It is being reported that Pope Benedict has resigned and will step down at the end of February.
Update: The Australian
POPE Benedict XVI has announced he will resign on February 28, a Vatican spokesman said, which will make him the first pope to do so in centuries.
“The Pope announced that he will leave his ministry at 8.00pm on February 28,” said the spokesman, Federico Lombardi.
The 85-year-old became Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II.
Statement here.
Pell was apparently close last time – will he be in the running C.L?
pete m
11 Feb 13 at 10:19 pm
Wow. The drugs in sports enquiry is certainly claiming some big names now.
Infidel Tiger
11 Feb 13 at 10:21 pm
Sensible decision.
I know it is tradition to stay pope until death, but I do wish John Paul II had done the same.
Token
11 Feb 13 at 10:21 pm
We need to look at the part Tony Abbott played in this.
JakartaJaap
11 Feb 13 at 10:26 pm
I’m reading the comments in the Guardian blog, and whilst I believe people have the right to say awful things, they are truly nasty, moreso, unfounded.
Also remember if Roxon and Dreyfuss had their way, they would be indictable offences.
.
11 Feb 13 at 10:28 pm
The Holy father’s statement is one that really strikes me for the moral courage it displays.
What a decision!
Mk50 of Brisbane
11 Feb 13 at 10:28 pm
the official titles of the petrine ministry are the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God
Jim Rose
11 Feb 13 at 10:29 pm
Waterhouse got a book up yet? If Pell gets the contract some heads will go bang.
Pickles
11 Feb 13 at 10:30 pm
Cardinal Peter Turkson is a frontrunner in the betting markets.
Jarrah
11 Feb 13 at 10:31 pm
Time for a black Pope methinks.
Infidel Tiger
11 Feb 13 at 10:31 pm
Pope market:
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/current-affairs/the-next-pope
Infidel Tiger
11 Feb 13 at 10:32 pm
“Slightly” off tipic:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/09/hitlers-pope-pius-xii-holocaust?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
During and immediately after the war, the pope was considered a Jewish saviour. Jewish leaders – such as Jerusalem’s chief rabbi in 1944 – said the people of Israel would never forget what he and his delegates “are doing for our unfortunate brothers and sisters at the most tragic hour”. Jewish newspapers in Britain and America echoed that praise, and Hitler branded him “a Jew lover”.
However, his image turned sour in the 1960s, thanks to Soviet antagonism towards the Vatican and a German play by Rolf Hochhuth, The Deputy, which vilified the pope, accusing him of silence and inaction over the Jews. It was a trend that intensified with the publication of Hitler’s Pope, a book by John Cornwell.
William Doino, a Vatican historian, described Thomas’s research as “unique and groundbreaking”. He spoke of the book’s new insight, for example, into Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish priest: “Everybody has always praised [O'Flaherty] because he helped Jews and escaped POWs. They made a movie about him, The Scarlet and the Black, with Gregory Peck. However, they always say he was acting on his own authority and that Pius was either aloof or not giving him anything. Gordon has spoken extensively with O’Flaherty’s family, who gave him private correspondence and told him that O’Flaherty said that everything was with Pius XII’s co-operation.”
The book also tells the story of Vittorio Sacerdoti, a young Jewish doctor who was able to work in a Vatican hospital, inventing a fictitious deadly disease that deterred Germans from entering. Dozens of fake patients were taught to cough convincingly.
.
11 Feb 13 at 10:33 pm
Papal resignation?
What?
Has he been caught taking Vitamins via intravenous drip?
Did Paul Howes tap him on the shoulder?
Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 10:34 pm
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_resignation
In 1045, Pope Benedict IX agreed, for financial advantage, to resign the papacy. Pope Gregory VI, persuaded him to resign, became his successor.
Gregory himself resigned in 1046 because the arrangement he had entered into with Benedict was considered simoniacal, he was Pope agian in 1047
Pope Celestine V resigned in 1294 and lived two more years as a hermit.
Pope Gregory XII (1406–1415), resigned to end the Western Schism, which had reached the point where there were three claimants to the Papal throne, Roman Pope Gregory XII, Avignon Antipope Benedict XIII, and Pisan Antipope John XXIII.
Jim Rose
11 Feb 13 at 10:35 pm
Hope Pell gets the gig for no other reason than it will make 150 heads explode at the ABC.
Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 10:36 pm
Will they fall foul of Roxy’s Anti-Discrimination bill if they don’t open the job up to non-Catholics?
Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 10:38 pm
Yes, Jim. I also read about the Wiki article in the Guadian’s comments section.
Anyway, what’s your point?
Gab
11 Feb 13 at 10:38 pm
God bless you Benny 16.
I hope Pell gets the gig, just to see the nashing of teeth and tears af pain.
Carpe Jugulum
11 Feb 13 at 10:39 pm
Yes!
Will Pope George call down the wrath on the witch’s inquiry?
Radio Vaticana Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28th.
John Paul II thought he should go in God’s own time.
stackja
11 Feb 13 at 10:39 pm
Very sad.
A wonderful and wise Padre.
I wonder to what extent he knows the likely candidates for succession and is thus reassured.
JamesK
11 Feb 13 at 10:40 pm
Hah
So Nostradamus was correct !!
Quatrain 133z, sub para XVIIiv, mirror image reverse writing !!
Astounding, isn’t it ?
Myrrdin Seren
11 Feb 13 at 10:42 pm
canon law makes no provision for a Pope who is temporarily or permanently incapacitated.
Pope John Paul II wrote a letter of resignation in case disease or other events kept him from fulfilling his duties, but this was never used. two other popes write similar letters in case of kidnap in 1804 and 1939-45
Urban VI (pope from 1378 to 1389) had serious emotional or mental disturbances which led the cardinals to elect another pope. This launched the disastrous Western Schism (1378-1417).
Jim Rose
11 Feb 13 at 10:45 pm
The last Pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants.
Benedict called his choice “a decision of great importance for the life of the church.”
The move sets the stage for the Vatican to hold a conclave to elect a new pope by mid-March, since the traditional mourning time that would follow the death of a pope doesn’t have to be observed.
Cold-Hands
11 Feb 13 at 10:45 pm
Black or South American
Token
11 Feb 13 at 10:45 pm
Okay, I’ve had my attack of the vapours.
It’s on the news now, (ALPBC) and of course we’ve got to cut to a few seconds of those protesting the Church about sexual abuse.
Because, obviously, it’s all the Holy Father’s fault.
nilk
11 Feb 13 at 10:46 pm
Nicola is on the ball.
