Pope Resigns

[Anonymous]

The document is authoritative but not infallible. The teaching against birth control is infallible based on the fact that it has always and everywhere in the church since it began been taught as a sin.

[Anonymous]

Pp, does that mean we are not going to get a woman pope?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come on. The man is almost 86 years old. He had submitted his request to retire THREE times before he had been elevated to the Papal Throne (bishops can retired after the age of 75 and he was elected pope at 78). In fact he is the oldest man to be elected to the Papacy since the 18th century (5th oldest ever out of 265 popes). In fact, only 3 popes ever have been older than he is now.. He has lasted 8 years in office and has had several age-related health issues from his mid-70's on, so he's been suffering health problems for at least 10 years. He's tired and wants to retire. Just as with any major occupation, the stress of high offices can magnify and exacerbate existing health issues. It doesn't have to be anything as extreme as Alzheimer's.

Sure! It's the most common thing in the world. After all, the last time it happened was over half a millennium ago during a multi-Pope power-struggle. Nothing to see here!

And yet the Cardinals, the people who should know him best and are aware of all of this, are expressing shock. No one saw it coming despite knowing all of this.

Yeah, because the significant majority of all prior Popes died before they reached the age he is now. That's why it hasn't happened in centuries. You realize that the three Popes who were older than Ratzinger is now died in 1878, 1730 and 1670. So it's been more than 230 years since there was even a Pope that is older than Benedict. How many people do you know that are 86 years old and still working in a very high stress, full-time (e.g. 7x24) job. Why can't the man retire and let a younger man with better stamina handle the job? He's more than done his duty.

As for the cardinals, it's surprising to them because Pope Benedict has been somewhat close-mouthed to them about his decision. Small wonder considering that the cardinals previously declined his three requests to retire. They now have a moving walkway down the aisle in St Peters to take him the 100 yards to the altar for services. He often has to walk with a cane. Over the last several years, he's had to cancel and greatly decrease his travels because of his physical health. He's had to shorten and sometimes cancel audiences because his physical health and stamina haven't bee up to it. His brother relayed to the media that Pope Benedict's personal physican recommended that he decrease his physical activity including his travels and he has been considering stepping down for months in part because he's having so much trouble walking and just needs to rest. Do they really want to have a Pope in absentia? The Pope is doing what is best for his Papacy by letting a new man, who has the energy and strength for the office take over. We should all laud his humility.

As a former Catholic, hearing the word "humility" is like nails on a chalkboard. There is nothing humble about this pope. There are a few phrases that are accepted without criticism, merely because they are said so very often.

For the record, this man who three times asked to be retired willingly threw his hat in the ring when his opportunity came up. Do you think he was dragged from his dream of leisure because God spoke to him in a dream? And when he accepted the job despite his advanced age and health issues, he was described as having.... humility. Please, anyone who falls for his "please Lord take this cup from me... but OK if you insist I will be Pope" schtick is just a rube. When you get elected pope, it is because you want to be pope. Apparently he wanted to do it despite age and health issues, not exactly doing what's best for the Church.

I'm pretty sure your oppositiion to the church is nothing more than political/generational trendiness. I'd love to see your vast sources proving what you say is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come on. The man is almost 86 years old. He had submitted his request to retire THREE times before he had been elevated to the Papal Throne (bishops can retired after the age of 75 and he was elected pope at 78). In fact he is the oldest man to be elected to the Papacy since the 18th century (5th oldest ever out of 265 popes). In fact, only 3 popes ever have been older than he is now.. He has lasted 8 years in office and has had several age-related health issues from his mid-70's on, so he's been suffering health problems for at least 10 years. He's tired and wants to retire. Just as with any major occupation, the stress of high offices can magnify and exacerbate existing health issues. It doesn't have to be anything as extreme as Alzheimer's.

Sure! It's the most common thing in the world. After all, the last time it happened was over half a millennium ago during a multi-Pope power-struggle. Nothing to see here!

And yet the Cardinals, the people who should know him best and are aware of all of this, are expressing shock. No one saw it coming despite knowing all of this.

Yeah, because the significant majority of all prior Popes died before they reached the age he is now. That's why it hasn't happened in centuries. You realize that the three Popes who were older than Ratzinger is now died in 1878, 1730 and 1670. So it's been more than 230 years since there was even a Pope that is older than Benedict. How many people do you know that are 86 years old and still working in a very high stress, full-time (e.g. 7x24) job. Why can't the man retire and let a younger man with better stamina handle the job? He's more than done his duty.

As for the cardinals, it's surprising to them because Pope Benedict has been somewhat close-mouthed to them about his decision. Small wonder considering that the cardinals previously declined his three requests to retire. They now have a moving walkway down the aisle in St Peters to take him the 100 yards to the altar for services. He often has to walk with a cane. Over the last several years, he's had to cancel and greatly decrease his travels because of his physical health. He's had to shorten and sometimes cancel audiences because his physical health and stamina haven't bee up to it. His brother relayed to the media that Pope Benedict's personal physican recommended that he decrease his physical activity including his travels and he has been considering stepping down for months in part because he's having so much trouble walking and just needs to rest. Do they really want to have a Pope in absentia? The Pope is doing what is best for his Papacy by letting a new man, who has the energy and strength for the office take over. We should all laud his humility.

As a former Catholic, hearing the word "humility" is like nails on a chalkboard. There is nothing humble about this pope. There are a few phrases that are accepted without criticism, merely because they are said so very often.

For the record, this man who three times asked to be retired willingly threw his hat in the ring when his opportunity came up. Do you think he was dragged from his dream of leisure because God spoke to him in a dream? And when he accepted the job despite his advanced age and health issues, he was described as having.... humility. Please, anyone who falls for his "please Lord take this cup from me... but OK if you insist I will be Pope" schtick is just a rube. When you get elected pope, it is because you want to be pope. Apparently he wanted to do it despite age and health issues, not exactly doing what's best for the Church.

I'm pretty sure your oppositiion to the church is nothing more than political/generational trendiness. I'd love to see your vast sources proving what you say is accurate.

Ooh, what a great example of the dismissiveness prevalent among the uncritical. I received a lifetime of training by two orders of nuns and two orders of priests. I have seen it all from the peaceniks to the Opus Dei, whose programs I was in for seven years in addition to what I did in Catholic school. Priests in the family, priests in my circle of friends. So thank you but whatever opinion I hold of the politics of the Catholic Church, it cannot be dismissed as "trendiness". If Ratzinger did not want to be Pope, he would not have given the homily that he did at the opening. Read it yourself, it's public record. He is telling the church in no certain terms that they need to pick a person with his qualities and definitely not those of Martini. Like you, he dismissed his opponents as "fashionable".