Pope To Resign For Health Reasons

First pontiff to step aside in almost 600 years

Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would resign Feb. 28. According to the Associated Press he's the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.

Benedict, 85, emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope - the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide - requires "both strength of mind and body." The pope had recently been warned by doctors against making transatlantic flights.

The pope's decision is bound to spark reaction from U.S. politicians. Vice President Joe Biden is Catholic. So are House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

On Twitter presidential historian Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) touched on the age issue, a recurring issue in political campaigns. "Altho not a Pope, candidate Reagan pledged to NY Times Jun 1980 that if White House doctor found him unfit to keep serving, he would resign."

Via The Associated Press, and Politix reporting.

Should a younger person be chosen as the next pope?

[texas_cutie75]

Thank you for your service, may the Lord keep and bless you Pope.

[Vance1]

Thank You

[TheJimmy]

I always thought that the Pope was supposed to stay in his position as Pontiff until the Grim Reaper comes a calling?

[methinks]

The last resignation was Gregory XII who resigned in 1415. I just saw on the news that he was about to retire back to Bavaria when he was elected Pope. I say good for him. He knows he can no longer physically do the job, so why not just retire? His brother stated that his doctor said no-no to any more trans-Atlantic trips. He must be in pretty bad shape to have come to this decision.

I think it's about time they pick someone in their 50's or 60's.

[Center]

HBO came before the reaper with documentary of pope covering up for pedofile priests in 2001 and other years.

[rkinsawjoe]

In what way does his resignation create "political overtones" ? That some of our politicians are Roman Catholic is meaningless.

[Knightkore]

Did you know that the Vatican is the only church with a seat on the UN? The Vatican is a political entity....a seperate country if you will....the last vestige of Roman power.... Roman emperors are Roman popes....

[rkinsawjoe]

@Knightmare Didn't the Roman Emperors like nailing little boys in the seat too? The apple never goes far does it? The question stands... in what way does that create political overtones where the U.S. Government is concerned?

[Knightkore]

@rkinsawjoe Sometimes the Vatican....the popes still have influence over Catholic members of congress....and will exert that influence if necessary....

[methinks]

@Knightmare Not if you will. Vatican City is it's own country within Rome. The only Roman power may be it's influence over the Holy Roman Empire who emperors were the Habsburgs of Austria-Hungary.

[Buzzfriendly]

I am almost as upset about this as I was when heard the last of the Jedi had died.

[PoliticalSpice]

Well Jesus could have cured him and choose not to. That should tell us something.

[jessejaymes]

@PoliticalSpice Amen and Glory Hallelujah. Maybe even Ali Ali Akbur ( or something like that). Oh wait I know what it was. Ali Baba and the forty thieves. Right?

[PoliticalSpice]

@jessejaymes Not very nice, infidel. Ala maak.

[Clarke12]

Luke was still alive, as was Leia. There will be more Jedi in the future!

[Buzzfriendly]

@Clarke12 I didn't think Jedi where supposed to pro-create which leaves Leia who biological clock is ticking. See the contradictions have already began in a galaxy that's far away.

[ctc]

4th quarter results came in lower than forecast.

[Speedieg]

There is more to the story I'm sure. No pope resigns unless there is some very good reason. I hope the the next one is not as hateful as this one was.

[frigginhell]

He's been accused of hiding pedophile priests, probably true, they've got evidence he ordered bishops to keep quiet about some known pedophiles if asked by law enforcement and helped to hide them as cardinal. He's been accused of being a nazi. Absolutely true, he was a member of the hitler youth.
This wasn't enough to make him ineligible or step down when we found out. But now he's feeling sick so he's the first pope in 600 years to retire? As a direct instrument of god's will on earth shouldn't health concerns be left to faith and he stays in office until the lord calls him home? Isn't this what their faith teaches?
You just kind of can't wait to see what's coming can you? Because I'm sure there's probably more to this than what's being told. We may never know but here's hoping we get a glimpse of it.

[AceLuby]

@frigginhell Nailed it.

[Denizen_Kate]

@frigginhell - That was my first thought when I heard he was stepping down, that it had something to do with his previous office and its responsibility for covering up the pedophilia within the church. No man gives up that much power without a more compelling reason than "poor health."

[NormalFlora]

Age doesn't matter as much as choosing someone who leads with fairness, compassion, and inclusion.

[thatgirl]

@PolitixDavid......are you Catholic? I am and I fail to see how the Pope resigning will have "political overtones". Bad, bad piece of journalism here.

[martydotcom]

Welcome to the world- few if any US Catholics adhere to church on birth control
Abortion- result of no BC
Payment for BC political

[martydotcom]

@politixDavid good report
Typical Catholic critique when flaw in church dogma is exposed Bishops v birth control typical politics

[jessejaymes]

I think it does have political overtones if the next pope is more open to the morning after pill and gay marriage and such. At least the way I took the headline.

[seedtick]

Big deal for Catholics. Not much of an issue for the rest of us.

[DARSB]

Maybe the next Pontiff will take some action on the church's pedophile problem, instead of shielding offending priests.