She has already issued a directive stating that “the black smoke, white smoke signalling system is a carcinogenic anachronism, and we demand they announce the successful candidate via Twitter.”
Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 10:47 pm
Time for a
blackMuslim Pope methinks.Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 10:48 pm
$1 billion/year + $10 million buys more than 150 heads.
JamesK
11 Feb 13 at 10:48 pm
ill health and facing the end.
candy
11 Feb 13 at 10:48 pm
there is a line in yes minister about how bishops live to great ages because God is in no hurry for them to join him.
Jim Rose
11 Feb 13 at 10:49 pm
I wouldn’t care if the next Pope was purple with pink polka dots. So long as he’s a strong shepherd I’ll be happy.
A lot of African christians are formed in their faith by persecution, so they are a lot stronger than some of the western bishops. That’s also the case in the Anglican church with Bishops John Sentamu and Michael Nazir-Ali, for example.
nilk
11 Feb 13 at 10:51 pm
Time for a
blackJewish Pope methinks.Rabz
11 Feb 13 at 10:52 pm
Highlights from the Paddy Power betting market …..
Cardinal Marc Oullet 5/2
George Pell 66/1
Bono 1000/1
Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 10:53 pm
The whole religion is an anachronism.
Mundi
11 Feb 13 at 10:53 pm
Obamessiah?
Chris M
11 Feb 13 at 10:53 pm
I believe His Eminence Cardinal Pell has dismissed any Papal candidacy due to poor health. He participated in a previous conclave.
Forester
11 Feb 13 at 10:54 pm
Already had one of those, Rabz.
Pope Pius XII was called the Jewish Pope because he saved so many Jews during WW2.
nilk
11 Feb 13 at 10:54 pm
The first Pope was Jewish. As was the founder of Christianity Saul of Tarsus.
Sinclair Davidson
11 Feb 13 at 10:54 pm
First I’ve heard of Saul that way, Sinc. Oh dear.
nilk
11 Feb 13 at 11:00 pm
Black Muslim and gay with an enviromentally friendly outlook.
Splatacrobat
11 Feb 13 at 11:00 pm
Turkson, Scherer, Njue, Cipriani-Thorn or Cañizares Llovera?
Mk50 of Brisbane
11 Feb 13 at 11:03 pm
He was a little too progressive for my liking.
I hope he is replaced with someone who follows a more traditional approach like burning a few witches.
It sure would be good to see someone else other than Michael Smith doing all the heavy lifting.
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:03 pm
Sinclair Jesus was Jewish. If there was such a man.
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:05 pm
Mundi:
Oh, sod off swampy. There’s a billion of us RC’s who think otherwise.
Mk50 of Brisbane
11 Feb 13 at 11:05 pm
Honesty – without a doubt there was such a man. As to his claims that’s another story.
Sinclair Davidson
11 Feb 13 at 11:07 pm
Sinc
The founder of Christianity was Jesus –and yes he was a Jew
blind freddy
11 Feb 13 at 11:08 pm
“There’s a billion of us RC’s who think otherwise.”
That’s nice. He still isn’t real though.
Paul
11 Feb 13 at 11:10 pm
Again God alone knows. He will tell us when we are to go back to an earlier time.
stackja
11 Feb 13 at 11:10 pm
The first order of business for the new Pope will be to beatify Ian McDonald, for performing a miracle when he just happened by chance to grant a mining licence to his mate Eddie Obeid.
Milton Von Smith
11 Feb 13 at 11:10 pm
If George Pell became Pope, I would wet myself with laughter considering how lefties would react
Andrew
11 Feb 13 at 11:11 pm
No he was a myth, but I am sure it’s not an area that you will listen to a reasonable argument. There is no evidence for Jesus in fact, and don’t even start on Jospehus antuiquity of the Jews chaper 18 that’s why I chose my words. But if you reviewed the evidence like you do climate science you would see that the cross is a hockey stick:-)
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:13 pm
Michael Coren has a nice book that addresses that, Sinc.
Okay, I’m off to say my Rosary before bed.
nilk
11 Feb 13 at 11:13 pm
We need a Warrior Pope. Church Militant. Humanity’s soul is in mortal danger and a clear-out of marxist Bishops is needed.
Amfortas
11 Feb 13 at 11:13 pm
Lefties already discussing pedophilia in relation to Benedict and the Catholic Church. I wonder if they would do the same to Muslim or Jewish people. Doubt it.
Andrew
11 Feb 13 at 11:15 pm
There is a perfect candidate if only the High Anglicans and Catholics can get the merger done on time.
The Member for Fisher is a High Anglican priest, and will be available in September (HM Custodial Services permitting).
He likes to dress in flowing robes and “Pope Slippery 1st” has a certain ring to it.
Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 11:15 pm
The founder is Saul of Tarsus – Yesua ben Josief is the God (or part of the Trinity). Most of the New Testament is written by Saul and his stamp is all over Christianity.
Sinclair Davidson
11 Feb 13 at 11:16 pm
Naaa It’s going to go to a third worlder. This is going to really annoy leftwingers, especially if he’s black.
Jc
11 Feb 13 at 11:17 pm
Mary Mckilliop is a saint because her second required miracle cured cancer, so how much funding should we put into cancer research on this?
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:17 pm
Honesty, how about you take your beliefs and write about them on the dedicated Religion thread and not on this thread. The Religion thread is there for that reason. You will find the link above the “recent comments” section on the right side of the Cat page.
Gab
11 Feb 13 at 11:17 pm
Why not?
Apparently Jesus was the mining cartographer.
Leigh Lowe
11 Feb 13 at 11:18 pm
Honesty – Jesus is mentioned as a single individual in the Talmud. No doubt he existed and was executed. The only point of contention is what happened next.
Sinclair Davidson
11 Feb 13 at 11:19 pm
A kenyan?
Gab
11 Feb 13 at 11:19 pm
Thirteen chapers were forged and Saul wouldn’t even have the balls to debate that?
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:20 pm
***Shameless plug alert!***
The Beer Whisperer gets in early...
The Beer Whisperer
11 Feb 13 at 11:23 pm
Forged is too strong – modified perhaps.
Sinclair Davidson
11 Feb 13 at 11:23 pm
With all due respect to the Holy Ghost…
Raymond Cardinal Burke for Pope…NOW!!
