Pope Benedict XVI resigns. Kuya wonders why the catholic church selected a conservative pope

[Ddz]

Explain.

He was only meant to be a transitional pope after JP II anyway. He's dying...it's okay to be reminded that someone is human even in a position like his. He wants to spend time with his family before he kicks off, and I think that's okay.

[ringthree]

Easily the worst Pope ever.

You have no idea about the history of Popes do you? Not a god damned clue.

[Lucavi]

^ That's the only reason? It has nothing to do with the fact that he seated over hundreds of child molestation cases that were swept under the rug and may not have to testify in court if he "retires"?

Yes. Clearly its all about him wanting to spend time with his family. How many kids does he have? What's his wife's name? Oh, you mean spend time with his parents? That's nice.

[Xno Kappa]

Resurrect John Paul II for Easter. That nigga was a pimp.

[Niiro]

I think it's a rule that the pope has to be really old. Like, the closer you are to death, the closer you are to God.

(Though seriously; Is there some age limit on being made Pope, or does it just normally take a really long time for a person to build up the cred to get any votes to be Pope?)

Believe it's the latter, there's a lot of convention about who is generally considered a candidate (cardinals) but beyond the basic requirements (ie. being a member of the clergy) they can elect pretty much anyone as long as they get enough support. There's all sorts of exceptions and by-laws that can allow unconventional elections.

That said, a quick look at wiki says the last pope that wasn't already a cardinal was Urban VI in 1378, so yea, it can happen but it just doesn't really.

Also browsing the wiki apparently cardinals over 80 don't get to vote for pope, found that interesting.

[Byrthnoth]

He has a brother, but he didn't name "spending time with his family" as one of his reasons for retiring. He says he is retiring because he no longer feels physically fit to perform the duties required of a pope, which is quite possible given how many events he has cancelled due to health problems.

The Catholic Church has been in crisis for the last century and needs someone that is more than a figurehead, and the current pope is not capable of being more than a figurehead at the moment. JPII probably should have resigned before he died, but for some reason he kept forgetting to do it. He did, however, open the doors for future popes to admit their mortality and resign when they are no longer capable of performing the duties required of them. I hope this becomes a trend.

Also, lol@child molestation cases. If anything, that shows how inept he is not because they were "swept under the rug" but because they were "swept under the rug" in public. Priests have been molesting for literally millennia now, and the fact that it got huge under him probably just shows his mismanagement of the continuous crisis (and IT advancements). I mean, you have a society that is intolerant of sexual deviance and a profession that involves abstinence. I wonder where the sexual deviants are going to collect.

[Correction]

Resurrect John Paul II for Easter. That nigga was a pimp.

[darkepyon]

For those into the whole doomsday prophecy thing, we have one more pope before the "destruction of Rome". However there's an unknown gap between Benny (named "Glory of the olive") and the one referred to as "Petrus Romanus".

[Salodin]

He was a good leader and preserved the tradition of the church. He is a human being in failing health, and his decision to resign is in the best interest of the church. Deserves respect imo.

He was only meant to be a transitional pope after JP II anyway. He's dying...it's okay to be reminded that someone is human even in a position like his. He wants to spend time with his family before he kicks off, and I think that's okay.

You're trying too hard. You almost got me.

[ronin sparthos]

For those into the whole doomsday prophecy thing, we have one more pope before the "destruction of Rome". However there's an unknown gap between Benny (named "Glory of the olive") and the one referred to as "Petrus Romanus".

Black or Hispanic pope will fulfill the prophecy!

[Ashmada]

Fundamental atheists are just as retarded a fundamental Christians?

Question is: does him not holding office anymore mean he can be judged for his crimes, now, like Chirac & Berlusconi?
Not that any government would have the balls, who cares about him helping pedophiles escape justice, afterall?

[Chamaan]

He's setting a good example, one of the contributors to unemployment among young people is old people not retiring.

I wanna see a new young upstart pope fresh out of JC-U that's gonna open everyone's mind and shit. He'd ride a bike around the Vatican, wear his ridiculously elaborate robes with no tie and sandals and be all like "hey man, let's have church outside today".

http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article05111001.aspx

2. The 16-year-old John XII (955-64) was accused of sleeping with his two sisters and inventing a catalog of disgusting new sins. Described by a church historian as “the very dregs,” he was killed at age 27 when the husband of one of his mistresses burst into his bedroom, discovered him in flagrante, and battered his skull in with a hammer.

[Ddz]

You're trying too hard. You almost got me.

Damn!

[Alkar]

Here's a possible candidate:

Spoiler: show

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...15064964_n.jpg

or

Spoiler: show

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...43012491_n.jpg

[Talint]

[Mertron]

Dante would have a field day with this

TO THE VESTIBULE

[Rhyis.]

I honestly had no idea that popes had the option of resigning

I didn't either. Must've been some politics behind the scenes.

[Salodin]

His office as a cardinal was the office where every single molestation case went to when it was investigated. Wouldnt surprise me if its related to the flak from that.

[Ratatapa]

Maybe you shouldn't be such a toon.

But that's how you love me !!!!!

[Stumblingdrunk]

No one loves you.