To wonder if there's more to the Popes resignation than meets the eye?

[KenAdams]

The lack of notice just seems somewhat odd.

[Vagndidit]

The man's 85 years old. Nothing surprising with stepping down at that age. I don't think anyone expected him to remain in power very long when he was elected not too long ago.

[BalloonSlayer]

Can't understand why the headline "85 year old man wishes to retire" is causing such controversy.

[mirry2]

I thought that being the pope is like being the Queen - for life

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Children?

Arent priests and the like celibate?

[cantspel]

He is 85 years old, been told by his doctors he cant travel anymore due to his health so he is doing the sensible thing and standing down.

What is so strange about that? It is not like he is leaving the church. He says he wants to spend the rest of his life in prayer so leave him be and stop trying to find a scandal in everything.

[Sallyingforth]

Arent priests and the like celibate?

J-O-K-E

[AMumInScotland]

I think it's sensible of him to resign rather than to drag on and on in ill-health - the RC church needs a leader who can actually lead, since they are in a mess about a lot of things. When things are quietly ticking over, a figurehead at the top may be fine, and everyone else will just get on with "business as usual". But at present they have things they need to deal with, and (at least as importantly) be seen to deal with, if they have any hopes of turning things around.

And he's decided he is too old/frail/tired to be the one to do it, and plans to hand the leadership over rather than sit there knowing he isn't either dealing with things or letting other sort it out.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Ah I see. ha ha

[mrsjay]

Due to ill health apparently. But Pope JP II went on for ever and he was never in good health.

I just said that on the other thread PJP was quite dottery and ancient but never resigned, they have aides and people to help them be pope IYSWIM

[mummytime]

He looks frail. We will see in the next few years if it was dementia or a terminal illness, I am sure.

The Cardinals etc. seemed to be surprised.

[Narked]

Politics.

[Pandemoniaa]

I thought that being the pope is like being the Queen - for life

The Queen can choose to resign too. Although it's called abdication in her case.

I'm not sure that there's anything suspicious behind an 85 year old Pope's decision to retire although he's going very quickly. But then I am entirely ignorant of the notice period required for the papacy.

What I do suspect is that he didn't want to go the same way as his predecessor who, so far as Popery is concerned, was not up to the demands of the job in the end.

[cantspel]

It maybe the very fact that he saw Pope John Paul struggle on when he was no longer able that has prompted his decision to stand down.

He might not want to just be a figure head unable to fully meet his duties as pontif and thinks the church requires a better man then he is now to lead it.

But the catholic haters will prefer to think he has been caught shagging an alterboy.

[Technoviking]

Do you reckon the Queen has sent him a message saying "Last one standing, ner ner ner ner ner"?

[grovel]

Will he get a redundancy package?

[mrsjay]

maybe the man is dying and just wants to do it peacefully ? but I really didnt think a pope could resign and it was a calling.

[TheVermiciousKnid]

It could be for all sorts of reasons - or maybe it really is just because he feels he is getting too old! It's not the first time a pope has resigned, it's just not happened for a long time.

So, are any of you going to apply for the vacancy?

[MrsKeithRichards]

Long time, like hundreds of years and once in the papal history. It's not common, it's quite normal for uncommon occurrences to attract discussion.

[mrsjay]

It's not common, it's quite normal for uncommon occurrences to attract discussion.

that it is news to chat about imo it would be the same if we had just heard the queen had abdicated with no explanation.

[worldgonecrazy]

It says a great deal about the poor standing of the Catholic Church, that a huge proportion of people have heard the news and thought that the resignation is for shady reasons.

[sherbetpips]

He was already shaky when he took over the role so it is more than likely dementia or possibly parkinsons.

[Mimishimi]

Perhaps he is aware of something planned that he cannot reconcile himself ethically with...and has no wish to utter platitudes and condolences when he knows of the truth behind what has occurred. Something which is planned in the name of saving Christendom...

Or perhaps he is just old and tired. I did think that they went on until they carked it though ... like a Godfather movie.

[Technoviking]

He seemed happy to reconcile systematic child abuse, so I can't think of what would trouble him ethically.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I think it's good he did, whatever the reason. It used to be that if someone was too ill to do the job, frankly, they weren't long for this world. There was a huge amount of debate with John Paul II about what the heck you do if the pope is too sick to resign or even to speak, but isn't dying. It's macabre.

[BalloonSlayer]

Being a Pope is not a calling. Indeed I imagine it is a job you need to be seen to be reluctant to do otherwise you're not humble enough. This Pope was quite reluctant IIRC. Being a PRIEST is a calling - and he won't stop being a priest.

mrsjay there IS an explanation. He is not in good enough health.