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I think it's the first time this happens in history.
Benedictt XVI feels too weak to continue. Here is the Pope's announcement in latin with English subtitles
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/bene ... ref=HREA-1

According to his spokesman, he will be in charge until 8 pm. of 28 February.

Only the second Pope in history to resign, the last one was in the 1450's.

I confirm, the last was Gregory XII in 1415. Five other Popes resigned before him, so this is a historical piece of news.

I was walking past our local catholic church yesterday, when the bells were rung for evening mass. Odd to think that their leader has now chosen to resign.

I hope a young(ish) pope is chosen at the conclave, as the Catholic church could use a long reign to regain stability.

Once he retires would that make him Ex Benedict?

RKE wrote:I was walking past our local catholic church yesterday, when the bells were rung for evening mass. Odd to think that their leader has now chosen to resign.

I hope a young(ish) pope is chosen at the conclave, as the Catholic church could use a long reign to regain stability.

AFAIK, any Catholic could become Pope, but usually the Pope he is elected among elderly cardinals. It looks like a very likely successor could be Cardinal Angelo Scola, current Archbishop of Milan and one of Ratzinger's favourites, who brings a conservative view and supports an organization called "Communion and Liberation", which is quite similar to the Opus Dei in Spain.
I sincerely hope the next Pope will be less conservative, and perhaps coming from a poor country in Africa of South America, but I wouldn't be surprised if Scola becomes Pope.
sr01, I don't know if he'll keep his current "papal" name or will return Joseph Ratzinger. As I have already written, Benedict XVI will be in charge until 8pm of 28 February, then his apartments will be closed and sealed. A cardinal, who is appointed "camerlingo", will be the head of the Vatican until the new Pope is elected. This is exactly what happens when a Pope dies.
Anyway, the most "shocking" news is that there will be a conclave with a living Pope and there will be two Popes after it, but everybody is acknowledging the fact that Benedict has been honest enough to admit he could not carry on.

Cardinal Scola is mentioned (at least in Danish press) as papabile, but he's 70-something I believe, so it could be another brief (at least in the greater picture of things) papacy. Cardinal Turkson of Ghana is an interesting one, he's 'only' 63 and the Catholic church is expanding in Africa.

sr01 wrote:Once he retires would that make him Ex Benedict?

With the exception of me being not-catholic, an atheist, pretty busy with work and BJJ, and too short for the robes...I'd be interested in the gig.

Nah, you don't look good in white, Dan.

This is why they need a vice Pope.......... Just sayin

They are called Anti-Popes....people who claim to be the rightful Pope, but aren't

BadPvtDan wrote:With the exception of me being not-catholic, an atheist, pretty busy with work and BJJ, and too short for the robes...I'd be interested in the gig.

Looking at your location information an atheist might be rare there - or is it just a cliche?
Being raised in the former GDR I am an atheist as well. But I will not be interested in that job. I like the Monty Python movie "Life of Brian". This will not match the job description

Not to worry about figuring out who the next pope will be,another one will pope up from somewhere .

sprocky wrote:

BadPvtDan wrote:With the exception of me being not-catholic, an atheist, pretty busy with work and BJJ, and too short for the robes...I'd be interested in the gig.

Looking at your location information an atheist might be rare there - or is it just a cliche?
Being raised in the former GDR I am an atheist as well. But I will not be interested in that job. I like the Monty Python movie "Life of Brian". This will not match the job description

I'm in Austin. Lots of heathens around here.

BadPvtDan wrote: I'm in Austin. Lots of heathens around here.

So much for 'In god we trust'

I thought down there it was "trust in oil and pray to god"

(or should that have been guns)

There's always this option

petebramley wrote:I thought down there it was "trust in oil and pray to god"

(or should that have been guns)

Oh, we're definitely gun people. I'm going shooting Sunday!

Sorry, my bad. My eyes have gone worse over the years. So it's 'In guns we trust', right?