Pope Benedict XVI is to resign

**S Landreth** · 11-02-2013, 06:07 PM

Pope Benedict XVI is to resign, the Vatican has confirmed.

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger's papacy began in 2005. This is reportedly only the second time a head of the Catholic church has stepped down.

Sky News is reporting that the pope will leave his office on 28 February.

We'll have all the details and reaction here live.

Pope resigns

The Vatican Radio website has the full text of the pope's statement today. Here it is in full:

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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

Pope resigns

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, said on Monday he will resign on Feb 28. because he no longer has the strength to fulfill the duties of his office, becoming the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to take such a step.

The 85-year-old German-born Pope, hailed as a hero by conservative Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, said he had noticed that his strength had deteriorated over recent months.

His papacy has been beset by a child sexual abuse crisis that tarnished the Church, one address in which he upset Muslims and a scandal over the leaking of his private papers by his personal butler.

In a statement, the pope said in order to govern "...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," he said according to a statement from the Vatican.

A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff would step down from 2 p.m. ET on February 28, leaving the office vacant until a successor was chosen to Benedict who succeeded John Paul, one of history's most popular pontiffs.

Elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005 when he was 78 -- 20 years older than John Paul was when he was elected -- he ruled over a slower-paced, more cerebral and less impulsive Vatican.

But while conservatives cheered him for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity, his critics accused him of turning back the clock on reforms by nearly half a century and hurting dialogue with Muslims, Jews and other Christians.

Before he was elected Pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was known by such critical epithets as "God's rottweiler" because of his stern stand on theological issues.

Benedict to resign, first pontiff since Middle Ages to quit | Reuters

**Anteak** · 11-02-2013, 08:21 PM

One more German on his way to Pattaya then.

**Gerbil** · 11-02-2013, 08:24 PM

Couldn't the nazi stick to tradition by just dying like the rest of them?

**FailSafe** · 11-02-2013, 08:32 PM

His time as pope was always going to be limited considering his advanced age when he was elected- it seemed like the Catholic Church could sense a coming storm over the allegations of child abuse (many of which turned out to be true) and a lot of that could be glossed over with a 'new start' with a younger pope once the pope under which most of the scandal occurred died (or in this case stepped down).

The taint is pretty strong, though- it will be interesting to see if any serious changes are made within the church.

It doesn't make much difference to me- the Catholics lost me back when Sister Mary Elephant hit me in the head with a yardstick for talking in catechism class- the old dyke really caught me with a good one.

**Rural Surin** · 11-02-2013, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Gerbil

Couldn't the nazi stick to tradition by just dying like the rest of them?

Does it really matter who comes and goes along the Papal reign?
The same dangerous and suppressive homogeny is installed regardless.

**Fondles** · 11-02-2013, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Anteak

One more German on his way to Pattaya then.

Thats a bit harsh, show some compassion as a man at his age might be simply retiring to spend more time with the kids.

**slackula** · 11-02-2013, 08:59 PM

I suppose it would be pretty wrong to hope that his Popiness gets set on fire and thrown facefirst into the business end of a music festival portapotty on about day 3 of 40º weather?

**Grower** · 11-02-2013, 09:13 PM

I just hope he doesn't let the door hit him in the ass on the way out.
Not that it will matter as long as the mackerel hackers keep the faith.
I quit the bastards 60 years ago and good riddance. Effim'...

**pseudolus** · 11-02-2013, 09:16 PM

Amazing - usually they kill them as opposed to letting them leave and live.

So I took a peek at the bookies,

1:3 confirmed Pedo
2:3 Gassed someone recently.
5:1 He's looked in the arcchives and realised it's all a load of rubbish after all.
1000:1 - he's getting on a bit and wants to pass the buck onto someone else.

**Looper** · 11-02-2013, 09:41 PM

If we are going to have a TD sweepstake for the next pope I am going for this guy.

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson

AP

Country: Ghana

Position: President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

Age: 63

Likelihood: Highest odds according to Paddy Power: 2/1, which seems way high to us even though he is a very strong candidate.

