Has resigned apparently!

which is odd isn't it?

600 years since the last one resigned, does he know something we don't

That's it's a bit daft to have a completely knackered old octogenarian as your CEO?

It is odd. But perhaps its a step towards modernising the church?

In the German press he stated that "the world is changing quickly and one needs physical and mental strength to keep up with it. In the past months he felt like his strength was deteriorating quickly and he does not feel like he is capable of "being the captain on Petrus' ship" anymore. His health is not the best and he thought about stepping back for a few months." His brother lives in the town where I was born and was the musical director of the cathredral's boys choir school . So Joseph Ratzinger (Benedikt XVI) often came to visit his brother, who is in the church, too and therefore unmarried. I can just assume that being the Pope he didn't have the possibility to spend time with his brother Georg anymore. They are both old (85 and 89) and maybe just want to have some quiet and peace together.

Maybe he doesn't want to get bumped off like JP1.

More likely having been in the front row to watch it, he doesnt want to go on past his best by date like JPII?

Step forward a recent convert to Catholicism.... Pope Tony Blair!!

Hmmmm I think something else might be a factor here, aren't popes (like I know!!!!!) expected to do the job til they die? An oath (or whatever it is they take) that I am assuming they don't take lightly. Their rise to the top would be full of rules and regulations of the church, and as the bloke in charge he more than anyone would feel duty bound to carry it on.

There we go again, some religious fella changing the rules to suit ................ (thats tongue in cheek btw)

On a sensible note, if this is the real story then fair play to him for putting his foot down!

Traditionally it is a job for life, but there are precedents for popes standing down (all be it not recently). This one did have a front row seat for watching his much loved predecessor slowly become less and less able to do the job effectively as old age caught up with him.

Lets not forget that hes 85, maybe he feels its time for someone younger and more energetic to take up the mantle and that its time for the tradition of being pope till you die to come to an end.

He's not been pope for that long though has he, and it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that he was geting on a bit when he took the job. But I'm not quibbling that, I think at 85 he should be putting his feet up

7 years IIRC... How long does the average CEO stay in the job I wonder?

Thats probably about average... they keep electing old men to the job, but modern medicine (or better personal security, or a God thats not that interested in meeting them perhaps...) seems to keep them alive longer now, to the point where the brain and energy is done but the heart keeps beating...

Better to step aside before that point I guess.

A pope is elected for life time so he can't be "sacked " but the catholic church law states that he can give up his duties as long as he does it free willingly and steps back from all church duties and public life within the church to not be able to influence the elections of the new pope. It further says that a priest has to be physically able to hold mass and in the pope's case it can be easily a 2 hour mostly standing Easter mass and blessings. So maybe he is just too tired and old. I just hope we get a more open and modern new pope.

A worthy successor? Seems to have bagfuls of energy and more liberal views?

I think I would prefer this one, and might even consider joining the club if he were

A born leader and natural choice given his worldly wisdom as well as having a much broader vocabulary than my nomination ("Drink", "Arse", "Fe*k", "Girls", "Bra" seems to be his limit) but he`s MUCH too young at sub 75