWIW, I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm Presbyterian, not Catholic, and I don't accept the doctrines of the Petrine primacy or of papal infallibility. That said, I have a great deal of respect for the Bishop of Rome -- both the office and the holder of that office -- and the ministry of unity he can exercise.