Head of the Catholic Church Resigns

[writerken]

It's religion. Nuff said.

[dfiant]

Call me negative, call me a pessimist, but to me the papalcy is likes politics, infact it is politics, so it is just going to be a case of 'same shit, different arsehole'.

The catholic church's stance on same sex marriage will not change before they acknowledge that even catholics have sex for fun and endorse condoms to curb unwanted pregnancies population growth. forgive me if I am wrong and I will be more than willing to welcome any new Pope to 1873.

[Genersis]

For those interested:

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.
Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

Francis Arinze seems to of been mentioned a few times as a possible successor on the other forum I frequent.
I don't know if that's a popular sentiment though.

[Genersis]

I wouldn't expect the new pope to be too dissimilar to the current/soon to be previous one.
In Catholic terms, it seems Ratzinger was seen as moderate(maybe slightly traditionalist leaning), and I think it unlikely the next pope will be any more socially liberal.

[Genersis]

...
If the name of the next pop is Peter, beware, the end of the world is soon to follow...

St. Malachi predicted X number of popes... There is one more after Benedict, or so the prophecy says.

Yeah, two people have brought that up on the Catholic forums. Both being met with scepticism. One member saying it's normally protestants that believe the prophesy; not sure if that idea holds water, but it's an interesting thought.

[MisterTinkles]

Another old, ugly, self rightous, pedophile drag queen wanna-be, bites the dust.

[cardiganwearer]

Odd that the Malachy predictions didn't pick up on the thing that history will record about Ratzinger, that he resigned. Instead we get something about an olive in the crest of the benedictine order.

Anyway, here's a song. If you're offended by bad language best not listen to it.




I did warn you...

[pellaz]

i thought the pope's face turned up on grinder and he had to resing

[Rainbowmum]

It was bound to happen, if you are a true holy man you will never put church doctrine above Gods word.

[Lalo]

Pope Benedict has already set the playing field. For years he has been quietly orchestrating the promotion of more conservative elements within the church and lining up his cadre of conservative cardinals. I really have little hope that the next Pope will be very liberal at all. In fact, I fear that he will actually be an extremely dogmatic, arch-conservative.