What His Election Would Mean: That the Cardinals recognize the future isn't in Benedict's Europe but in the explosive growth of the Church in the "global South"

Reasons He'll Get Elected: He is a superstar in the College of Cardinals, a great communicator, and symbol of the global reach of the Church.

Reasons He Might Not Get Elected: The Catholic Church in Africa can be very disconnected from the Church that the majority of the European Cardinals live in. In Africa the top issues aren't sexual politics and theological disputes, they are exorcism, animism, the growth of Islam, and condemnation of Western economic policy.

One Of These Men Will Be The Next Pope - Business Insider

**Neo** · 11-02-2013, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by Anteak

One more German on his way to Pattaya then.

Thats a bit harsh, show some compassion as a man at his age might be simply retiring to spend more time with the kids.

Yeah he's more likely to go to Tampa

**nidhogg** · 11-02-2013, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by Looper

If we are going to have a TD sweepstake for the next pope I am going for this guy.

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson

AP

Country: Ghana

Position: President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

Age: 63

Likelihood: Highest odds according to Paddy Power: 2/1, which seems way high to us even though he is a very strong candidate.

What His Election Would Mean: That the Cardinals recognize the future isn't in Benedict's Europe but in the explosive growth of the Church in the "global South"

Reasons He'll Get Elected: He is a superstar in the College of Cardinals, a great communicator, and symbol of the global reach of the Church.

Reasons He Might Not Get Elected: He is black......

Simplified that a bit for everyone.....

**Troy** · 11-02-2013, 10:17 PM

Well we might get some black smoke when electing the next one.
It is supposedly the last (according to the Prophecy of the Popes).

**Yasojack** · 12-02-2013, 01:07 AM

seems the Rev Ian paisley has decided to change church and putting himself in the running.

**StrontiumDog** · 12-02-2013, 01:47 AM

Victims slam outgoing pope | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

Victims slam outgoing pope

Published: 11 Feb 2013 at 22.12
Online news:

SYDNEY - An Australian group representing the victims of sexual abuse has welcomed Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, saying he had done little to stop "the reign of terror of child rapist priests", a report said.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) issued a statement calling for the next pontiff to be more cooperative with inquiries into abuse claims, according to a report by the Australian Associated Press (AAP).

Spokeswoman Nicky Davis said: ''Victims welcome the resignation of a church official with immense power who has done so little to stop the reign of terror of child rapist priests.

''In the eyes of many victims, Joseph Ratzinger has personally done much to add to the huge number of victims and exponentially increase the suffering of those already harmed.''

The 85-year-old pope announced on Monday he would resign because of health reasons, prompting an outpouring of reaction across the world.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it was an ''historic moment which many Australian Catholics will greet with great emotion''.

''On his election, Joseph Ratzinger said he wished to be 'a simple humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord' and in his resignation that humility has been amply demonstrated,'' she added, according to AAP.

But the Church has come under the spotlight in recent times over allegations that it had covered up sexual abuse of children to protect paedophiles and its own reputation.

In November, Gillard announced a royal commission to investigate the responses of all religious organisations, schools and state care to allegations of abuse.

The following month the Sydney Archbishop George Pell, the country's most senior Catholic cleric apologised to those who ``suffered at the hands'' of priests and religious teachers.

Davis said that with the royal commission about to begin its work, it is important that Catholic officials replace the Pope with someone who will co-operate with legal requests for documents.

''It is high time the head of the Catholic Church ceases to hide child sex crimes behind a facade of diplomatic immunity dependent upon specious claims to be a sovereign state, not a religious institution,'' she said.

**ENT** · 12-02-2013, 04:15 AM

The next pope is gonna be either black, Chinese, or lesbian for the Vatican cardinals to appear to be impartial.

**S Landreth** · 12-02-2013, 04:51 AM

Maybe trouble,….

At the time that Mahony was covering up the crimes of his priests, Benedict, then known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, led the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that oversaw such matters.

