Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who took office in 2005 following the death of his predecessor, said on Monday that he will resign on Feb. 28, the first pope to do so in six centuries.
Nothing in his papacy became him like the leaving of it? The spectacle of Zombie John Paul II must’ve made an impression.
And let’s hope the church finds someone better able to address the pedophilia scandal … if there is anyone left untainted. No link right now, but the cardinal in L.A. was robbing cemetery upkeep funds to pay settlements. The rot runs deep. Not even hoping for a sane position on birth control right now ….
From the LGM thread: “He never did fully recover from that fight with Yoda.”
… They meant Mace Windu, now that I think about it. Hm, I wonder if … yes, the internet is way ahead of me on Obama Windu.
I didn’t see it coming, but then don’t make a study of vatican politics.
Under the leaving-it-well heading: On NPR, in a long report, it was theorized that he will be able to give himself a large role in picking his successor.
The cardinals are so stacked with reactionaries, there’s little chance of improvement. Maybe a non-European reactionary ….
If the church is wise they won’t let a Roman named Peter be pope. From Saint Malachy’s pope prophecy: Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end.
I’d play it safe and go with Joe Pesci. Even the late-great George Carlin agrees (about 7 minutes in): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPOfurmrjxo
I wonder if it will be a shock for him when he suddenly returns to fallibility.
I know, right? It’s like he’s getting married.
Maybe’s he’s turning state’s evidence against, like, 5,000 cardinals and bishops.