Hugh
11 Feb 13 at 11:24 pm
stackja
11 Feb 13 at 11:26 pm
Jesus of Nazareth (Yeshua’ ha-Notzri) never appears until the last layers of Jewish Rabbinic literature in the 6th or 7th century. Not exactly an eyewitness account Sinc. And it was either Jesus Pandira or Jesus Ben Stada. the Talmud Jesus figures are a convoluted mess. Want to have another shot?
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:28 pm
Amen, Stackja.
nilk
11 Feb 13 at 11:30 pm
Honesty
It should go elsewhere, and I loathe to quote it, but:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicity_of_Jesus
Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed,[1][2][3][4] and biblical scholars and classical historians regard theories of his non-existence as effectively refuted.[5][6][7] While there is little agreement on the historicity of gospel narratives and their theological assertions of his divinity[8][9][10][11] most scholars agree that Jesus was a Galilean Jew who was born between 7 and 2 BC and died 30–36 AD.[12][13][14] Most scholars hold that Jesus lived in Galilee and Judea, did not preach or study elsewhere[15][16][17] and that he spoke Aramaic and may have also spoken Hebrew and Greek.[18][19][20] Although scholars differ on the reconstruction of the specific episodes of the life of Jesus, the two events whose historicity is subject to “almost universal assent” are that he was baptized by John the Baptist and was crucified by the order of the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate.[21][22][23][24]
I’m sure you can chase up the references if you wish.
.
11 Feb 13 at 11:33 pm
Oh look, more damning with faint praise from the Grauniad.
nilk
11 Feb 13 at 11:33 pm
So this cancer was cured but some can be treated. Better to treat then seek divine help if all else fails.
stackja
11 Feb 13 at 11:34 pm
Stakaja. The timelines of the three synoptic gospels and johns scripture don’t even agree on which day so I wouldn’t believe too much of the scripture accounts.
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:37 pm
Isn’t all the fuss proof that, love it or hate it, the Catholic Church is the only game in town?
I mean, the so-called Archbishop of Canterbury stepped down a few weeks back. Press reaction? Yawn.
And we now learn of outrageous paedophilia in the Boy Scouts in the USA and Canada. Front page news? Not on your nelly.
But Catholic priest paedophiles (shame on them)? Once again: the only game in town.
Hugh
11 Feb 13 at 11:37 pm
Just Another Bloody Lawyer
11 Feb 13 at 11:39 pm
Out of academic interest who is the current Black Pope?
Just Another Bloody Lawyer
11 Feb 13 at 11:40 pm
Sinc most scientists believe that climate change is settled you can look up the references.
And don’t quote me Wikipedia that is so lame.” Virtual all modern scholars”, give me a break you wouldn’t do such pitiful work on an economics subject why would you on the important subject of god? You know the deal Sinc, quote the source not Wikipedia, play the research game properly please. Name the scholar and site the reference if you are open to facts of course. It could be that this is your blind spot?
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:44 pm
Wow. Really interesting.
Popes have always been free to resign.
In this modern world – with life-spans now routinely extending into the 80s and 90s – I suspect that this will become a now conventional way for pontiffs to serve, then retire.
C.L.
11 Feb 13 at 11:44 pm
I wonder if they would do the same to Muslim or Jewish people.
If the Pope were Jewish, things would be said about the fate of young Palestinian boys captured by the Israeli Defence Force, I’m sure. But the Muslims? To paraphrase the Bard: “If I said that, ’twere pity on my life.”
perturbed
11 Feb 13 at 11:44 pm
This was always a pretty heavy burden for Ratzinger, IMO. After the death of the historical giant – John Paul II – the cardinals thought that somebody big had to step in and that’s why the German scholar was chosen. But I think the office was something he never wanted at all.
To some extent, John Paul’s example has a negative influence on the exercise of the petrine ministry in the sense that it’s now expected that the pope will be a world-travelling media star. Traditionally, though, popes do not travel much at all – if ever.
I think the rock star model of the papacy should probably be wound down.
C.L.
11 Feb 13 at 11:49 pm
FFS Honesty, take it to the ongoing debate thread for “Religion”. That’s what it’s there for.
Cold-Hands
11 Feb 13 at 11:49 pm
I think you are confusing different Yesua’s – it is a common name.
Sinclair Davidson
11 Feb 13 at 11:50 pm
Pope headline award:
The master, Tim Blair: TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.
C.L.
11 Feb 13 at 11:50 pm
You disbelieve so be it. I believe. We will see one day.
Who is right.
stackja
11 Feb 13 at 11:50 pm
I didn’t quote the wiki – that was dot. Hope you haven’t been partaking in the holy spirit.
Sinclair Davidson
11 Feb 13 at 11:53 pm
Poor ‘ol Pete eh? And Saul wasn’t even an apostle.
What about Tommy?:
The Gnostic Apostle Thomas
JamesK
11 Feb 13 at 11:55 pm
It’s Sincs post Cold-hands tell him. And the pope is sort of related to religion don’t you think so WTF are you on this post for Keynsian stimulation?
Honesty
11 Feb 13 at 11:56 pm
Benedict XVI’s resignation: Coherence and comprehension
As people around the world struggle to come to terms with the surprise announcement, the question on everyone’s lips is ‘why did the Pope take this extremely unusual step of standing down as head of the Catholic Church?’ The statement of his resignation, read by the Pope in Latin, states clearly that his “advanced age” and his declining physical strength “are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry” Pope Benedict also alluded to the possibility of his resignation in the book ‘Light of the World’, a series of answers to questions posed to him by German journalist Peter Seewald in 2010.
stackja
11 Feb 13 at 11:57 pm
I see what you see Mk50. I admired Pope John Paul II immensely throughout his papacy – what a strong figure he presented at the beginning! – and was quite unsure of Pope Benedict XVI. His fine character shows in this action.
The College of Cardinals is largely of Pope John Paul II’s choosing. They’ll get the next appointment right too – personally I hope there is a worthy man in Latin America or Asia.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
11 Feb 13 at 11:59 pm
Exactly JamesK! Hence he has Jesus saying “I come not to change the law” meaning it stays jewish, where as to get bums on seats they needed the gentliles hence the message chaged to broaden the appeal and christian doctrine morphed yet again, and there was no Peter in Rome at the time, that actually started the myth of the papal linage, hence the reason we are talking about religion on a post regarding the pope. Hanging in their cold-hands? Get the thread?
Honesty
12 Feb 13 at 12:03 am
Breaking News: Rudd thinks he now has the numbers. Quoted as saying “Bugger being PM, Pope Kevin X111 has a better ring to it”.