[Speedieg]

I doubt it, until they deal with the whole celibacy issue which is the root of the problem. Repressing your sexual desires and activity like that is not healthy and leads to the abuses we see. If priests were allowed to marry I'm sure the problem would be no more than other religious institutions.

[Fishbone345]

Pope Pius XII never condemned the Nazis until he was assured to be able to do so from safety. To me that isn't someone that represents God.
I have a feeling this pope will be much the same as will the next and next and so on.
True Men of God do not condone evil or so says Christianity.

[rkinsawjoe]

Pedophile problem? I was under the impression that the only pedophile problem the church recognized was the need for cuter alter boys.

[kathyparsell]

As I am not a Catholic, it is not for me to say how young/old the candidates for Pope should be. I am so thankful that we will not have to see this Pope's health continue to fail, and I admire him for making what must be a difficult decision. I hope by making this move he is granted a life of good health for his remaining time.

[Dan_Tien]

Maybe it's time for a young and vigorous young man to step up and buy the papacy, the way that the Medici did.

[ConserveUSA]

Yes indeed. Young and Charismatic. I am in the Catholic Charismatic Movement. Best Pope I knew the most was His Holiness and Blessed John Paul II!

[harold_lloyd]

The qustion really is, what direction for the Church?

[rkinsawjoe]

That's an easy one. Straight down.

[harold_lloyd]

@rkinsawjoe
Not necessarily. The Catholic Church has reinvented itself before, and it's not impossible that they could do it again.

No organization usually changes without a compelling need, and then only just in time to avert disaster.

[Hireman]

I wish our politicians in America took the same approach -- putting what they serve ahead of themselves and their egos.

[falco_alba]

Ladies and gentleman, the Pope has left the building.

[mimi57]

I am not Catholic, however, I have respect for the Catholic religion and for the Pope. There are 67 million Catholics and the majority are pro-life and anti-gay,
not against the person, against the practice...Love the person, hate the sin. So
much is changing drastically in our country and I'm sure this is disheartening to
him, as it is to anyone who has deep faith in the teachings of God and the Bible.
However, he is elderly and appears to have some age related health issues, I
wish him well, and hope he continues to pray for this country...It seems it's all we
have left.

[Knightkore]

Excellent post....

[Speedieg]

This is laughable. Hate the sin love the sinner. This pope has more than once claimed that GAYS were evil and disordered. He has condemned that on every front and pressured politicians to not only deny rights but legislate against them. That does not sound very loving to me, but then again I'm not a conservative. My love is something kind, nurturing and pleasant.

[mimi57]

@Speedieg The Pope condemns it, as do most religions, as they follow the Bible, and it is condemned by God... The Pope has done nothing to make him appear unkind or unpleasant. Your love is not the same as God's love. In the
end it is He who will judge all of mankind, gays, and everyone else. No one is
without sin. I wish him health and happiness in the last phase of his life.

[Speedieg]

@mimi57 Mimi he has condemned, he has stated more than once that gays are evil. That is kind and unpleasant. He personally suppressed the investigation and evidence of child molesting priests. Why can't you just look up the facts instead of defending a monster? He should burn in hell.

[mimi57]

@Speedieg I condemn pedophiles, and think they are not given near enough
prison time. You do not have proof, as far as I know that he 'suppressed' an
investigation. I do not believe everything I read on google...Have priests been
guilty of pedophilia, yes, they are not infallible. They are sinners, as we all are.
But to claim you know for sure he did this without factual proof, and state he should burn in Hell is outrageous. No one is above reproach...anyone who commits crimes against children should get the harshest penalties allowed.
To make a judgement on 'accusations' is just wrong..there are many, many
pedophiles, priests account for less than 1%. Yes, 1% too many..but to say
this is exclusive to priests is absurd. They are everywhere! Just look on line
at the sexual predators in your own area, or next door. Many are family members!

[MrGreenHerb]

Maybe a new Pope to keep the "Father" under control and quit bringing the children into his room for 40 minutes on Sunday mornings.

[mimi57]

Actually, less than 1% of priests molest children. Granted, any percent is too many. However, family members, coaches, and many pedophiles choose a
profession/job where they have direct access to children. Priests as well as
anyone else who harms children will be judged by God, even if they do manage
to escape judgement in this lifetime...I often think the fairness for pedophiles may
only come from 'prison justice'.

[MrGreenHerb]

@mimi57 True. <3

[mimi57]

@MrGreenHerb ( :

[GedankPol]

I don't believe it. Have you EVER known a Pope to step down for "health reasons"? I have a feeling that he's being finessed out by the revelations his butler/drive tried to make but were successfully withheld from the press and are now being used by other power players to force him out.

[bostonblacky2]

dont need a pope

[JimCO55]

Yea, Reagan promised to resign: In her memoirs, former CBS White House correspondent Lesley Stahl recounts her final meeting with the president, in 1986: "Reagan didn't seem to know who I was.... Oh, my, he's gonzo, I thought. I have to go out on the lawn tonight and tell my countrymen that the president of the United States is a doddering space cadet." But then, at the end, he regained his alertness. As she described it, "I had come that close to reporting that Reagan was senile."