Pope to resign!

[Mandy2003]

Didn't know this was allowed - thought they saw themselves as "chosen" by a higher power and it was a job for life

But no reason has been given yet following the simple announcement from the Vatican.

He's the Pope, he can do what he likes... or something.

I thought he'd only just taken the role but when I look it was 2005 so nearly 8 years, time is just flying past too quick!

Mandy could you share a link?

Wonder if it's connected to the release of private information butler Paolo Gabrielle leaked last year?

Article

^^ No bother finally found it. Don't know why I couldn't in the first place! It seems so recent he started.

It's always good to get the opportunity for a pope joke:

Q - what happens when the pope resigns?
A - another one popes up.

Disclaimer: possibly only funny if said in a Glasgow accent.

cogito ohhh papal conspiracy theory! I thought there was talk for a while of a resignation due to ill health? But then the same could be said about the previous pope who did not resign...

I think the last time a Pope resigned was centuries ago!

His age and frail health is a much more likely explanation than any wider church politics.

The resignation is wef 28 February, and there will be a Conclave some time tba after that.

Is there a precedent? Has it happened before?

The cynic in me suspects some bad news for the Catholic Church may be about to hit the fan.

I think being 85 is reason enough. Not everyone has the stamina of our own dear Queen.

Too much to hope that it's over the behaviour of the Church hierarchy over the years.........

Link - but not much info as the news has only just broken

Am amazed to hear this. No pope has resigned for hundreds of years, I believe - and even then was probably a forced resignation for political reasons.

Suggestion is that it's ill health, but of course I wonder too if it's related to a brewing scandal, eg 'what the butler saw', as Cogito says.

The last Pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII (1406?1415)..

According to the news, the last time was in the late 1400s.

He's not been seen much in public recently, he's nearly 85, and surely it's better to have a proper succession than continue with someone too unwell to carry out the role.

^^ and as Princess says that was due to political reasons.

There wasn't a link when I heard the news on the radio and posted. It's arrived on the BBC News website now.

Just what I thought Frankelly!

Yeah I agree seeker

I am in shock but on reflection don't think I should be (if that makes sense!)

I think it is a brave thing to do and maybe influenced by the previous Pope who stayed in office when his health really affected his ability to fulfil the role. Most people in their mid-80s would struggle to do such a public role.

I look forward to the election of a new Pope. When Pope Benedict was elected I felt that this was still tinged with grief for Pope John Paul II so at least this time I think there will be a bit more excitement and positivity about the conclave.

I couldn't say its right or wrong, its HIGHLY unusual. Pope JP II was frail and in ill health for some time before he passed.

Pope Benedict was one of the oldest Popes when be became Pope. I would have thought it would have been a consideration as to what to do when his health failed, given he started the job at a very advanced age...

I hope this is not the start of hearing about a horrific scandal

First resignation in 600 years? Wow.

I remember reading an article a few years ago about how gruelling life as Pope was (ridiculously long hours for very old men) and that their lifespan was arguably shortened by the intensity of the workload. I figured most of them were in ill health a few years into the role.

Whatever the reason for him resigning we're witnessing a pretty historical moment. I always get the strangest feeling when I see these stories that are going to be mentioned over and over again in history books and news stories and so on in the decades to come.

Interesting news

Full credit to him if he's doing it out of humility. Not something the Catholic church gets accused of very often.

en.radiovaticana.va/articolo.asp?c=663815

A link to the full announcement made by the Pope.