News at 11.00
Splatacrobat
12 Feb 13 at 12:04 am
The three previous African Popes were probably of Berber origin and not “black” africans.
JABL, the current ‘Black Pope’ is Reverend Father Adolfo Nicolás.
Cold-Hands
12 Feb 13 at 12:05 am
Shit, sorry Sinc, I was having too much fun, I would run from help like that too.
Honesty
12 Feb 13 at 12:06 am
The popes of history haven’t all been white, as we would understand it.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 12:07 am
An Aboriginal Pope, that’s what the ALP needs. I hear gillard is already working on it.
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 12:10 am
Do remember in the weeks ahead – as ‘experts’ and ‘Vatican watchers’ are wheeled out by the score to name papabile – that not one of them predicted this.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 12:10 am
Well a final bible quote from me for the night, and after Julia’s knifing I think it’s Kevin’s inspiration.
Matthew 10:34 “I come not to bring peace, but bring a sword”.
And god bless him and all who blog in this house.
Honesty
12 Feb 13 at 12:11 am
Swarthy types eh?
Infidel Tiger
12 Feb 13 at 12:14 am
You know what I reckon the cardinals are doing while the world thinks they are debating who is the net pope? Cards, cigars, a good schnapps or three, and gambling. Lots and lots of gambling. Young Waterhouse is beside himself with excitement.
And when they finally get sick of it, they decide to either draw lots, or give it to that young bastard from australia.
entropy
12 Feb 13 at 12:17 am
Yes unlike in Australia, none of those are considered a sin by the vatican.
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 12:19 am
They could drive the markets berserk with grey smoke
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 12:21 am
Gillard statement: hails humility of leader who resigned.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 12:25 am
The conclave of Cardinals chose Pope John Paul II with an eye towards engaging with European Communism/Socialism, and he presided over the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Warsaw Pact. Pope Benedict XVI saw his task lay in re-Christianising the increasingly secular states of Europe: his choice of Papal name reflects this (St Benedict is the Patron Saint of Europe).
While I would love to see a Latin American, Asian or African Pope, I suspect the conclave will choose a Pope with ties to the “First World” as Benedict XVI’s task is unfinished. The Catholic Church in Africa and Latin America is strong- I expect the College of Cardinals to pick a Pope to again minister to the parts of the Church under greatest threat- from secularism, atheism and relativism- and that’s still the Church in the developed world.
Cold-Hands
12 Feb 13 at 12:29 am
That’s why they need a black Pope.
Black people are very hip right now and the Vatican shouldn’t let this fad go to waste.
Infidel tiger
12 Feb 13 at 12:31 am
Why?
Why do people say they want to see a black/white/brown or South American/Australian/African pope?
Why this lefty grievance correction horseshit?
They should rather say they hope to see a wise, strong and holy pope.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 12:32 am
I feel some ABC bashing coming on. Viva il Papas!
Lysander spooner
12 Feb 13 at 12:32 am
Honesty, I don’t give a shit. I’m a BELIEVER.
face ache
12 Feb 13 at 12:35 am
Why not an Asian pope?
kelly liddle
12 Feb 13 at 12:48 am
Why do people say they want to see a black/white/brown or South American/Australian/African pope?
Because people are parochial. A Pope from a region where the RC Church has strong demographics would be popular and a reward for those areas for being strong in faith. I would be pretty certain that a Pope from one of these regions would continue with the work of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, being less likely to be tainted with the West’s moral relativism. It would be novel, and people like novelty. Should I go on?
They should rather say they hope to see a wise, strong and holy pope.
Call me naive, but I confidently expect whomever is chosen by the Conclave (informed by Grace) will be a “wise, strong and holy Pope”.
Cold-Hands
12 Feb 13 at 12:59 am
Bugger the black appointed to anything ‘cos of blackness, I say. I was finished with ‘em back when Coffee Inane led the Useless Nations and did nothing while emporered blacks all around the joint reverted to their centuries old class system and set about slaughtering those blacks beneath them.
The reason I would like to see an appointee from Latin America is a purely for profit reason.
The energy burst we would witness from the enormous number of Catholics there (from Brazil in particular, ‘cos it’s getting the Olympics) would, one assumes, feed back most positively for the Church elsewhere.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
12 Feb 13 at 1:05 am
Would you say that Wojtyla and Ratzinger were “tainted with the West’s moral relativism”?
The true mission field in today’s world is precisely that Western world – which would make a pope from its environs perfectly logical.
No. With popes, no – they don’t. The media does. It’s also passing strange – dare I say it, even offesive – to describe Asians and Africans as novelties.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 1:08 am
RATZ OFF A SINKING SHIP
With almost daily revelations of another kiddie fiddling clergyman and cover-ups by senior church figures, Ratzinger leaves an institution in disgrace and warranting the moral weight of a used tampon. Pell can have it.
William Bragg
12 Feb 13 at 1:08 am
By this I mean the power of faith, and pride in faith, in such a place would be on display to a vast Olympics audience.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
12 Feb 13 at 1:09 am
Well done Infidel Tiger, love yer work!
Mick Gold Coast QLD
12 Feb 13 at 1:12 am
“Novelty (derived from Latin word novus for “new”) is the quality of being new, or following from that, of being striking, original or unusual.”
Nothing wrong with being novel, CL. Even with Popes. My fellow Parishioners would show more interest in somebody from a different background than our current Pope. I’m surprised you looked for a meaning so you can take offence. I thought you were against the grievance industry?
Cold-Hands
12 Feb 13 at 1:23 am
Yes, I concur.
And its good to see that, as two non-Christians, we can agree on something.
Abu Chowdah
12 Feb 13 at 1:31 am
Who cares, other than Roman Catholics? What is the back story? Is it because he is ill, or whatever? Who was the last pope to resign? And why?
“Ben” could something quite radical with the time left, by appointing a woman as a cardinal, who could then become pope. Now that would stir the pot, theologically and otherwise, marking a departure from Medieval Civilization, much to the applause of the egalitarian libertarians at Catallaxy, I would imagine.
wmmb
12 Feb 13 at 1:37 am
I should think it would be of minimal interest to anyone outside the religion, although gillard was very quick off the mark with comment.
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 1:39 am
She’d comment on anything that could be a distraction, even for a day
Cato the Elder
12 Feb 13 at 1:43 am
I’m not an Asian or an African, Cold Hands – so I didn’t take offence at anything. I just thought your (apparent) claim that Asians, Latins and Africans are novelties is bizarre. Why not an albino or a man in a wheelchair. Would that be novel too?