Amid the cache of church records, released as part of a settlement between the archdiocese and 500 sex-abuse victims, are several letters to Ratzinger from Mahoney, in which the California prelate reports to the Vatican his reasons for various actions (such as defrocking) taken against the offending priests. The records amount to some 30,000 pages, so their full contents have yet to be pored through by investigators and journalists.

What is clear, though, is that Mahony repeatedly failed to act on concerns about the sexual abuse of children by priests that brought to him by pastors and church officials throughout the diocese, and that when he did, his actions were designed to avoid criminal prosecutions of the predator priests. And it is also clear that in his Vatican office, Ratzinger was the recipient of letters from Mahony informing the Holy See of what actions he had taken.

For instance, in a 2003 letter to Ratzinger, Mahony says of Father Lynn R. Caffoe that between the priest and one boy, there were 100 "instances of masturbatory and copulative acts," according to an account in the Los Angeles Daily News.

But Mahony never reported Caffoe's alleged crimes to police, and Ratzinger apparently never instructed him to.

so much more: Pope Benedict Stepping Down in Shocking Abdication

Next Pope Betting Odds | Politics and Election Betting | Oddschecker: Bono is at 1000:1

**draco888** · 12-02-2013, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by ENT

The next pope is gonna be either black, Chinese, or lesbian for the Vatican cardinals to appear to be impartial.

or preferably all three

**draco888** · 12-02-2013, 05:21 AM

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Amazing - usually they kill them as opposed to letting them leave and live.

So I took a peek at the bookies,

1:3 confirmed Pedo
2:3 Gassed someone recently.
5:1 He's looked in the arcchives and realised it's all a load of rubbish after all.
1000:1 - he's getting on a bit and wants to pass the buck onto someone else.

Pseudo, I know you like a good conspiracy theory, if you thought the Fed was interesting have a poke around the Vatican bank.

**steve down under** · 12-02-2013, 07:37 AM

Still won't stop em fucking choirboys arses and getting away with like they have been doing since time immemorial and if the Blackbloke gets in then all the gay people are going to have to watch out as well considering that there is such a hatred of homosexuality in africa where there is a campaign to annhialate them by bringing in laws making it a capital offence to be a Batty boy !

**pseudolus** · 12-02-2013, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by draco888

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Amazing - usually they kill them as opposed to letting them leave and live.

So I took a peek at the bookies,

1:3 confirmed Pedo
2:3 Gassed someone recently.
5:1 He's looked in the arcchives and realised it's all a load of rubbish after all.
1000:1 - he's getting on a bit and wants to pass the buck onto someone else.

Pseudo, I know you like a good conspiracy theory, if you thought the Fed was interesting have a poke around the Vatican bank.

Indeed - it was them lot who started the New State Bank in Libya within about 3 seconds of the CIA sponsored Mujahadin uprising.

There is a school of thought that says the Catholic church has been subverted to Satanism a long time ago hence the choices of Popes recently following on from the murder of JP1.
So based upon who looks the most evil and power hungry, this chap will be the anointed one.

**Bobcock** · 12-02-2013, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by S Landreth

Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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

Better translate for the Aussies amongst us.

G'Day

Jeez I'm crook. Reckon I'd better quit me job and fuckin' stay at home from now on.

At Ya Boys.

Benny.

**Patrick** · 12-02-2013, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by Anteak

One more German on his way to Pattaya then.

Thats a bit harsh, show some compassion as a man at his age might be simply retiring to spend more time with the kids.

He'd fit right in to Pattaya.

The place is fill of delusional old men whose life is devoted to fantasy.

Patrick

**DrAndy** · 12-02-2013, 09:06 AM

someone whispered in my ear he is retiring as some big scandal was about to be revealed

resign or....

**palexxxx** · 12-02-2013, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Originally Posted by S Landreth

Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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

Better translate for the Aussies amongst us.

G'Day

Jeez I'm crook. Reckon I'd better quit me job and fuckin' stay at home from now on.

At Ya Boys.

Benny.

Cheers Bobcock, but I gotta arx, Why didn't he just pull a sicky?

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