It’s like the fucking DNC circa 2008 here all of a sudden.
The pope retires – ‘his replacement must be black!’
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 1:46 am
You mean, besides every single media organisation on earth?
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 1:47 am
Heh. Even made the news in Mali.
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 1:54 am
I’m watching Skynews from GB – lots of coverage, interviews galore….
On a personal level, I’m finding my way back to the church because of this Pope -I happened to meet a young bloke at my work who was reading a book by the Pope – and it’s progressed from there…
BTW I’m one of those lurkers who dive into this blog every day – it’s a must for me -Andrew Bolt is blocked on my work computer but Catallaxy Files is there for me while I have my cuppa during the day!
westie woman
12 Feb 13 at 2:00 am
I guess the question was poorly framed. Media can be interested in all sorts of things for the moment. With the 24 hour news cycle, they need to fit space.
I have no idea who the leading candidates might be. What is the political balance of the Curia, which presumably has been stacked by the recent Popes. Latin America comes to mind as a Roman Catholic population that is under represented.
What difference could a new Pope make? I would guess not much. One area that could be significant, an area where a papal proclamation or statement could be influential, giving war of terror, is the relationship to Islam.
wmmb
12 Feb 13 at 2:01 am
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/italian-and-canadian-up-for-papacy/story-e6frg6so-1226575780223
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 2:03 am
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100202321/pope-to-resign-this-is-unbelievable-news-but-evidence-of-benedict-xvis-deep-humility/
Ivan Denisovich
12 Feb 13 at 2:12 am
Fratres carissimi
Non solum propter tres canonizationes ad hoc Consistorium vos convocavi, sed etiam ut vobis decisionem magni momenti pro Ecclesiae vitae communicem. Conscientia mea iterum atque iterum coram Deo explorata ad cognitionem certam perveni vires meas ingravescente aetate non iam aptas esse ad munus Petrinum aeque administrandum.
Bene conscius sum hoc munus secundum suam essentiam spiritualem non solum agendo et loquendo exsequi debere, sed non minus patiendo et orando. Attamen in mundo nostri temporis rapidis mutationibus subiecto et quaestionibus magni ponderis pro vita fidei perturbato ad navem Sancti Petri gubernandam et ad annuntiandum Evangelium etiam vigor quidam corporis et animae necessarius est, qui ultimis mensibus in me modo tali minuitur, ut incapacitatem meam ad ministerium mihi commissum bene administrandum agnoscere debeam. Quapropter bene conscius ponderis huius actus plena libertate declaro me ministerio Episcopi Romae, Successoris Sancti Petri, mihi per manus Cardinalium die 19 aprilis MMV commissum renuntiare ita ut a die 28 februarii MMXIII, hora 29, sedes Romae, sedes Sancti Petri vacet et Conclave ad eligendum novum Summum Pontificem ab his quibus competit convocandum esse.
Fratres carissimi, ex toto corde gratias ago vobis pro omni amore et labore, quo mecum pondus ministerii mei portastis et veniam peto pro omnibus defectibus meis. Nunc autem Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam curae Summi eius Pastoris, Domini nostri Iesu Christi confidimus sanctamque eius Matrem Mariam imploramus, ut patribus Cardinalibus in eligendo novo Summo Pontifice materna sua bonitate assistat. Quod ad me attinet etiam in futuro vita orationi dedicata Sanctae Ecclesiae Dei toto ex corde servire velim.
Ex Aedibus Vaticanis, die 10 mensis februarii MMXIII
BENEDICTUS PP XVI
Samuel J
12 Feb 13 at 2:14 am
I still think the sisters ought to be given some mention.
Celestine V did not see the year out as Pope in 1294.
The Great Schism has currency now because of the involvement of Syrian Catholics, in the slaughter that is taking place in Syria. They can claim a direct lineage, including a linguistic one, from the founder of Christianity, if understood as Jesus Christ.
wmmb
12 Feb 13 at 2:50 am
Celestine V’s story is nothing if not interesting, as suggested by this article. What it points is how extraordinary the papal decision to resign is, given the immediate precedent. The impediments of age have not been impediments in the past for popes, or reportedly for US Presidents.
wmmb
12 Feb 13 at 3:16 am
Westie woman, could you tell me which organisation engages in such political censorship? I’m tipping it’s government. Curious to know the details.
BTW, good to see another lurker making a comment.
Tom
12 Feb 13 at 4:04 am
There are many Catholics in the Toowoomba Diocese (except the Temple Police) rejoicing today.
This man sacked our beloved pastor who made the mistake of standing up for his flock, in a Diocese that is the size of many European countries.
Benedict was a scholar, but he was not a pastor’s bootlace.
He has taken the church back to a pre Vatican II culture, and has done much to make it irrelevant and moribund.
The Church is the people, not the hierarchy.
1735099
12 Feb 13 at 6:27 am
Michael Voris on the Papal resignation. Very interesting given the gloating by the heretics over at the catholica forum
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 6:30 am
Numbers your ‘pastor’ is a heretic who should have been defrocked yonks ago.
The Church is not a democracy, and it’s not about being popular.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 6:31 am
Heh.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 6:34 am
@ Nilk
No, it’s about pastoral care, love, and compassion – attributes that Bill Morris has in spades.
1735099
12 Feb 13 at 6:36 am
spudpeeler – you are a fucking commie.
Stop having the fucking gall to claim you are a Catholic, you utterly insane, syphilis addled ol’ twat.
Rabz
12 Feb 13 at 7:03 am
He may have it in spades, but he is not in alignment with the Magisterium. If you want women priests, go join the Anglicans.
Some of us like our priests in cassocks, who aren’t overly familiar or our best mates, and who adhere to the doctrine.
I can get Protestantism damned near everywhere. I don’t want it in my Church.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 7:05 am
Fuck me numbers, stop linking to your own useless blog and then citing it as a reference.
Bragg, you really are a skid mark on the jock strap of humanity.
Huckleberry Chunkwot
12 Feb 13 at 7:24 am
@Nilk
Really?
What was his heresy?
This is the relevant extract from his 2006 pastoral letter, cited by the Vatican as the reason for his sacking -
What is heretical about the words “we may need to be much more open?”
Possibly, Ratzinger’s command of English let him down. These were thoughts, reflections. The verb was “may”.
Ratzinger has a problem with “may” as it denotes the exercise of free will, something that is anathema to his mindset.
The Temple Police, by the way, are three bitter and dried up old individuals who have never lived anywhere but Toowoomba in their long lives. They were out to get him. They worked solidly at it for ten years. They would sit in the back of the churches making notes. The rest of the congregation would ignore them and pray for them.
They are moral and spiritual cowards. If they were Muslims they’d be advocating Sharia.
1735099
12 Feb 13 at 7:30 am
Do you understand why women can’t be priests? It doesn’t matter if they want to, the Mysteries of the Mass and especially the Transubstantiation of the Eucharist mean that they can’t.
As for recognising Anglican Orders, how’s that church over in England going again? Archbishop Rowan Williams, who went on the record suggesting they might recognise a bit of sharia?
We have an Ordinariate where Anglicans who wish to join Rome are welcomed, and they are doing so.
As for the Eucharist being available for everyone (I’ve heard bleating about ‘closed communion’), the Church is not a bloody knitting circle where we’ve got to make Elsie feel welcome or she won’t come back.
Actually, anyone is welcome to join the Catholic Church as long as they understand the rules and have a clear idea of what they believe and why.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 7:37 am
He’s worried that Swan and Gillard are coming after his super
Steve of Glasshouse
12 Feb 13 at 7:51 am
Numbers is a misunderstander of many things, and a motor mouth as well. Not a good look.
Blogstrop
12 Feb 13 at 8:00 am
@ Nilk
The Church is rapidly becoming irrelevant because it is locked into dogma that has no function in the 21st Century.
If you took the time to read a little church history, you’d understand that the reason the institution has endured is that it has changed with the times.
Here are some facts about the Toowoomba Diocese which are symptomatic of the problems Bill Morris was trying to address -
Priests by age –
• 65 years and younger: 6 priests with 3 in the 61-65 year group
• 66-70 years 8 priests (with the option to retire)
In diocesan ministry in 2014, there will be:
• 65 years and younger: 2 priests
• 66-70 years 2 priests (with the option to retire)
• 71-75 years 1 Bishop
Only the deluded would believe that returning to the moribund practices pre Vatican II will remedy this.
It’s the biological principle – an organism is either changing, evolving and accommodating, or it’s dying.
Ratzinger has hastened the process.
1735099
12 Feb 13 at 8:01 am
Why? Angling for a Peace Prize?
Fleeced
12 Feb 13 at 8:07 am
Not to mention that Jesus bloke.
Fleeced
12 Feb 13 at 8:14 am
Can we expect the Catholic change with the next Pope? I don’t really think so. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, formerly the archbishop of Quebec City, has the best odds of replacing Pope Benedict XVI, but he is an extremely conservative man who will definitely not want the Catholic Church to change. He is expected to be the continuity of Pope Benedict XVI.
Shanna Carson
12 Feb 13 at 8:17 am
Numbers, 40 years of your rusted on socialist anger is proof that you are in the dying category.
Splatacrobat
12 Feb 13 at 8:18 am
Leigh Lowe
12 Feb 13 at 8:28 am
All I can say is God bless the Holy Father and the Holy Apostolic Church.
May the next Pontiff help to guide us cattle ticks and the rest of the world to Christ.
Oh and General Duties you Commo knobber.
Some of my very best mates have been priests.
One of my dearest friends left the preisthood to work with street kids.
It was a great loss to the Church but he just couldn’t keep the vow of obedience. and had a strong independent streak.
Your bloke could have learned from my dear friend Peter. A more Christ-like fellow I have never met.
His reward will be in Heaven.
81Alpha
12 Feb 13 at 8:28 am
I posted this on the OT as I’ve been thinking about what an African Pope would mean (we could get a black pope from anywhere in the Americas as well).
Unlike the Sun King, a black pope from a country like Nigeria or similar where Christians live constantly under the threat of violence from radical islamicists, would be a politically astute choice. As astute as the choice of the Polish John Paul II in 1979.
The media work hard to bury the story and to hide the excesses of radical islam. A person whose flock live with the terror as a real event would be valuable.
An African pope would also be from the front line in the effort to combat aids, etc.
Given that, I suspect the next pope will be South American as a nod to the largest community of Catholics on the planet.
It would also assist in dealing the the way that some parts of continent are sinking into neo-communism (with the athiesm that results).
Token
12 Feb 13 at 8:32 am
We already know who the next Pope is: Peter the Roman.
Repent, the end is nigh!
Grey
12 Feb 13 at 8:46 am
Typical leftist ‘balance’ at Reuters-
Benedict: a conservative whose papacy was dogged by scandal
Nothing to do with a country in debt over the eyeballs to European banks because of an insane government guarantee like Kevin Rudd’s decides to use her Italian ambassador to Italy in Rome for the Vatican?
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 8:49 am
No doubt Julia will cite Pope Benedict’s early announcement as biblical support for her early announcement, despite being a heathen.
Econocrat
12 Feb 13 at 8:54 am
Kevin Rudd for Pope!
He can be Catholic for the cameras one Sunday and Church of England for the cameras, the next; be seen at the cricket or football the following Sunday and then help out down the Abortion abattoir for the A.L.P.-voting “Emily’s Listers”, the following week.
It’d be just like the “good old days!”
Up The Workers!
12 Feb 13 at 8:58 am
Street poll: Should the next Pope come from a developing country?
Left wing nut: Only if Abbott changes his misogynistic attitude towards global warming.
Splatacrobat
12 Feb 13 at 8:59 am
Gillard will be happy that the news frenzy will divert attention from her endless stream of gaffes.
Token
12 Feb 13 at 9:00 am
Some weird arguments about Biblical historicity going on here. Honesty’s ‘Jesus of the Bible didn’t exist’, and Sinc’s ‘most of the New Testament was written by or strongly influenced by Paul’.
I’ve paraphrased there, but Honesty is flat out wrong; Sinc’s argument seems closer to the mark but still probably misleading. (Paul didn’t even write some of his own letters*.)
*There, that’s my own controversial statement, folks – en guarde!
TimT
12 Feb 13 at 9:16 am
I am astonished by the apparent number of Catholic Cats.
manalive
12 Feb 13 at 9:20 am
By the way, Happy Shrove Tuesday, chaps.
TimT
12 Feb 13 at 9:22 am
Pope Benedict has a sort of harshing looking features as opposed to the loveability factor of John Paul, even our Popes aren’t immune to the Age of Celebrity and drawing power.
J.Gillard will take this as being a successful outcome of her Royal Commission into Catholics, judging by Braggs etc above.
candy
12 Feb 13 at 9:31 am
If only politicians could demonstrate 1% of the humility and self-possession of the Pope in stepping down.
Keith
12 Feb 13 at 10:04 am
Forget having a conclave. They should pick a new Pope via reality TV: Pope Idol would be a good title fr the program
Rococo Liberal
12 Feb 13 at 10:09 am
Pope Idol? He’s going to be a Pope, idle from now on.
TimT
12 Feb 13 at 10:12 am
Let’s run a book on the next Pope’s chosen name.
Benedict the 17th?
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 10:18 am
The new Pope has to get rid/negate the power of the aging liberal leftist old farts in the Church.
Another young galvanising conservative for the Church’s youth who are considerably more conservative than their parents.
Many John Paul2′s appointments were closet leftists and international government redistributionists.
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 10:23 am
CL – always on the mark as usual; I hate this crap about “what will the next Pope bring” and “will he liberalise the Church.”
1) We don’t want it liberalised;
2) Its not a democracy;
3) If it were a democracy, what chance would the ALP have of hiring Tony Abbott as its leader (so stop that stupid talk!);
4)Hiring a ‘liberalised Pope’ would be like your local Bhuddist shrine opening a Maccas drivethru with side order of Wall Street earnings/market update;
Get over it ABC.
Lysander Spooner
12 Feb 13 at 10:27 am
Personally I’m looking forward to lots of the usual unintentional comedy as university-educated secular leftist journalists try and fail to say anything intelligent about a church and a religion they don’t even begin to comprehend.
cuckoo
12 Feb 13 at 10:30 am
Richard Dawkins @RichardDawkins
I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex.
Richard Dawkins @RichardDawkins
“Pope’s views on AIDS are barbaric.” What? How dare you insult all white males! And don’t you dare mention his histrionic taste in clothes.
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 10:36 am
Elizabeth has made a start.
lotocoti
12 Feb 13 at 10:39 am
Me too. It should be Cathollaxy Files.
Eddystone
12 Feb 13 at 10:42 am
Yes, Eddystne, you’re right, ban all Catholics from the Cat. Especially on a thread about the Pope.
How very Libertarian.
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 10:47 am
LOL. No, they’re not Catholics.
Bill Morris was – and is – a heretic and a coward.
Nobody misses him.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 10:55 am
I’m not in the least bit surprised that a number of Catallaxians are Catholics. After all, the most remarkale thing about contemporary politics is that it’s the old Fred Nile protestant guard who are leading the way cracking down on liberty in this country – resurrecting all those old Presbyterian moral panics: alcohol! Cigarettes! Gambling!
It’s almost as though the apron-wearing goat riders of yore are running things from behind the scenes.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 11:01 am
‘Apron-wearing goat riders’ – I had no idea what you were on about. Turns out it’s a reference to masons.
TimT
12 Feb 13 at 11:16 am
‘Acting the goat?‘
TimT
12 Feb 13 at 11:19 am
Sarah Hansen-Dumb puts forth her suggestion for the next Pope.
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 11:26 am
Settle, petal!
I’d have to ban myself
And I’m not really all that libertarian, more just grumpy old fart.
Eddystone
12 Feb 13 at 11:44 am
Petal settled, Eddystone. Sorry if I took your comment the wrong way. Have never seen such hate directed at Catholics in the real world as I have seen at the Cat, is all.
Gab
12 Feb 13 at 11:52 am
Gab, no worries.
Did I mention that your gravatar is simply outstanding?
I’ll check back in a couple of days to see if it’s still there. That’ll give me time to bleach my eyeballs.
Eddystone
12 Feb 13 at 12:21 pm
Pope Idol: Season1, Episode 2 of the brilliant but short lived Absolute Power
Token
12 Feb 13 at 12:30 pm
I am too.
Reading Rothbart I am coming to understand that, to a degree Catholic philosophy provides a great platform for Libertarian viewpoints, which I note is missing in peers who went the state/Anglican path.
Token
12 Feb 13 at 12:36 pm
Not just Catholics!
stackja
12 Feb 13 at 12:37 pm
40 years of Roe v Wade? Yeah, I’m lovin’ it. It’s quite remarkable when you look at the number of anti-abortion activists. A rather large percentage of them out there in the front lines are Catholic. Now why would that be?
As for the age thing, and old priests, how about the young seminarians coming through? Do you know any? I do and they love the Traditional teachings. They understand what the rules are about and they agree with them.
You dinosaurs will be seeing a few changes over the next 20 years.
Look at the proliferation of parishes supporting the return of the Latin Mass. There are several here in Melbourne, and I attend two different churches for it, and the Catholic community up at Wagga are known for their support of it, to the extent that people are moving across the country to join.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 12:50 pm
If it’s Pell, I suggest Pope Leo.
Leo the Great was pope during fearsome times.
Heathen armies were attacking the faithful in many places and Christians were spreading errors about the Faith.
Yet, he led the Church wisely and courageously, refusing to fear any threat, any difficulty, or any army.
Course Leo the Great didn’t have to deal with the indescribable nastiness of their ABC
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 12:52 pm
Numbers, your lack of respect for the Office of the Pope is on show here, and for someone who likes to call themselves a Catholic, you look like a fool.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 12:52 pm
Nilk, You can’t change the Catholic haters, wasting your breath and makes them more irate, but it makes one sad they be like that.
candy
12 Feb 13 at 12:55 pm
I once offered to light a candle for a rabid atheist and he nearly bit my head off
Candy, I know you can’t change anyone’s views. That doesn’t mean you can’t still point out their errors in the hope that they take some notice.
Not that Numbers cares to look too deeply into the teachings of his Church.
You can’t have a fully formed Faith without Reason, and he’s seriously lacking the Reason when it comes to this topic. Nobody said the Church had to be nice, and that’s the big mistake people make – too busy worrying about what everyone else thinks rather than looking to their own shortcomings.
Bishop Morris may have been a jolly good pastor, but he was leading his flock astray in an attempt to pack the pews.
I’d rather attend a Mass with a small but devoted congregation than go to a happy clappy protestantised effort. Been there, done that. It doesn’t feed my soul.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 1:02 pm
Richard Dawkins 666/1 to be the next pope.
Yobbo
12 Feb 13 at 1:07 pm
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/current-affairs/pope-betting
Yobbo
12 Feb 13 at 1:07 pm
” happy clappy protestantised effort. Been there, done that. It doesn’t feed my soul.”
exactly, in a nutshell.
candy
12 Feb 13 at 1:07 pm
Pell is 33/1
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 1:20 pm
I would heartily support Pell being appointed as Pope and promoted out of Australia!
Chris
12 Feb 13 at 1:28 pm
Pell frightens you, doesn’t he Chris!
Token
12 Feb 13 at 1:30 pm
For the (usually lefty) advocates of Da Magical Black Pope who will make the Church cool and ‘relevant’ again, a snippet from Stephen Crittendon’s laughably incompetent and dishonest account of heretic Bill Morris’s ouster; note that the Toowoomba white man resented oversight from a mere black (the one most often touted as a possible future pope):
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 1:32 pm
Prophecy of the Popes
Maybe Pell should wait this next papacy out…….
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 1:38 pm
Imagine the uppity cheek of the man.
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 1:48 pm
Arinze is 9/2
George can nobble him early I think.
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 2:03 pm
It’s been a while between antipopes. What happened to them? Maybe we could have another one.
TimT
12 Feb 13 at 2:29 pm
It ANNOYS ME that the ABC and like-minded lefty sites keep referring to Benedetto as a “strict traditionalist” – He wasn’t at all!
HE WAS CATHOLIC!
Lysander Spooner
12 Feb 13 at 3:56 pm
At The Drum, phony ‘Catholic’ Kristina Keneally essays the pope’s resignation, includes just about every failed left-wing cliche about ‘change’ and ‘progress’ of the past 50 years. This clanger is hilarious:
Kristina might want to cast her eyes over this:
http://www.adoremus.org/VeterumSapientia.html
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 4:20 pm
YAY – I’d forgotten about Kristina Keneally, so thank goodness she spoke up.
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/qed/2013/02/the-next-pope-probably-won-t-be-a-black-lesbian
Philippa Martyr
12 Feb 13 at 4:37 pm
CL – the olympics might be over; but you’re still on the path to gold!
Lysander Spooner
12 Feb 13 at 5:09 pm
The best reflection I’ve come across so far is by the always enjoyable, Bad Catholic.
dover_beach
12 Feb 13 at 5:14 pm
Pell is a massive Richmond supporter. If he was to become Pope good times would surely return to Tigerland.
Infidel Tiger
12 Feb 13 at 5:21 pm
ABC sidebar epigraph:
Let’s try that again:
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 6:29 pm
Not I just think he’s a bit of a dinosaur and Australia would be better off with him doing damage somewhere else.
But if he really is contention (I kind of doubt it) would they be willing to appoint someone may be called as a witness at a Royal Commission? Even if the Pope could not be forced to appear it would still be a bit of a PR disaster to refuse to appear. If he did appear he’d no longer be able to claim he has no influence over various other parts of the Catholic Church in Australia.
Chris
12 Feb 13 at 6:44 pm
CL, I hope for the new Pope to take the name Urban, and for him to be very like the man born as Otho de Lagery
Mk50 of Brisbane
12 Feb 13 at 6:51 pm
All you lefties really deserve to get an African Pope. Be careful what you wish for.
blogstrop
12 Feb 13 at 8:05 pm
Mark, I think all the luvvies are hoping for a Pope called Inner-Urban.
blogstrop
12 Feb 13 at 8:08 pm
For once I’m with CL, the idea that the pope should move with the times is nonsense. If they believe that they should toss it in. Moral followership is not a strategy with a bright future. God is still bunk though
.
Pedro
12 Feb 13 at 8:25 pm
I’m really tired of the the mindless drivel being put about as ‘commentary’ on the Pope’s resignation, but I did have to snicker at the bloke on the radio pointing out that Pope Benedict would be the only person to ever fill out their dole form in Latin.
Apart from that, though, the disrespect is quite upsetting to me, and I’d love to see those people try their shtick with muslims and Mohammed.
They won’t, of course, because they’re not edgy or awesome. They are petty, cowardly little jellybacks who get their kicks picking on someone they know won’t bite back.
I wonder what would happen if a Crusade were called? I know quite a few atheists and Jews who’d sign up for one.
nilk
12 Feb 13 at 8:40 pm
Cardinal Arinze is too old now- he’s over eighty. He’s too old to vote in the conclave, although not too old to be Pope according to Canon Law. However, if he was elected Pope, his reign would probably be only for a few years. I think the conclave will choose a younger man.
Cold-Hands
12 Feb 13 at 8:43 pm
The other candidate being touted – for racist reasons – and official favourite of corporate bookmakers, is Ghana’s Peter Turkson. His economic philosophy is dangerous and shocking – indeed, on these subjects he is a communist wacko:
C.L.
12 Feb 13 at 8:53 pm
You mind the collection plate, Padre, we’ll mind our wallets.
Infidel Tiger
12 Feb 13 at 9:03 pm
I’m going for Cardinal Burke, the American, is my guess.
candy
12 Feb 13 at 9:14 pm
For the Pope’s sake, I do hope that the “Papal Retirement Benefits Fund” has been C.P.I.-Adjusted over the last 600 years.
Otherwise, he may be looking forward to retirement on a loaf and a fish. (Or, given the way the Italian economy has been going, maybe a half-eaten stale crust, and a fish-head!).
Up The Workers!
12 Feb 13 at 10:05 pm
Emma LeftistActivistici just slimed George Pell whilst interviewing a supposed expert in Rome on Lateline.
Sje lumped Pell in with the disgraced former Archbishop of LA Cardinal Mahoney.
Cardinal Mahoney is replaced, his successor has apologsed for the failings of the Chuch in looking the other way with paedophile priests.
Mahoney has no adminitrative role whatsoever now and most
US Catholics are outraged that he’s said he will travel to the Conclave.
The present Archbishop of LA can do nothing to prevent it.
The ABC slimers never stop.
JamesK
12 Feb 13 at 11:07 pm
Some more information on the views of Turkson:
Token
13 Feb 13 at 9:14 am
JamesK, re Malachy’s prophpecy, “a pope described in the prophecy as “Peter the Roman”, whose pontificate will end in the destruction of the city of Rome.”
I’ve never subscribed to the Malachy list.
On the other hand, the second favourite this time round at the moment is Cardinal PETER Turkson!
And that lightning strike on the pinnacle of St Peter’s basilica a couple of hours after Pope Benedict’s announcement … was that, in cricket parlance, a “loosener” from Above?
Hmmm, you’ve got me thinking…
Hugh
14 Feb 13 at 11:36 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Borgia#Rodrigo The next pope had better not be Spanish
Hamster of Brighton
14 Feb 13 at 9:02 pm